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.

Does anyone know how I would go about finding a good ski school online

Have you tried googling names of resorts that you like, or just looking on google maps?

I don't ski, but I scuba dive and in dive resorts there are companies that teach diviing and offer guided diving - they're based in shops in resorts and sell dive stuff too. I'd imagine that ski-ing is similar.

So you just google name of resort and ski school and see what comes up (I've just googled ski school Austria at random and there are loads of promising leads). Click on the links on google maps to check the reviews to make sure it sounds like they know what they are doing and you are happy with what they offer.

Check out some websites and email a few that look OK to see if you have to book in advance or you can just go see them on arrival to say 'we want to ski this week and the DCs want some lessons' and they sign you up.

Worked for us for the diving in several European resorts.

I suppose a big factor about Easter skiing is when exactly Easter falls, and what sort of winter it has been. Plus also the global warming factor - those who have been skiing for 20/30 years will probably have seen significant changes in snow conditions, especially at the beginning and end of the season.

I would strongly strongly recommend Italy if you have children under 9. This is because their lift passes are often free whereas in France etc they are going to be around £210 each and yours will be more, as adults.

With 4 non skiers you would be far far better booking a private instructor for say a half day. In the afternoon you can muck around as a family.

You will easily get a week outside of half term for your budget but don't forget about other costs like ski/ boot hire. This will be around £100 or more for adults for six days. Sometimes children are reduced or free.

And I have never been skiing 1st week easter and found no snow. You do need to pick a high ish resort with suitable North facing slopes though. At that time of year orientation is really important. Souh and east facing slopes will be unsuitable hy around 130 pm, especially for beginners.

I think it's rare for the snow to be like it was last year - my friend who was in VT week after me goes skiing at Easter every year and I think that's the worst its ever been, whilst we had great snow at the beginning of the week due to a blizzard, but it's definitely more risky - hence why she's decided to go next week instead this year!

I went skiing end of March once and never again. There was snow enough on 95% of the runs texture of the snow wasn’t great. Still was quite novel to be skiing in a t shirt and I Guess small kids may appreciate the warmer temps. We normally go mid January.

It's a minefield. Thanks everyone.

Looking around at hotels and accommodation I think the Club Med facilities look far better than a lot of the others.

We've paid 3.5k for four of us to Bulgaria with Crystal Ski with lessons, equipment hire and lift passes for 3 of us. This is for New Year and includes NYE. Half board, most expensive hotel. '''Twas booked months ago though.

OP, Mumsnet have just posted on the AIBU thread a list of discounts they've arranged for next year with select companies - includes Mark Warner Ski etc amongst others so would have a look at those listed as even 5% helps when it's an expensive holiday like skiing.

Thanks for tips!

Go first week of March. Longer days, slightly warmer and still great snow. Plus off peak prices.

Taking them part way through a term is better than tacked on to a holiday imvho.

I'd agree with taking them out of school. I know this is not a popular decision on MN but life is short and all that...

Yes, we book ESF lessons online in advance, as well as the ski / boot hire. Be careful if you go solo without a package company to book everything.....last year in Serre Che the ski hire shops were turning away people who had not booked in advance.

We booked once Independently to val d’isere out of school holidays and couldn’t put dd in a group English speaking lesson even though we tried to book in advance. Unless you were in a group via a tour operator such as Esprit they just didn’t do English group kid lessons. Neither ESF or Evolution 2. Iirc we found a smaller company who did 5x morning private lessons at a reasonableish price.

Check out the Kinderhotel Buchau in Austria. In February half term you could get a week all inclusive there for under 6k I would imagine, including kids clubs and booze. They have a ski school that picks up from the hotel in a minibus every morning and drops off in the afternoon, with all the kids being hotel guests and loads of them
English speaking. It's drivable from the south of England in a day if you want to save on the flights.

OP - I wouldn't recommend the belle plagne resort for beginners anyway, the slope down to the hotel is too quite steep and you end up carrying skis for quite a long way. There are also very few green runs.

We didn't enjoy our week there.

Couple of options - Crystal ski usually have a Christmas sale - I doubt there will be any reduction for Feb half term but it is possible for Easter.

Or if you go on to www.chaletsdirect.com and put in your requirements different chalet operators will come back to you. I've organised long weekends through them and generally they can arrange or include transport, getting your ski gear sorted out and ordering your passes for you in advance.

Or if you can arrange it yourself ( which is not quite as formidable as it sounds) Get flights to Turin , next year we're flying there and going to montgenevre which is meant to be good for beginners. There is an English ski school called a-peak and ive booked DSs lessons there. You can get transport from the airport- easy to google and book- and theres a nice looking sc apartment place with outdoor pool.

Don't come to Scotland to ski - that'll put you off for life 😆

I think the esprit hotel at belle plagne is soulless, I hated the actual hotel.

Not too late- we booked with crystal ski last week. Won't be cheap though....

viva
That is a good point about ski lessons in English. We book independently online but my DC speak French.

I would avoid the French ski schools like the plague for your DCs - unless you can go through Espirit as think they have their own instructors that they use. Italian ski school may be more friendly.

ideally pick somewhere with an English ski school for the DCs - instruction is much more child focused and fun. We've had great experiences with New Generation who operate in a number of resorts.