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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Help with researching a ski holiday

11 replies

WatermelonSugarLow · 05/01/2025 09:57

Can anyone help by pointing me in a helpful direction to research a first time ski holiday?

I haven't been before, husband went years ago. Two DC 7&9 who haven't been but are both fairly adventurous.

I've always had ski holidays flagged as being really expensive so have dismissed the idea before now but I think I need to open my mind and try to understand just how much in reality a holiday like this would cost. I guess popular resorts carry a heavier price tag but we'd just need decent ish snow, hotel not too far from the slopes and option of ski school I'm guessing?

So bearing in mind we are pretty much beginners, where could I look that gives us the experience without costing the earth?

OP posts:
TickingAlongNicely · 05/01/2025 10:02

Look at one of the big package providers... Crystal for example. (DiY is great when you know what you are doing, but not as beginners)

You will need a package including equipment, lessons, accommodation and ski passes. Probably half board if you are in lessons as well.

ObieJoyful · 05/01/2025 10:06

We have been to Puy St Vincent many times with our kids. It’s relaxed, easy to get to the slopes, inexpensive (go through Mount Vacation and your lift passes come with your accommodation, saving you hundreds).

If booking accommodation through MV, check the wording, not the photo though!

The snow stays there late- we usually go in March- it’s sunny and there’s still snow!

stringbean · 05/01/2025 10:34

Ski Famille and Family Ski Company get a lot of mentions on the skiing forum - not used either (we always drive/self-cater) but might be worth exploring for a first option. You don't mention time of year - if considering Christmas/NY or Easter, you would need a high resort for guaranteed snow; if Feb half term you could probably consider most resorts in France, Austria, Italy but be mindful of French school holidays at that time - can make some of the resorts there extremely busy. In particular , you need to be sure that lessons are available when you book your holiday - don’t leave that to the last minute if you're going at a peak time.

DogDaysNeverEnd · 05/01/2025 10:43

Look at action outdoors who sell ucpa trips to France. Ucpa is not for profit to encourage people into activities. They have family weeks that are a bit rough around the edges but the absolute best value trip you will get. They include everything you need except flights and drinks.

JC03745 · 05/01/2025 10:44

DH and I used to ski annually, although we aren't beginners. I too would look at the package tour operators- crystal, igluski, tui etc. From memory, neilson were a bit more expensive. Package would include your flights, transfers and accomodation. They will also help with ski hire, lift tickets, lessons and extra activities, depending where you, are such as sleigh rides, dog sledging, pub crawls etc.

You then have the option of self catering, breakfast only, half board or full board. SC is cheapest on paper, but do you want to be cooking whilst on holiday? You might end up spending more on meals out/buying ingredients. It does give you the option to cook specific things if anyone has allergies/aversions. 1 place we did SC at though was tiny. Bunk beds, then a pull out sofa. Luckily it was just DH and myself staying, and not all SC are tiny. Check reviews and room sizes though.

We've often gone full or half board. At breakfast, 1 place gave us a drink, fruit, chocolate and wrapped roll to take for lunch, in the afternoons they had tea/coffee and cake and the most amazing all you could eat evening meal with unlimited wine! 1 hotel we loved and went back twice, was hotel Du Col in Sestriere, Italy. Great breakfast and amazing evening meals. And true ski and ski out. From inside the hotel, you could ski out the back door right onto the slopes!

This site is useful because you can filter resorts for beginners, countries and read reviews. https://www.skiclub.co.uk/ Also check on trip advisor for reviews and distances to the lifts. For me, having to get a bus to the ski lifts is a PITA! I much prefer ski in-ski out. Happy to answer any questions.

Ski Club of Great Britain

Discover better skiing with the Ski Club, celebrating 120 years of helping its Members through Reps, holidays, discounts and much more.

https://www.skiclub.co.uk

Iwishiwasagiraffe · 05/01/2025 10:46

Following. We are also thinking of going. I can ski to a basic level, DH is a good skier and the kids are new to it (aged 9 and 12)

KentishMama · 05/01/2025 10:59

I just went skiing for the first time ever with DS9!

We booked a hotel with half board and a skiing package including lift passes and ski rental.
We then booked private lessons for 4 out of the 6 days we were there.

With hindsight, there were a few things that I would keep the same, and some I'd change:

Keep:

  • Book half board or all inclusive so you don't need to worry about food when you're exhausted from skiing
  • Our hotel had a good kids club in the afternoon and evenings, so I got some time to myself
  • Book lift passes and equipment up front so it's easy
  • Cheap-ish ski clothing from H&M and Mountain Warehouse was great for both of us
  • Planning a day off after the first two days of lessons was good because we were knackered
  • Our hotel was right next to the lifts - I would hate having to take buses with all the gear etc!

Change:

  • Find a resort with lots of green runs. Ours only had pretty challenging blues, so we didn't really get a chance to practice what we learnt away from the nursery slopes. I'm hearing good things about Val Thorens...
  • Find a resort with a few more non-ski things to do. There was absolutely nothing in ours, and I got a little bored...
  • A really good indoor pool and jacuzzi would have been great. Our hotel had a pool, but for some reason it was 28°C, which is okay for swimming but not for lazily floating around...
Inspirationfailure · 05/01/2025 11:14

As a ball park, I would say in school holidays, all in - including all meals/drinks, lift passes, lessons, transfers etc etc - you are looking at £1.5K per person. You can do it for less, especially if you self cater, share a small studio, don’t eat out and stick to smaller resorts (not a bad thing for beginners), and you can also pay a lot more.
Have a look at the packages on offer with Crystal or similar as a starting point.

Inspirationfailure · 05/01/2025 11:18

PS there is a skiing board www.mumsnet.com/talk/ski-snowboarding

Pottingup · 05/01/2025 11:18

We went to Bulgaria - Pamporovo a few years ago. The kids and I hadn’t skied before but DH had. We stayed in a hotel and had private lessons and it was really reasonable. Food was good generally and lunches/dinners not expensive.

coralsky · 05/01/2025 11:19

If money is tight then Bulgarian resorts are much cheaper (borovets, Bansko) and actually the hotel rooms are much nicer than a basic chalet in the Swiss/ French alps for the same price. The mountains and food aren't as good though.

I'd look on vinted for your ski gear. Pointless spending loads if you're not going every year. Tk maxx and Lidl have some bargains too.

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