Europe ski place for children’s first time

[Codlingmoths]

Hi all, wondering if we should consider taking our kids skiiing in Europe in the next few years, we are not a skiing family, have no gear and would all need lessons so it would need to be a friendly resort that caters to that! The 3 dc would be 5 to 12 or 7 to 15 type range, we are in Australia so I have no idea when we would go but we have family we’d want to see :) near Geneva or in France would be convenient as we speak some French and have family, but asking about anywhere really, and budget would be very relevant, we aren’t super wealthy and it’s obviously a big holiday from Australia. I’ll bump this in the uk daytime :)

Oh gosh. Some amazing resorts from Geneva, lots! But none cheap (cheap skiing is places like Bulgaria).

what’s your budget?

I have no idea re budget! Definitely not heading off to Bulgaria for budget reasons, I know skiiing isn’t cheap. I want good access, family friendly and comfortable, but not people wearing moncler. I’ll work out if I can afford it once I find out what midrange is?

From Australia??

Wouldn't be taking a 5 year old skiing anyway. Or a 7 year old.

Isn't it 24 hour flight anyway to Europe?

Take them to a local beach, or for a walk.

Mumsnet gets crazier by the day lol

but not people wearing moncler.

What's that?

you may have missed that we have family over there who would love to see us, and love to have us for Christmas :) my children were born in the uk originally. It’s more than a 24 hour flight and we are staying at the beach now like we do every year. It’s ok to have a change :)

A luxury ski brand, or perhaps a luxury brand that does ski ranges. I just mean not a resort where everyone is wealthy and in designer gear.

Hello there is actually a Ski and Snowboarding board that is really knowledgeable and loves this kind of question op
l

@MrsStickMan i might try it there! Thanks :)

5 and 7 are ideal ages to learn to ski.

What’s the issue here?

How is taking them for a walk or to the beach comparable with going on a ski holiday???

OP we are currently in Zell am See Austria. Both here and the neighbouring resort of Kaprun are great for youngsters. We saw loads out yesterday in their ski schools. If you were more keen on France I would recommend Morzine/ Avoriaz/ Les Gets

I have found the skiiing chat page so will be reading through that a bit before posting, it’s very helpful! Thanks @LoudSnoringDog I’ll look at those names.

Do you nean skiing over actual Christmas or before/after Christmas... Christmas is very early in the ski season so will limit the resorts you can go to. You need high uo/glacier resorts. A lit of the cheapest ones won't be operational by then.

There are a LOT of resorts easily accessible from Geneva.

budget - well, most resorts have a range of options.

cheapest we have found is usually Pierre et vacance who do self catering apartments. Speaking French is a requirement here as it’s a French company aimed at French speakers. You’d need to sort ski passes and hire separately but that is easily done. When I say self catering it’s a small kitchenette. Shops up the mountain are small and expensive and aimed at the “grabbing snacks from my hotel” crowd.

but you can source breakfast quite easily, lunch is usually a restaurant on the slopes (varies from plate of chips to haute cuisine depending on restaurant but they’re all expensive) and dinner can be takeout pizza/pasta and sauce.

then there’s hotels, or the other option is a catered chalet. The chalets usually include flights from the U.K. but I expect you can get them without. These prices include all food and drink except lunch, and the food is usually pretty good,

ski in ski out hotels/buildings are good for beginners as it saves you taking all your ski gear on a bus. Also look for biggish resorts that have plenty of blue or green runs. Reds and blacks are more intermediate/advanced.

personally I’d recommend Avoriaz or arc 2000

https://www.pierreetvacances.com/gb-en?currency=GBP&gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GOO_PV_UK_ENG_Brand&utm_id=192841686&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=192841686&gbraid=0AAAAADkCsp1FgmJTZZx0chQhsLp4EGWbP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwtG3-ofqkQMVOZJQBh3H2TJEEAAYAiAAEgLpk_D_BwE

youll be going super early in the season so go high-

tignes
val thorens

ski hire with helmets is normal but you’ll neeed gloves, goggles and outfits. Maybe borrow from family?

ski school in France is usually ESF, but I prefer the company oxygen. Smaller groups. Friendlier.

about £5k for a week self catering maybe? Not including your flights. Ski pass is £250p/adult. Ski school is about the same again. You can choose morning or afternoon sessions.

Ski familiie is a dedicated company with catered chalets and nannies. That would be more like £9k. Maybe more.

Plenty of tour operators like crystal or Ingram’s. We book our own ski trips and use air bnb for accommodation.

Or club med in La plange. Loved it there.

It is much cheaper outside European school holidays (French and UK) so later January might work for you.

If you are thinking Christmas or early January altitude is everything, it’s early in the ski season these days, climate change means that only the highest have sufficient natural snow and even they supplement with snow blowers. Look at smaller high altitude resorts with complete learn to ski packages, I learned in France but resort has since closed (too low) but there are options which you access from Geneva airport, just a long time since my dc were little! We skied in Germany a couple of times but February half term, different sort of set up, not so resort like more just day skiing

Is Easter too late in the season? That’s our next term holiday break from school, I don’t really want them to miss the first week of the school year (although you don’t get fined here!! 🤪)

thank you all so helpful! Sounds like ski famille would be pretty £££ if it’s say £9k + £500 passes + lessons+ lunches and going out and we will need ski suits and gloves and glasses ( but that’s the same everywhere) , it looks very convenient though, our kids do like their food... Flights are probably about £5k.

Coming all the way from Aus at that time of year I’d do Tignes or Three Valleys (probably Val Thorens although it does get busy). Taking no chances. Val d’Isere very popular with wealthy Aussie families I hear. Sadly Xmas experience in Morzine was poor this year as snow cover yet again has been thin and slopes overcrowded. Recommend ski board or the experts over on snow heads.

Same recommendations for Easter by the way!

My kid’s school ski trip always went at Easter.

snow cover will be dodgy low down but go high up and you’ll find snow.

relatively warm as well - Feb half term can be brutally cold.

snow is often a bit slushy by that point in the season.

obviouslt some Easters are later than others. Not sure what the date is this year.

Italy would have some good options. You’re get a better idea if you use a site such as Crystal ski, and start plugging in some possible dates and resorts to get a feel. One aspect to research is the cost of the lift pass. It can vary by several hundred pounds depending on the resort.

Have you looked into skiing in Japan and not combining it with your European trip (just in case that’s something you hadn’t thought of, sorry if you’ve already considered it).

Absolutely need a high resort for Easter. Would also echo Val Thorens or Les Arcs