Skiing Advice

[Spoo]

Can anyone help me with some advice about taking a 12 month old skiing?
We have been skiing for the last 7 years and usually go on chalet holidays. However we have never done this with a baby (he will be 12 months next Feb). I have been recommended Mark Warner and the childcare looks great - can anyone recommend a chalet company with good childcare. Can anyone recommend a particular Mark Warner chalethotel? Any other tips would be appreciated.

Ski cuisine are good, but not cheap, as you need to arrange your own travel. Some nice chalets though - all in Meribel. A nanny will come to the chalet for 5 and half days - costs £325. The child sharing your room (cot, high chairs meals etc provided costs £110.

Their web site is here .

Have not used them myself however Ski Esprit come very highly recommended.

THanks I have requested some brochures. However I am fairly taken with Mark Warner although DH is not too keen on the price.

Have a look at Ski Scott Dunn, they are very good and their brochures brighten any coffee table!

Ski Esprit are really good with small children and cheaper than Mark Warner. They often have cheap last minute deals coming up when the season gets underway - providing you are not planning on going in the school hols - so it might be worth waiting a while. Mark Warner also do last minute discounts.

I have friends who have used Ski Espirt very happily. Another friend has also used Mark Warner on many occasions - both summer and winter.

Family friendly ski cos:
Ski Famille
Hillwood
Family Ski Co
Mark Warner
Minster Alpine
Snowbizz good budget choice, and their own childcare.
360 Sun and Ski (pretty village, family rooms, you only pay for food for the kids)
Family Friendly skiing
Family Ski (Norway)
Ski Esprit

I'm sure I'll think of some more in a bit...

The best place I have stayed at is Hotel Val D'Isere - Mark Warner. Hotel fairly basic but food good and a nice outdoor swimming pool. Childcare v.good and slopes are only a few minutes walk away.

Thank you again - have requested a load more brochures. Thank you Lunar Sea. Ski Famille look really good. Have you been to any of these are these comapnies you have used?

Spoo - I'm afraid I haven't actually used any of these (all of these are Europe based and these days I - and therefore ds - spend most of my skiing life in Canada). But as my real life alter ego happens to be a qualified ski instructor I do talk a lot to other people in the industry so I've got a fairly good feel for who has a good reputation and who hasn't.

Another one which should be on that list - Simply Ski .

Lunarsea, Hi!
just wondered if you have been skiing in Colorado?
Our 7 and 6 year old have been with for the last 2 seasons but we wanted to take our willbe 3.5 year old with us next Feb.

Always fancied Aspen but any ideas would be welcome!

Snowmass was amazing - first week of January - had the slopes to ourselves

Didn't like Aspen - too expensive and very overrated imho

Snowmass does look great for children, dp a little worried due the lack of alpine charm?? hense Aspen. How was the ski school?

Snowmass and Aspen are next door to each other, so scenery more or less the same, Don't know about ski school as we didn't take the kids that time, as ds was a baby - Most American ski schools will be good though - I learnt out there

We took a 20 mnth old to alpe d'huez with crystal last year - the creche was in the building and the hotel did kids teas. Would recommend them - cheaper than mark warner i think.

Have used Ski Esprit in Chamonix and would not recommend it (dd was 6 months old). Childcare was great - however hchalet/hotel was shabby and the room were tiny. Room where the creche was was also not so hot.

Went with Mark Warner to Meribel/Mottaret this year and can't fault them (dd was 16 months). Excellent childcare right next to the slopes so the children got to play out in the snow, go for crepes and hot chocolate, bubble rides, etc. Hotel rooms really nice and spacious, facilities good and adult/kids excellent. Can't remember the name of the place but it was the only place the run in Mottaret. Right next to the piste too so complete ski in/out.

Look at Snowfocus - small company but very family friendly, owners have small children themselves. Have skied with them often and cannot recommend highly enough. click here

Thanks again for all your advice. Good to know that Mark Warner are good. We are currently looking at Family Ski in Les Coches. Looks good.

Spoo, have you looked at Ski Peak in Vaujany? I'd go there if I could afford it......

We went in Feb and booked all separetely not through travel operator. Our dd was 18mths then. Flew to Geneva and went to Chamonix.

Stayed in a great Chalet called Chalet Lounge. They orgnaised a friend who was nanny to come and stay with dd during the day cost about 300EUR for 6 days 12-5. She was great, came to the chalet and would be flexile if we were a little late.

The chalet it self was run by 2 great people who provided, cot, monitor, spoons, cup and would cook a few meals if we needed them to but generally we sorted her out our selves.

Overall fab holiday and will be going again!!

There web site is: www.chalet-lounge.com

I don't want to ski - just want to take my toddler to mess about in the snow for a few days, in December. Any recommendations for a good place to go?

AbsoluteBeginner I would highly recommend Austria, in particular Ramsau im Dachstien in the Stiermark (south of Salzburg). It is a Cross Country skiing and winter walking type of place. Have a look at www.ramsau.com, can highly recommend www.hotel-lindenhof.at We went there in Feb with ds (was 2.6) and enjoyed it so much we have just been back last week.

I should come clean and say I live in Austria so a bit biased but it is ideal if you are not after full on skiing. If you have access to Stansted then great cheap flights on Ryanair to Graz, Klagenfurt (and Linz) will all get you close to beautiful snowy resorts. Consider staying on a specialist childrens farm, look at www.farmholidays.com or a childrens hotel at www.kinderhotels.com. The main Austrian tourist website (in English) is www.tiscover.at

Thanks Lapsed, that all sounds good, will check it out.

ABeginner, we were in Austria in Feb and had a perfect time.. but if I was going with a toddler I would consider Switzerland, in particular Zermatt or Wengen.
Both are very pretty and both have lovely trains to slowly take you up the spectacular mountains. If £££ is no object try the Alex in Zermatt!! If your on a budget there are good deals to be had..
Another bonus is you can travel by train from the airport to these resorts, ie no travel sickness..
Villars also has trains as I remember..

I would recommend you go to Aspen for sure. Aspen ski vacation features some of the finest powder in the Rocky Mountains. The slopes are big and they provide a place where both skilled and new skiers can have a good time. So even though you are a beginner, you would have great fun there. You will also find some really challenging slopes at all of the resorts, and if you are into mogul skiing, Aspen is the place to be. For pretty much the entirety of the season, you will be able to find fresh powder, and the Aspen ski resorts go great lengths to make sure that it is kept in pristine condition. Read more about aspen ski holidays and aspen ski trips.