Lift passes

[Atalune]

We are going to take the kids on their first ski holiday in March all being well.

They are total novices and they will be in ski school all morning. We will meet them for lunch and then I doubt we will go back on the mountain with them. But I don’t know. Maybe we will!

My question is do I need to purchase lift passes for the kids or just me and dh.

[Windyone]

The best thing will be to check with the ski school. Depending on where you’re going they might need a pass

[williteverend99]

They will need a lift pass for the ski school even if they only go on the magic carpet. But they will probably be on the main lifts by day 3 at the latest.
Many resorts offer free passes for under 7s though.

[FadedRed]

Google (other search engines are available) the resort tourist office/ski school website and usually it will be clear what lift passes are advised.

[Atalune]

Thank you all for your help, that has made things much clearer for me.

[stringbean]

Depends on resort. Some will have free lifts for beginners to use which don't require any pass, so after a day or two the instructor will ask you to buy them a lift pass (this was the case with our dc). Check out prices though, as it may be cheaper to buy a family pass for all of you from the outset, rather than adult passes for 2, and then child passes for, say, 4 days.

[Buttercupsandaisies]

If they’re in lessons it’s likely you can get a ski bundle much cheaper which inc passes equipment and lessons.?

[Atalune]

buttercups that’s what I thought but it’s unclear on the websites if this is the case.

Ski lessons
Ski equipment
Lift passes

They all seem to be extras that you add on after the headline price per person. So it’s around £1000-1500 on top 😅

[stringbean]

Book equipment on line in advance - you'll find it a lot cheaper. If you book lessons with a ski school, they'll usually send you a discount code for a ski hire shop to get a cheaper rate. Skis and boots for our dc (teenagers, so ds used adult level equipment of a high standard) was about 100 Eu last year, booked in advance.

Not sure where you're going to ski. ESF in France do a package that includes lessons and lift passes, but my experience of other ski schools we've used in France is that you need to pay for lessons in the ski school and then sort out your own lift passes as and when needed.

My only experience of packages which include lessons, lift pass and equipment was through a tour operator.

[Buttercupsandaisies]

What site? It’s usually called learn to ski on the extras page.

[Buttercupsandaisies]

Yes we pay £1400 for ski hire, full area lift passes and equipment for 6 days and lessons for the kids 3 hr per day for 5 days.

[Atalune]

Just been looking on esprit, Crystal, Neilson and so on.
Seems to be around £800pp then when you book on the extras.
Family ski pass £800. Ski lessons and hire for 2 children coming in at £400 each. Or so.

[Buttercupsandaisies]

That’s expensive. I pay £65 pp for ski hire and £120 for 5 days lessons. For us it’s the passes which are dear as they average £200pp. I forgot my quote above inc £200 transfers so £300pp extras is about right

[Buttercupsandaisies]

So actually if it’s £800 inc hotel flights and extras is actually a great price!

[Atalune]

buttercups who do you book with?

I have been pricing up catered chalets and the lowest price that’s still somewhere nice is £800 pp for flights, accommodation and transfers, then an additional 1000-1500 for ski achool, hire and lift passes. dh and I have our own equipment and are competent skiers.

Am I missing a trick?
Also not booking in school holidays!

[Buttercupsandaisies]

We’ve booked Andorra - I book flights with Ryanair, hotels direct and all ski extras with andorra resorts.com

I’ve got feb half term for 4 all in for £4700 inc half board and lift pass inc mountain lunch so technically full board. Andorra is dead easy independently as Andorra resorts do everything for you. My feb half term flights were £65 each though I booked in March for feb the following year!