Am I too late to book a family ski trip for February 2018. First time skiing.

[littleroots]

Hi

This isn't really an AIBU but I am posting here for traffic.

Our kids are agreed 3-8 and there are 4 of them. We have never been skiing together though DP has taken his elder children before.

I have heard Italy is less busy, less expensive, and friendlier for children so that's where we'll start looking. DP says we are too late and all ski school places/good accommodation will have gone. Is he right?!

I think we need to book a package as I couldn't begin to know where to start otherwise - ski passes/lessons/kit? I am sure I would forget to book something or end up booking a hotel that's a mile away from the ski school ....

Can anyone please help with recommendations for package companies, which resorts to ski at (quiet is good for us), child friendly resorts. What to pack. Any advice would be hugely appreciated. Thank you.

Skiing is bloody expensive for children - ski school, ski hire, lift passes etc. all add up, and that's before flights, accommodation, clothes and insurance. Do they all have ski gear? Multiple layers, waterproof warm jackets and ski pants, thermal socks etc?

I would save and get things properly organised and go in 2019.

Try Kranjska Gora in Slovenia. We have 5 kids and have skied there twice. It's super for beginners and really great value.

We did it all for under 4 k a few years ago- that included everything. But I always organise our ski holidays myself.

Also we live in Ireland and don't have fines for missing school so we go in term time.In fact the Principal of the school always wishes us a great holiday and that she wishes she were coming!

Hi stonecolddiva, did you book the ski school and passes in advance, online?

@littleroots I live in Spain and go about 7 times a year - definitely buy your passes online and make sure to get the additional on piste insurance. This is really important as it covers you for any transport on the actual slopes - i.e. avoid you paying 50k for an emergency helicopter god forbid!

Oh and PLEASE get helmets! So so important.

£7400 with Neilson, the best quote so far and this is including all ski equipment too.

The other company I would look at is Club Med - I've heard good things about their Italian resorts (haven't tried them have only skied in France with the children).

Sorry just seen ClubMed already tried!

Neilson are brilliant. We went to Cervinia in Italy a couple of years ago and it was wonderful. The Italians are soooo much friendlier and laid back than the French.... will you be able to book into ski school at this late notice though would be my worry?

Canada and States are truly amazing but about 1/3 more price wise I would say plus need to go for 10 days to make the jet lag it worthwhile

Have a look at the igluski website. Afaik they’re more of a broker but they have lateish availability for firms such as Esprit. Though they don’t advertise which company they’re advertising the chalets for, but I see that the Esprit Val disere chalet is currently on there.

If you ring them up, tell them your budget, dates and child friendly needs they will help,you narrow it down. We went through them our first year skiing and they put us in an .esprit chalet for cheaper than what esprit were selling the holiday direct.

Vivalebeaver that sounds ideal. I could definitely work with an Esprit chalet! I'll try them

Another vote for Snowbizz, so reasonable for what they offer. V friendly family company. Resort is perfect for beginners and intermediates.

Another vote here for going somewhere quite high at Easter. The weather will be much nicer, skiing in Warm sun is awesome. The days are also longer and it’s mikes cheaper. If you hold your nerve you could get a cheap last minute booking.

DH took our boys at Easter with Club Med once and it was much less than half price booked late. Go all inclusive if you can because it’s so bloody expensive eating and drinking out.

Have you tried Esprit for last week of March? (or even first week of April Easter holidays). It will be SO much cheaper than Feb half term and less booked up. Go to a higher altitude resort to give yourselves the best chance of snow.

I second looking at Cervinia in Italy. My sister had a wonderful ski Hil there with her children. It has access to Zermatt too (much more expensive resort!)

OP try these or these. Small resort in Italy near Swiss border. Cheaper than the neighbouring region or some of the bigger resorts nearby, English speaking instructors etc.

Alternatively the Dolomites are excellent, but I have found it has become a bit pricey in the last few years.

Neilson have also quoted £3833 for Livigno, Italy.

Club Med have been the most helpful and seemed the most knowledgeable on the phone. Snowbizz and Igluski sound promising too, hoping to get some prices from them soon.

We are aiming for the 1st or 2nd week of April now rather than Feb.

Easter does limit your options as snow wise it's hit and miss, even with snow cannons you risk skiing in slush in the afternoons. I would stick to February if you can at all.

Norway wasn’t expensive last year - one of the cheaper weeks we’ve had and brilliant skiing. The prices aren’t that much different to the Alps...

Sadly I don't think we can stretch to Feb half term prices. I couldn't justify it seeing the difference in price for April. We'll try and find somewhere high up for more snow.

On reflection I don't think I would have the nerve to tell school we are taking them away for a week during term time. I know of a couple of families who have done it and I don't think fines are doled out but I couldn't face teachers

Hi, We went first time skiing a couple of years ago to Pamporovo in Bulgaria with Crystal Ski. Excellent tuition for beginners. (My sis is an expert skier, who came with us and agreed). Beautiful area. And rather cheaper than any alternative

Romania is good and beautiful, too.

People can be so snobby about skiing, but the Carpathian resorts are geared up for families, non-experts, and have extraordinary landscapes, architecture and wildlife to see.

Does anyone know how I would go about finding a good ski school online? Are there even ski schools that operate outside of the big package holiday providers?

I understand that you don't want to spend the money on February having seen the price for Easter but that genuinely is because you are guaranteed the best Snow of the season in February - I went skiing in Val Thorens ( highest resorts in the alps) last week of March this year and by the end of the week the snow was becoming slush and the next week, when one of my friend's visited, there was literally no snow in the other two valley's and just a bit left in VT, so I think if you are spending a lot on a skiing holiday, don't risk it with the weather because even by the first week of April this year there was very little snow left.

Thanks for the info, that does make a difference. I know of a few school families who always go in Easter holidays and I didn't realise there was such a chance of no skiing.

Neilson et al are super expensive. The first one I linked tends to be cheaper, friends went last year and spent around €600 -€ 700 per head per week half board inc ski passes, in Feb. Ski lesssons on top but they're not too pricey if you book the week.
April is very touch and go, even on the glaciers it gets slushy, what with glibal warming. Skiing in slush is unpleasant and it's easy to injure yourself, particularly for beginners.

The reason people go at Easter is because the prices drop and they can go for longer, but the snow can be really patchy.

We always used to ski in January and February school holidays when I was younger. Once or twice, we went over Easter and the snow wasn't good - slush at best, non-existent at worst, with lots of the lower pistes closed completely as there was no snow, and it wasn't cold enough for snow cannons.

By all means book, but be prepared for the fact that you might not do much skiing!