Am I mad to do a group ski trip with 2 under 3?

[melonian]

Am feeling torn!

Our great friends are planning a group ski trip of prob 14 adults and 1 baby, which we have been invited on. DH and I are novice skiers and our DC are 1 and 2.5.

We have no kit, and have never taken the DC abroad before. I can't decide if it would be a wonderful chance to get DS started on skis or if I'd just be stuck in a chalet for a week with 2 grumpy kids. In the recent snow they both got grumpy & cold after about 20min.

DH is great and would share childcare, and another couple have a baby so 1 of them will be around. Is there anything else to do in ski resorts except ski? Am not that keen on putting them in nursery. DD is not yet walking so I imagine it will be difficult to get her out that much as she weighs a ton.

Does anyone have any experience or advice they could share, or should we just wait until next year?

Personally I wouldn't, a year or even two will make so much difference to your experience. You'd need to pick a large resort or accommodation with a pool but indoor actviities otherwise are usually pretty limited. 2.5 is young to try skiing especially since you are both novices adn can't really help out. Very few place soffer any sor tof lessons at that age. Alternating lessons and chidcare will mean you won't make a lot of progress but possibly still be charged full whack. Can you use a creche for lesson times at least ? You could hire a toboggan with a seat to get your dd to get her around. Even if she learns to walk in the meantime , snow is a whole new texture to deal with.

I think that it might be enough to put you off going ever again!
If there were more in the group with young children it might be workable, but as it is, there's huge scope for you to spend most evenings stuck in the chalet with the parent(s) of the baby while everyone else goes out to play.

FWIW we are going ski-ing for the first time in 14 years this season, having waited for our youngest to be 4 and thus eligible for ski-school.

we waited till ours were 4 before we took them properly skiing, but if there is a creche in the resort you use, it will probably be ok (if you don't mind your holidays being spent with kids in childcare).you will prob need somewhere with a pool (either in the resort or in the hotel), and a larger resorts with other sctivities available. you are right - little ones get cold and fed up quickly in snow.

a much better solution (if you can pull it off) is to leave kids with grandparents for the week while you go skiing - that way next year you will be better equipped to help them, and you will be able to enjoy a wonderful holiday together (and it will be much cheaper!)

fwiw a lot of childcare in the alps has a very 'transient' population of clients, so there tends to be a lot of bugs going around.

Go and enjoy. . or try to . Your two little ones will be ok, you've just got to wrap them up well. Gloves, hats, thermals, tights etc. . .well bundled up. . .and you too. Depends if you want to ski all day, or, are you prepared (with DH) to share the trundling around, the shorter, meal orientated, nappy changing nursery day of the children.

I'll come with you and mind the children, as long as i get 2-3 hrs to ski as well. . .sorry, am a ski fanatic, but have had 30 yrs of experience taking care of children. Am Montessori nursery qualified, 10 yrs as a nanny and my oldest DS is now 22yrs so very Mummsy qualified, , oh and fitness instructor of 15 yrs so fit too. . .

We have taken our children on ski holidays since they were babies but we have always gone with companies that provide in house childcare.
I agree with Greygirl that age 4 is about the right time to start your children skiing.
Companies that provide childcare are Mark Warner, Ski Esprit, Ski Beat & Family Ski. Also, look at Ski Famille, Ski Magic, Family Friendly Skiing, Snowcrazy - these are smaller companies operating out of one or two resorts that will provide you with an in house nanny.

Or in some resorts you can hire a private nanny although we have always gone for the in-house nanny ourselves - look at Snowbabies or Jelly & Ice Cream. If you split the cost with the family that have the baby it would not be that expensive.

Given the money you pay for a ski holiday I think it is definately worth paying the extra for in house childcare so that you get a holiday too. If you don't have childcare then you really won't have much of a ski hol. In which case, save your money and go with the kids in a couple of years.

We have just had a great holiday with Family Friendly Skiing in La Tania ( 3 Vallees) - the nannny was so good. We would recommend them.