New Year skiing - first timers

[OrangeSunset]

We used to ski before DC. Having had a shocker of a year, we are on the verge of thinking f* it and just booking for new year.

What do we need to bear in mind for New Year? Have had a v quick look at Crystal Ski which looks like you can get full board for £980 per person from a South West airport.

How much should we budget for passes, skis etc?

What do people normally do with DC (9 and nearly 7). Will ski school in the morning be enough for them and then swimming pool or similar in the avo?

Have I left it too late for any chance of family room type accommodation? Would apartments (catered) be a better idea?

Where's good for kids ski gear?

Questions, questions!

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

What do people normally do with DC (9 and nearly 7).

you ski with them. Get the skills out and have fun together.

Will ski school in the morning be enough for them and then swimming pool or similar in the avo?
pool You ski! Maybe a hot chocolate vin chaud to keep spirits up, but you ski!

Have I left it too late for any chance of family room type accommodation? Would apartments (catered) be a better idea?
to be snow sure check out high resorts, but I expect you'll find either.

Where's good for kids ski gear?
Aldi, when they do their week. Decathlon too I believe.

[massistar]

How much should we budget for passes, skis etc? Depends on the resort really. You can find out online. Also if it's a small resort it'll be cheaper. As a ballpark Porte de Soleil is €260 for an adult pass for 6 days.

What do people normally do with DC (9 and nearly 7). Will ski school in the morning be enough for them and then swimming pool or similar in the avo?
Ski school and then lunch and then more skiing!! Then back in time for afternoon tea.

Have I left it too late for any chance of family room type accommodation? Would apartments (catered) be a better idea?
Depends what you want. For a family of 4 I think you'll be fine.

Where's good for kids ski gear?
TK Maxx is great for good quality gear.

[PinkTiger]

>> you ski with them.

Disagree if it's their first time. I'd vote for ski school. Teaching is a skill in itself and teaching skiing is a specialised form of teaching something physical.

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

Pink I wasn't clear. Ski school AM, but then you ski with them in the PM, buffing up the skills everyone had fun learning in the morning. My point is that you don't all go home or to the pool in the afternoon.

[minipie]

Does it have to be New Year? New Year is expensive, often very cold (especially in the high snow sure resorts) and the days are short so it's dark a lot of the day. Easter is a much friendlier introduction to skiing IMO. Sorry probably not helpful!

[polyjuice]

What minipie said. Do Easter or New Year for newbie DC. I learned in Jan and it was dark, snowy and cold - and I was determined! Not an ideal time for an introduction.

[lostpurplehoodie]

Ski passes are normally (before the pound went to shit) around £200 and ski/boot hire around £100ish. Lots of companies will give you a discount or 2 for 1 on one or both of these so is worth looking.

YY to ski school in the morning and consolidating via family skiing in the afternoon, though expect to take the odd afternoon off because they will be exhausted.

Half board is IMO better than full board. Chalet board is best due to afternoon cake! Full board will often lead to you wasting the free lunch because you don’t want to schlep back to resort.

Look on igluski for deals and accommodation and I’m sure you’ll find some family oriented stuff. Chalets and apartments tend to be easier for families than hotels I think, and though there are fewer of them in Austria you’ll find it much cheaper and more family friendly than France.

For kids ski wear hit ebay. I sold some adult kit I’ve grown out of for £9ish recently and it cost me £200 new. You can pick up quite a bargain if you don’t mind second hand. If you want new then Mountain Warehouse and Decathlon do decent quality, low cost kit.

I do agree with the above comments that it will be pricier and busier, and colder, at new year than at Easter. We’re going to a chalet in the first week of the Easter holidays to a very nice catered chalet and it’s £550 plus flights per adult (and our flights are less than £300 each).

[OrangeSunset]

I can be persuaded that Easter is better, minipie

In general I was wondering if they would be too knackered for ski school in the morning plus more skiing in the afternoon.

Ok I'm going to have a look for Easter in Austria, chalet too. Any recommended companies?

[dontcallmethatyoucunt]

Mine had a full day skiing by the time they hit 4 years old. I bet they're fitter than you think.

[OrangeSunset]

Possibly. One of them has great stamina. The other one, not so much. I guess hot choc is great bribery.

[minipie]

Afternoon skiing is quite short - by the time you've done lunch, had a wee (takes forever in ski gear) and got back up the mountain there's only time for a few runs. In my very non hardcore version of skiing anyway 😁. See what your DC can manage but I'd plan on short ski afternoons with maybe one or two afternoons doing something else.

Ski Esprit is a very child friendly company though not used them myself. Plus the big names like Neilson or Mark Warner. Or try Alpine Answers who are an agent covering lots of chalet companies

[OrangeSunset]

Ok have had a look for Easter. Quite like the sound of Morzine due to the short-ish transfer time.

But, what do I need to look for to minimise morning faffing? One chalet advertises itself as being close to the lift, but am assuming that’s no good if DC cant ski frpm the top of that lift to the nursery slopes....better to be close to the Center as am assuming that’s where the nursery slopes are based?

[cestlavielife]

Go to stay in avoriaz at Easter not morzine.
Morzine had zero snow while avoriaz had just enough.

[cestlavielife]

We did self catering apart in avoriaz but This would be literally nx to ski school

www.igluski.com/ski-resorts/france/avoriaz/chalet-perce-neige_18908?holidayId=1447438730&offerid=1425059984

[user1494670108]

I love Morzine, but it’s had very poor snow for three christmas’
We had a chalet a fair way out of the village but they minibus you in close to the lifts.
In some ways this cuts morning faffing as you have to be ready to get on the bus so it’s not as much of a pain as I had thought - they’re quite a bit cheaper I think

[ConstantlyCooking]

We did club med with the DC when they were younger because:

It is all inclusive so no cooking and no extras (except ski hire). It includes lessons all day.

You drop children at a crèche and then the staff walk them to ski school, make them put on helmets and then collect them after the lessons and you can pick them up,mhave lunch and then drop them off ready for lessons in the afternoon. This avoids rushing from meeting point to meeting point and worry about being late. Also if it is v cold or the children are tired they can stay in the crèche whilst you ski. I am not confident enough to ski with young children but DH would often take them out of ski school for afternoons of family skiing.

It v easy for children to make friends as they see their ski school friends in the hotel as well.
I have packing spreadsheets for different types of holidays so pm me if you would like the 'family ski trip' one.

[OrangeSunset]

OMG Constantly would love your spreadsheet - as imagine a lot of great is required. Will PM you.

Thanks for the info about snow conditions. Will check out ClubMed too.

[OrangeSunset]

*gear. Sorry, phone typos

[allthgoodusernamesaretaken]

Go for a high resort.

Some children get v tired. Swimming in the afternoon can be fun for them (frustrating for you if you want to ski all day, but you really want to take a long term view and make it a positive experience for them, so you don't put them off)