OK - Skiing roll call - who's going this year - where, when and who with?

[Mo2]

Having spent half my ski holiday last year eyeing up other Mums in the chalet, thinking 'she sounds like someone on Mumsnet' but too embarrassed to ask, thought I'd get a heads up here as to whether we might bump into any Mumsnetters on the slopes this year...

So here goes...

We're goind w/c 5th March, to Tignes, France and with Esprit....

Anyone else?

Very and for you picnikel and Mo2. These holidays are so expensive that there is no excuse for p*ssed and clueless chalet staff.
We just got back from La Tania (Courchevel) with Ski Beat; luckily we left on March 4th just as the snow really started to fall. As I hate flying we were travelling on the train which I can really recommend. The transfer to La Tania from Moutiers is only 30 mins (it's 3 hours from Grenoble) and can be done in a taxi which Ski Beat organised. It's the first time we've been with them and they were very good with helpful polite chalet staff that lived out. Others who used the creche service were very impressed with the nannys. I'll probably send in a review to MN - reading this thread has definitely put me off Esprit!
Also, Courchevel is fantastic, my favourite ski area, and La Tania is a good family base.

we've been with ski beat several times and they have always been good. we only stopped because their nanny service won't cater for over 7's and when my dd was 8 we didn't want to put her in all day ski school but wanted the flexibility to have one or two full days skiing ourselves.

Re the transport problems - we went with ski beat when foot & mouth was in full swing and no food was allowed to be taken in to Geneva from the UK. the ski beat reps turned up with picnics for the children and cartons of formula milk for babies - it was really thoughtful of them and made up for the horrid customs man who had forced me to empty my baby's bottle as it was from the UK and therefore obviously contaminated.

Good grief fancy emptying a baby's bottle! Good to hear positive stories about Ski Beat, shows that they're consistent.

Re the all day skiing, Ski Beat recommend (and people in our chalet thought they were good) Magic In Motion as a ski school for children. Their week's lessons includes 2 full days for the children so that would give you plenty of free time to ski. We didn't use them as we do the ESF thing, and they were a bit more expensive.

Are you there Bettys? I'm about to try and book ski beat to La Tania, do you have any tips? Or do you recommend a particular chalet. DD is 4.5.
I've never stayed in a chalet, always done self catering but this time I need the childcare and could do with the break from cooking etc. So I don't know what to expect from chalets and I'm worried that the other guests will be a nightmare and that I won't be able to escape from them.

Just seen this, sorry!
If you ring SkiBeat and ask they will tell you who the others booked into the chalet are - always useful if you have children. I deliberately booked into a chalet that already had children of a similar age staying so that ds would have someone to play with. I also avoided a chalet that was made up of young couples. There's usually enough going on that you're not stuck with people, and you can always slope off to your room.

We were in Emeralde which was fine - I've just looked at the website and seen that they've now added videos of the interiors which gives a pretty exact idea. Also check out the chalet map - Beriozka is too far from the centre really. Emeralde is where we stayed and was fine, very handily placed and the chalet boys were good cooks and very friendly. Also met the nannies (though we didn't use them) and they were nice, and the child in the chalet who was with them and ESF had a great time (she was also 4.5). Interestingly, we spent a long time chatting to the resort manager and he said the only other company that is comparable to SkiBeat in La Tania, and who they like is Le Ski, so it might be worth checking their website out.

I really recommend getting the train if you're based in the South-East as those with small children said the 3 hour transfer from Grenoble on the coach was a bit grim. They arrived at 8.30pm a good 2.5 hours after us.

We've also done self-catering in the last few years as it's easier when the children are small, but I have to say with no cooking, shopping or cleaning to be done after a days skiing I enjoyed this holiday much much more!
If there's anything else you want to know just ask!

thanks bettys. Good advice about the far out chalet which I was considering as it's cheaper, but don't fancy the walk. Can't wait!

Back a week from having been in La Plagne with Skibeat - agree very good. Chalets not as luxurious as Esprit I don't think but better than crystal/first choice. Child care good and provisions for them were good. Booking people very friendly and well informed !! Will use them again.

Back again. Had excellent conditions for time of year with fresh snow midweek. One day of limited visibility but otherwise sunny, warm and powdery snow! dd (4) had a ball once she got over being left in Ski School 4 hours a day and was able to race down a blue run slalom and take bumps (cue heart in mouth) at full speed. ds equally had a really good week and explored areas and runs he hadn't done before. Both very proud of their medals and badges !

Who did you go with LIZS? We went with Esprit, and had a really good time (La Rosiere).

Saas Grund/Saas Fee with school group