Mumsnet Talk

DH desperate to ski at Easter. DD2 and DS will do ski school in the mornings. I and DD1 don't want to ski at all, but would like to go provided there is other (totally non-sporty) stuff to do. Is this a ridiculous idea? Do such places exist? DH can't manage two children (12 and 6) both on his own with all of them trying to ski after ski school. Any country considered!

Have you thought of a company like Esprit or Mark Warner that would do wrap round child care from 8:30 - 6:00. So the staff would/could pick both kids or the younger one up for supervised lunch. Then younger one could do snow club and older one could either ski with your dh or have afternoon lessons.

If you're set on going then you need a big resort - Chamonix might be good as its a proper town. Val d'isere is smaller but has plenty of shops to pootle round, ice rink, lovely swimming pool, husky sledge rides.

what about going with another family with the same problem? the grownups could take it turns to do the drop offs at ski school leaving the whole morning for the other one to do the blacks and the off pistes. In the afternoon you could all do some easy blues and greens together. A 12 year old should not be that much trouble, they can carry their own skis and should able to manage the chair and the drag lifts without help.

In Europe at Easter, you have the risk that a lot of resorts are not very high and will not have enough cold snow, especially after lunch. The ones with a good rail link into the downhill town, like Wengen and Zermatt, give scope for non-skiers to get away when they've exhausted the main resort, and Swiss rail is very good, and will take you quickly, comfortably and efficiently to other resorts or cities. You have the advantage that you are travelling in the opposite direction to day-skiers, so plenty of room on the trains. You will probably not enjoy trying to take a car, even if it is allowed.

Missed the bit about it being Easter!

Don't go to Chamonix then imo, however Val d'isere would be high enough. I do think though that you'd struggle to not get bored in any resort.....unless both you and DD are happy to read books, watch TV for a fair bit of the week.

You could try Arc 1950 as it is nice and high and has a new spa opening this season.

What about southern Alps in France - fly to Nice, hire a car, non skiers can explore the coast which is lovely and skiers get their fix too?

Some of the Swiss resorts are nice for non skiers - st moritz/pontresina springs to mind. Lovely shops!

Meant to add, Engelberg is also suitable, you can take take the little red Swiss train down to Lucerne & spend the day there.

If u fancy further afield Breckenridge USA is great for skiers and non skiers. Lovely village with lots of activities.