Esprit - snowclub & spritelets clothing & toys question

[bellatmum]

We're going away at half term with esprit with lots of family. 2 kids will be in snowclub & spritelets and doing supervised lunch. I'm sure they'll explain it better when we get there but I am turning my mind to packing and how much stuff we have to take (also have DS 6 and DD 1 to consider).

If the kids are doing snowclub, presumably they'll be in "normal" clothes for that and then change into salopettes etc in the afternoon - so will need enough normal clothes for everyday? Or do they just do snowclub wearing their base layers? And will they need a bag each for their clothes to go in and take to snowclub (ie school bag type thing?)

I'm presuming DS 6 will not need as many normal clothes as he's doing ski school in morning, and some ski-ing in afternoon with us so will mostly be in ski stuff.

I'm hoping to keep packing to a minimum (ulikely with 3 DCs I know!) but don't want to not take enough IYSWIM.

And I'm presuming there are no toys in chalet/ available to use? I know that most of the time we'll be out, so won't really need much. It mentions there's a TV, so I'm going to take a couple of DVDs in case there's a player.

Sorry that's a bit epic! Havent been ski-ing with kids before so its all a bit stressy!

Go to snow club in base layers. Save ordinary clothes for evenings....or just live in base layers if you're my dd. Chalets are warm so don't think you need lots of jumpers, they'll be in thinner tops inside.

Which chalet are you going to?

I take a small rucksack to put dds clothes in. Remember they'll need their own suncream, lip balm. If you can pick up a pair of cheap ski gloves in asda for a spare it's a good idea as these do get lost and are about £30 a pair in resort.

There are some toys, crAfty stuff in snow club and cocoa club But in the evenings they'll need their own stuff. You won't need much as by the time high tea finished and then had a bath they'll be knackered and wanting bed. Nintendo ds are always good. Label All clothes.

brilliant thank you viva. I'd presumed chalets would be warm - we're going to chalet olympus in les arcs.

Have got the individual sun cream/ lip balms already and will look out some extra gloves.

I think that ours will probably go straight to bed after tea and bath.
I'd better start on the clothes labelling (perhaps DS would wear his school uniform every day as it's already labelled????!!!!)

Did you take 2 lots of base layers for them?

We stayed in MacKinlay in Les Arcs last year. I found the chalet quite cool tbh and ended up wearing more layers indoors than I usually would in Esprit chalets. However, we were the only family in the chalet (designated for 4 families) so either Esprit weren't putting the heating on or the lack of other bodies made it feel cooler!

Snow Club was warm though so my DCs just ran around in tops and base layers/ski socks when in there. We barely packed any non-ski stuff for them (7 and 11) as they generally hang out in their gear or are in pjs. We take 2 lots of everything except for ski jacket (1 obviously) and ski socks (at least 4 pairs as they get so manky). Merino layers from Muddy Puddles are great for DCs and they offer express delivery for last minute purchases.

Our chalet had a DVD player, no toys but there is a nice pool in Chalet Altitude which I assume all Esprit guests are able to use.

Have you been to Les Arcs before? It is a compact resort and most of the Esprit chalets are within a few minutes walk of the poma to the main ski area. Arc 1950 is like a Disney-fied version of a ski resort but very pretty compared to Arcs 2000. Having said that, we had some good meals and found decent bars there. Definitely recommend Chalet Les Arcs for a piste-side lunch. Get there early as gets v busy but delicious food.

Thank you! very helpful. Now just have to work out how to fit everything into the suitcases - leaving next sunday - I can't wait!

We wore hardly any nonskiiing clothes last year, my kids would keep on their base layers and maybe put on joggers over/ instead of their thermal leggings. I took far too many clothes. You will need spare gloves so they have dry ones if they've played in the snow, I also took small snacks (Freddos or cereal bars) for them, we didn't need any more toys/ games than we'd taken for the flight.

oh yes forgot about snackage. We take mini-Mars Bars with us and stick one in DCs jacket pocket each morning before lessons. It's a real treat for them :)

not esprit, but just back from a week with DS ( age5) in kids club and ski school.
All teh kids seemed to spend their kids club time in base layer and slippers or socks. they had to have outdoor boots at club and their mid and outer layers as they went to ski school from club and also did some outdoor activities ( sledging, snow ball fight) in club time.
DS took his school bag to be his club bag. His skis and ski boots/ helmet lived in kids club over night as as to be in right place for his lesson. One of the kids club staff carried all the kids skis to ski school in a big holdall bag,