Skiing- where can ex-dh take dd for her first go?

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Ex-dh is thinking of taking dd (9) skiing at winter half term. He is an OK skier, she has never been before. She is tall and quite strong for her age, but not the most physically courageous child you'll meet. So if she does go with him, it would have to be somewhere where there is lots of non-skiing stuff too in case she hates it- sledging, leisure centre etc. I realise he should be researching this but you know what it's like. if I leave it to him, he will book last minute and end up somewhere totally unsuitable for her. Any tips on where they might go? or which company to try? Thanks.

Geilo, Norway - we took ds for the first time ski-ing there - great instruction, loads of non-ski-ing stuff (Dog sledding, Ice tobogganing, Sleigh rides.....) We went with Neilson in the Geilo Apartments

PS Ds loved it and went from Beginner to Reds in 6 half days ski school. The Norwegians are lovely people and everything felt very 'safe' (no-one locked up their skis overnight for instance)

Saw a letter in today's Sunday Times describing a similar situation . Their recommendation was to go with a firm like SkiEsprit so the child would meet others and the adult could take a break as there was childcare/clubs and organised activities on offer. They go to resorts such as St Anton, Morzine, Saas Fee, Chamonix et al which would be good skiing-wise for both of them. Most of the main resorts now have leisure centres or hotel pools open to the public, and activities like ice skating and toboggan runs. As she is a beginner there would be nursery slopes in even the most challenging of resorts and assuming she is in skischool she wouldn't get out of her depth. As they are due to go at half term he may already find availability difficult but try looking at www.Iglu.com who market holidays for Esprit, Ski Crystal et al, sometimes with exclusive special offers and can provide recommendations for family orientated resorts and acommodation including for single parent/child such as this .

hth

Am doing just exactly this with dd1, as a reward for all the effort she (and I!) have put into working for her secondary transfer.

I've booked with Mark Warner, going to St Anton in Austria. I specifically wanted Austria as I can speak German, but St Anton looks as if there's plenty of other stuff going on too. I've booked her into ski school, but she may end up not going every day, since part of the point is to spend time together.

Thanks all for your ideas- will check them out.
We went with SkiEspirit when still together but she was baby. Their childcare is very good, but I am told France is quite a difficult place to learn compared to some countries. Do not have enough skiing experience to know myself. I just can't bear the idea of her hating it and wanting to come home- as usual I would deal with all the fallout, not ex. But if they get the right place I think they could have great time.

SkiEsprit have long since expanded beyond France - have a look at their website. Austria, for example, has great ski schools and English speaking instructors.

slovenia is excellent for beginners, my exp took ds as exp's girlfriend is Slovenian, cheap friendly.
Andorra is meant to be quite good too I think.

Could be quiet tricky getting a flight and/or hotel for 1/2 term now. I think Austria is a great place for a first ski holiday..

We took ours with Ski Esprit to La Rosiere in France - they really enjoyed it and we're going back this year. I think that it would be very difficult to get places for Half term, but Iglu might have availability.

If you go with Esprit or Mark Warner they usually have negotiated good ski schools. My advice is to avoid the ESF as they are generally not good with English kids and wherever you send the kids quietly watch what is happening in ski school from a distance before you leave them. I withdrew my youngest who was four from ski school last year after watching a french instructor being horrible to the children. A lot of them were upset and she was very rough and obviously had no patience. We have since found a much better ski school and they are having lots of fun. Alp d'euez or Flaine in France are good for families but not all that pretty. Go for somewhere where the nursery slope is in the village and you dont have to get lots of buses etc. We go to Val d'isere which is great for seasoned skiiers but not much fun for beginners as it is mostly steep and very cold in February. Have been to Andorra which was really good, lots of scottish and Australian ski instructors and also duty fee

Message withdrawn

Another vote for Austria. Have a look at www.kinderhotels.com to book independently. If you avoid the standard 'british" resorts you wil avoid the half term rush. Austria is like France in that they spread their spread their half term week throughout Feb depending on region.

Whatever he does, if he goes to France, DON'T let him book lessons with the French ski school -ESF. They are totally unsympathetic to the needs of children IMO, and we've had bad experiences with them. On the plus side there are some excellent native English speaking ski schools around. My recommendation for the first time would be Soldeu in Andorra - the ski school is superb with lots of British and Aussie instructors, and many of the hotels have swimming pools. Book soon though as half term gets very busy.

HAs anyone any experience of taking a baby on a skiing holiday?
Crystal have a nanny service and seem pretty good, but i'm a bit nervous about it so any advice or experience would be gratefully received. My baby is 9 months old and we are thinking of going in a fortnight.
Thanks

I have been recommended The Family Ski Company by a friend who has been twice with a baby. It's catered chalets with all childcare laid on. She thinks they're brill.

We've been twice with Crystal and their nannies were excellent. However, I ending up suing them because the "family chalet" which the brochure said was non-smoking ending up taking a booking from two heavy smokers who continued throughout and the reps did nothing to stop them. Both dds have asthma, so it wasn't much fun - my youngest was 10 months at the time. That was some years ago though, so I hope they've learned from having to pay me compensation - suggest you double-check when you make the booking if it's important to you.

Thanks Mamhaf.
Now my husband is worried about the transfer coach journey. He thought the plane would be long enough but reasonable, but thinks that to top this up with 3 hours on a coach would be hell. How was your 10 month old on the transfer?

why not go to xscape first to practice?

loollabells, yikes I'd be nervous with that sort of transfer with a baby. We took ds at a little older and were fortunate that due to avalances we had to curtail the coach journey after about 2 hours and complete the journey by train. A bit of hassle luggage wise but more interesting for all of us.

Hope your baby sleeps en route, take plenty of food/drink and nappies in case of delay too as you may have to wait for passengers on other flights to arrive before the coach departs. btw you do realise that you probably won't have a seat on the coach allocated for your baby so he/she may well be on your lap. Where are you going ?

Thanks LIZS and Passionflowerinapeartree

Well, we've booked now so no going back! Fingers crossed all will be okay. We are going to Alpe D'Huez in france. Got two weeks to mad panic and get everything that we need!
Somehow think that we'll be taking one jumper and trousers each for us, and the rest of the luggage allowance will be taken up with baby food, clothes, nappies etc. etc.!!