How has it gone?

[greygirl]

How did your skiing trip go this year? Did it go well? what would you change for next year? where did you go?

i will go first - i went to puy st vincent with snowbizz. It was fab. we are going again next year.
next year I will again book meet and greet parking, but take a few large black bin bags, some conditioner and hair de-tangler spray with me. I will get black thermals rather than white for the kids (less staining) and i will take 2 full sets of thermals each for them

anyone else got any wisdom to pass on?

Mrs Guy couldn't agree more re cleaning as you would know if you could see me sitting amongst the breakfast debris at 2pm. But the apartments are so small that it is 45 mins max to sweep up (no need to clean floors) and wipe down surfaces in kitchen and bath. i even cleaned the fridge this time. I take an e-cloth and an old towel with me, they often don't supply any detergents but are willing to sell you them for a fiver (so much nicer for everyone when they throw that in considering the cost of the holiday in the first place!) We take dishwasher tablets and a couple of washing machine tablets too as so expensive to buy out there.

This time we had a problem as the dishwasher broke whilst we were out there and they charged us to mend (we were over a barrel as they had our cc details even tho it wasn't working properly from the day we arrived) but as we spent the week arguing with them i was a bit nervous that the sweep round with a week old e-cloth wouldn't pass muster - but it did. Took them 2 minutes to look it over and we were in the clear.

I think Clam is right, they do come in and clean after you, but they don't want to be stripping the beds and doing dishes.

i found the clean at the end to be hard but not impossible (children all engaged with nintendos). I always take a cloth and dishwasher tablets and next yesr i'm taking a small bottle of washing up liquid, cos i resent paying 2euros for one in resort.

and in response to youdidwhat, i know what you mean about snowboarders (and skiers too it must be said) who try and do more than they are capable of, and don't quite understand what they are letting themselves in for - my favourite being the 'i did a black run on my second day' boarders, who just go down on a backside edge falling leaf...
you just make sure you've got a helmet if you are doing inverted tricks (am very impressed, i can only manage 180s, on a good day with a following wind)

went to Katschberg in Austria. The hotel is called Cristallo and it was a paradise for families. Ski in/out, nursery slope at the door and very easy access to plenty of red slopes. Short transfers (just over an hour) and everything you might want to keep your kids entertained after skiing (nursery, 3 pools, childrens sauna/steam bath, games room, bath-ball room, etc). Nice spa for the parents as well. I booked with Neilson and the only things I would do different would be taking less clothes for the evenings. It was hot inside the hotel, so all I would have needed was a couple of short sleeve tops.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but wondered if JustAnother could advise us further on Katschberg. We are seriously looking at Hotel Cristallo for next February half term. The hotel looks amazing, and the set up looks great for a DH and DD who have never skied before, what with nursery slopes and ski school right outside the door, ski hire and ski school based in the hotel etc. Great to read your very positive feedback.

But I am not sure if the skiing will be Ok for me.
I havent skied for 20 odd years so assume I will be happier on blues rather than reds, and believe Katschberg only has one blue run!
What do you think?
Also, what do beginners progress to once they move on from the nursery slopes - surely they cant spend days going up and down the one blue?!

Any advice much appreciated.