Skiing for the non skiing mum

[laptopdancer]

Hi. I am after some advice and I will warn you that I am a difficult case. I have been on 2 previous skiiing holidays but won't bore with those. Im wondering if I can have a little advice for a non skiier?

We are going away for XMas and I have chosen to agree to skiiing as I'd love to see my 8 year old have another go at it.
Our budget isnt huge so we have been looking at Bulgaria (half heartedly), Austria and Andorra.
I am after the dream - somewhere right near the place you drop kids to ski school ( I have an extreme phobia of icy pavements so need to be close ) and somewhere I can hang around and watch the lessons.

Know of any?

How about Kuhtai in Austria. Not far from Innsbruck airport. Small resort and you can walk out of the hotels to the ski schools if you stay in the centre of the village...

We used to travel to La Plagne (French Alps). Drove down and pre-booked apartment locally through on-line sites. Door to door skiing. High altitude so good snow. Children's lessons (for early stages) are on the doorstep. A lot of the runs return to Plagne Centre so family could see you during the day. They could return to eat with you lunchtime in your apartment. A lot of the apartments are linked with underground walkways that take you to the shops (great in bad weather). Good supermarket, lovely restaurants. When my youngest was a toddler she did some half days in the creche and I wandered about the resort as a foot passenger. You can take lifts up to mountain peaks and spend time in the restaurant/bar at the top. We tried some other resorts but non compared for ease of movement when you've got young children.

I'm a budget Christmas ski holiday customer too! We're heading to Andorra this year as couldn't get the same deal for Austria as we had last year. Apparently out hotel is 50m from the gondola up to the slopes. Have stayed in Bride les Bains with Ski Weekends, cheap and cheerful. Never had any snow in Bride, stayed week before Christmas and around Easter time, there is a gondola from Bride les Bains which takes you up to the slopes so no icy pavements likely in the town.

I've been to Bulgaria, Pamporovo, we had to get bus to the ski school which I think was from very close to the hotel.

Just to add to my previous post - we stayed in Plagne Centre (there are various villages in La Plagne.

Am not sure your wish to watch the lessons is achievable anywhere though? Our 5 and 7 year old hadn't skied before and both were up the mountain on day 2 of lessons last year. You'll be able to drop off but there won't be much you can watch?

Les deux alpes is a great resort - quite small but with great access to the slopes from most accommodation. Lots of self catering options and 2 supermarkets in resort.

Sorry hadnt checked back to reply. Thanks for all the advice :) We booked Andorra as they said the ski school is near paces I can stay.