No child ski lessons available at all in Val D'isere.

[VivaLeBeaver]

We go in a fortnight, only booked it last week. Esprit don't have space in Sprites but we thought we'd book with ESF or Evolution 2. Neither are running childrens' group lessons. Evolution 2 said to email them again next week incase they decide to put a course on but they think its unlikely, they've offered us private lessons at 50euros an hour which we can't afford. Remind me NEVER to book a last minute ski holiday again, its going to be a total disaster.

Have you tried looking at the tourist board website for Val d'isere? There's an english language version and there are details of all the other ski schools in resort. There are loads. We've only ever used evolution but I've always seen lots of kids out with snow fun and I think oxygene has a good reputation. Good luck

Not even in French I'm sure you'll eb able to sort something out in resort.

hello again, this is NOT GOING TO BE A DISASTER. you are going to triumph over adversity and have a great time.is your daughter old enough for adult classes? we had some 13 yr olds in with us last year, and they seemed to quite enjoy being with grown ups. i seem to recall your DD is about 10, not sure if that is too young or not.
if you're in an adult class would you take her with you?
alternatively you could try a joint private lesson for two of you, which might work out slightly cheaper.
if the worst comes to the worst, you and DH will have to alternate looking after her while the other one skis, but I suspect you might be able to find some routes to do as a family, with the aim of skiing to a cafe for lunch.
there must be tonnes of ski schools over there, i am sure you will find something suitable.
Good Luck!

Thanks for the advice, I've now checked out the tourist website and emailed/rang every ski school. Only Oxygene are running kid's classes, the others aren't, not even French ones. They say that there isn't the demand in January.

Oxygene classes are 275r euros without lunch or 410euros with lunch. I suspect we'll have to book her in for the non-lunch option. Not spoken to DH yet so don't know how that 275r euros option compares to Sprites, I imagine a lot more expensive.

DD is 9 and a small 9yo, she's the size of a 7yo so I don't think they will let her in adult classes. I'm not planning on having lessons this year and even if they did accept her in adult classes I think I'd need to go with her so would probably cost as much.

The other option is that ratehr than her having 5x 3 hour group lessons we could pay for 3x 2 hour private lessons. The private lessons are for 1-2 people so I'd be able to go as well. I'd say we ski a similar level, can go down reds and easy blacks with not much technique but without too much falling over. It would cost 300euros for 3 lessons so a similar price to the 5 monrings of group lessons. Trying to weigh up which would be of most benefit.

If we have the 3x private lessons then the other days she'd need to ski with us all the time. She's competent enough to but would just whinge so much. She's not the keenedt skier and would be happier back at the chalet playing on her Dsi.

There may well be school groups being taught by ESF instructors that week, it's part of French/Belgian school curriculum that you spend a couple of weeks in the Alps at around age 10-12 and ESF is often used for the lessons. You could be very cheeky and just tag yourselves onto the end of a group.

275 euro is incredibly expensive, paying 106 euro for 6 * 2 1/2 hour lessons in Les Houches and the groups are limited this year to 6 to 1 for little ones, I know Val d'Isere is known as arguably the most expenisve resort in the Alps, but 275 euro, that's taking the micky. I'd go for the private lesson option.

Have you thought about Tignes? OR anywhere else in Espace Killy?

Well DH said we'd pay the 420 euros so she could have lunch as well. I nearly fell over but quickly booked with his credit card, it does seem really expensive though.

He reckons its not much more than Sprites lessons and lunch with Esprit, I don't believe him but daren't check.

Are you sorted VivaLeBeaver - I'm just this hour back from val d'Isere...

my lot are older so we didn't have to worry about ski school ( and anyway it was still school holidays so there seemed to be plenty of child groups around...

But we have become quite good friends with a ski guide out there - and his absolutely lovely wife works for a company called Mountain masters, I think their junior section is called mountain monsters, not sure what agegroup that is for. Did you try them?

I could text myt friends to see if they can help if you're not sorted, though reading your last post it seems you are...

Have a lovely holiday

The Esprit website for 24th January shows "sprite guided fun" available still for £189, according to the website it's afternoon informal skiing....
Or there are sprites classes available in Tignes. These options are half the supervised lunch and lessons price of Oxygene, honestly cannot believe how a school can charge that much.

sorry meant 17th Janaury, I assume this is your week.

Yes it is 17th Jan. We wanted her to go in the morning as she'll be more whingy tired in the afternoon. Never thought about the Tignes option but probably wouldn't have made it over to Tignes for 9:00am. Anyway, DH has paid it not me so I'm going to erase the price from my mind otherwise I might cry.

Holly - we did look at Mountain Masters but they were more expensive than Oxygene - 380 euros for 5 mornings of group lessons, not inc lunch. So I think to be honest we didn't even email them about availability.