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Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

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Original poster

has anyone used Family Ski Company?

49 replies

mckenzie · 07/01/2012 19:34

Are they any good? We took the peeps last year for the first time properly (DS was 9 and DD was just turned 6) and we are looking to go again this year with them.

TIA

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HarrogateMum · 08/01/2012 15:48

No but going with them on 21st jan! Iwishiwasmoresparkly has been with them before and is going again so hopefully she will be along to give you her thoughts !

Original poster

mckenzie · 08/01/2012 19:52

thanks HM. Hope you have fun. where are you going?

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HarrogateMum · 09/01/2012 11:00

We are going to Ardent, just in the Morzine/Avoriaz area. I am a shocking skier so will do mornings only and spend the afternoons either lying down reading a book or in a spa!

MollieO · 09/01/2012 21:02

There is absolutely nothing to do in Ardent but you can get the bus to Morzine. Morzine is lovely for wandering around. Lots of nice shops and restaurants. Also Ardent tends to be cold and shady during the day when there is lovely blue sky and sun up the mountain.

I thought the childcare was good at Family Ski for the younger ones. Not impressed by the care provided for the ones that are skiing a lot - I think those aged 7 and over. Not much supervision the year I went with them and one of the reasons I wouldn't go with them again.

Thought the ESF ski school was also very hit and miss, more so than other resorts we've been too.

Original poster

mckenzie · 09/01/2012 22:01

thanks Mollieo and HM. Reading their site more, i did get the impression it was geared towards families with young children who would not be skiing whereas our two will be skiing, every day we hope. Looks like it's back to Ski Esprit then. If they would only answer their phone, I might even get a quote from them

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MollieO · 10/01/2012 00:01

We went to Morzine last season. Ds was 6 and skied all day every day. I'd hurt my back about 3 weeks before we travelled so wasn't able to ski at all. Ds had the choice of half days skiing and doing an afternoon activity with me or skiing all day. He chose skiing. I was amazed at his stamina and also realised that I'm no longer limited to companies that provide childcare. Currently trying to book something for Easter but can't make up my mind where to go!

WelshMoth · 10/01/2012 07:01

Good thread. I'm consider, along with a few other families, going along this route with the larger chalets. Mixed ability group, children aged between 3-7 years. Watching with interest.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/01/2012 10:16

We're going with FSC the week after next for our 3rd year .

Our dc are 6 and 3, and all of the other families that we're going with have dc of the same ages or younger so I can only talk about our experiences with younger children.

We've found them to be great, having the extra helper in the younger childrens ski classes has been brilliant, the lunches have been good and then fun, varied actvities in the afternoon (ours son't ski in the afternoons yet). On the chalet staff's night off they put babysitters in your chalet (staff that the younger children know from nursery) and will take and collect you from your restaurant of choice.

Yes there is nothing else in Ardent apart from chalets and a bubble lift, but that's fine by us! We have a hot tub, plenty of wine and a chalet full of friends to catch up with! Yes it's shady but we're up the mountain and so will both of our ds's be this year for the mornings at least. Even the children in nursery get taken up in the lift to look at the skiers and have a hot chocolate as long as their parents are happy with that.

We'll have to see about other options as our ds's get older I imagine but for now FSC works brilliantly.

WelshMoth · 10/01/2012 11:47

Great post IwishIwasmoreorganised, thanks.

Sounds fab and gets my vote. Only prob is the resort - the other ladies are not skiiers and want some shops to browse in. May try FSC in another resort.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/01/2012 13:28

Saas Fee maybe?

BeachMum3 · 10/01/2012 14:13

We have been with FSC to Ardent 3 times and are off to Saas Fee this weekend for our 4th year with them -can't wait!!

We have always had an amazing time and our girls (now aged 4,7&10) always really enjoy it. The ski school helpers are there for the beginners and are excellent - really helps us relax knowing our little ones have a friendly face to look after them and pick them up when they fall over.

The kids clubs in the afternoons are also great. My girls always wanted to go there, and even chose kids club over spending an afternoon with us, so they must have been fun! Even the bigger ones enjoyed it - they sang songs they had learned all the way home in the car last year! There is an option for the over 7's to go out skiing with the ski school helpers a couple of afternoons - my now 10 year old had an amazing afternoon with them!

It is true that there isn't much going on in Ardent, but we have never found that to be a problem as we tend to ski all day and then relax in the hot tub, eat and drink in the evenings. There is a bus into Morzine if you fancy a change of scene off skis.

This year we are off to Saas Fee which looks like it has a lot more going on - I will post again when I get back to let you know how that is :)

WelshMoth · 10/01/2012 14:37

This is really, really useful stuff! Huge thanks BeachMum3 and IWishIwasmoreorganised.

Awaiting your return with interest

Have a fab time.

Original poster

mckenzie · 10/01/2012 14:39

ditto guys, thank you. I'm just contact FSC now to see what they have left available.

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WelshMoth · 10/01/2012 14:48

mckenzie sorry - I feel I've hijacked your thread somewhat.

Am just so excited (although since it's not until 2013, I'm going to be a gibbering wreck unless I cool down!).

Good luck with booking something.

Original poster

mckenzie · 10/01/2012 17:23

please don't apologise WM. More than happy to share the thread .

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/01/2012 19:46

Ooohh BeachMum3 Please report back on Saas Fee - especially the getting across town on the train to get to the slopes.

We like the look of it, but that part has put us off so far!

Hope you have a great trip.

MollieO · 10/01/2012 20:43

I thought what FSC did very well indeed were the afternoon activities. Ds absolutely loved it and they did something different everyday. Including jousting on sledges and lots of outdoors stuff, as well as more crafty things too. He was 4.5 when we went with them.

Original poster

mckenzie · 10/01/2012 21:22

those that have been to Ardent with FSC, which chalet would you recommend please?

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MollieO · 10/01/2012 21:51

The one nearly directly opposite the gondola. Can't remember its name. We stayed in Grolets and ds moaned a lot about walking to and from the gondola. There is a path you can ski but not with a beginner out of control small person

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/01/2012 21:58

We go with a group of friends and Grolets suits us perfectly in terms of room sizes and layout so that's where we're staying again.

Cosy is the closest to the gondola but only sleeps 1 family, Les Granges is the closest bigger chalet.

It really depends on who you're going with.

There is a village plan on FSC website I think - the furthest chalet is only about 400m from the gondola. You (as parents) only need to get your dc up the mountain in the morning - the FSC staff bring them down at lunchtime .

Original poster

mckenzie · 10/01/2012 22:06

thanks Guys, only three are available for the dates we want and they are all the larger ones.

DH is getting worried that we'll end up sharing with Mr and Mrs Knob and their 3 young Knobetts. I told him that only nice people go skiing

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/01/2012 22:08

You could ask about the other guests - they'll probably tell you the ages of their dc so that you can "match" your families.

Original poster

mckenzie · 10/01/2012 22:10

let's be honest, those other guests are probably equally as worried about ending up with Mr and Mrs Mckenzie and their two little mckenzies!

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IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/01/2012 22:16

That's why we fill a chalet with friends that we know - to avoid ending up sharing with the McKenzies!

Original poster

mckenzie · 10/01/2012 22:20

oh let us come with you Iwish.. i promise we'll all behave ourselves

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