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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

Which ski company??

17 replies

k4mi · 21/01/2013 17:03

Hi,

We are desperate to get a way for a week on the slopes this winter with our DD who is just 1. There will be us and our daughter plus another (childless!) couple. I have had a reccommendation for Skibeat but have also seen Mark Warner and Espirit mentioned on here. we went away with Neilson this summer who were fantastic and our daughter loved it but I can't make much sense of family ski offering...it seems only one of their hotels has a creche.

Priorities are:

Good childcare for 1yr old who will clearly not be skiing!
Price (we are feeling the pinch)
Good food and drink in chalet / hotel

We are happy to book very last minute to get a good deal but is this risky considering we need the creche place?

Also any recommendations on resort? Ideally we'd like a short transfer as I have a feeling much more than a couple of hours on a bus following a flight could be testing! Obviously family friendly but with a bit of apres life too...

Any tips?

OP posts:

wonkylegs · 21/01/2013 17:10

La Tania is a nice family friendly resort that opens up access to a wide skiing area. We went with SkiDazzle a small British chalet owner but as I don't ski we didn't need separate childcare although they can arrange it I believe. Have been there a few times now with and without kids (of various ages) and love it.

LaGuerta · 21/01/2013 17:17

When are you planning on going? Try and find a term time week if you plan to book late and get a deal.

We went with Mark Warner to La Plagne last year and had a great week. We have two dc2 who were 3 and 1 at the time. We booked 7 days before departure and got crèche places without problems. In fact dc2 was the only 1yo in the hotel that week so effectively he got a private nanny. That was late March and technically high season because of private school holidays.

Having priced up the other childcare specialists MW were cheaper. Esprit had no space and Ski Famille and the Family Ski Co were much more pricey. MW kept
dropping their prices though so brinkmanship with them worked for us.

Real positives of MW were the food and the great staff. The worst thing that didn't bother us, but some people did moan about is the shabby condition of their properties. They are VERY tatty but spotlessly clean. Luxury skiing it isn't.

Maybe go for St Anton for an option with great nightlife.

Original poster

k4mi · 21/01/2013 17:27

Thanks for the tips! We are planning to go mid (16th) March so outside of school hols but I guess some private school hols could start as early as then and hadn't thought of that.

OP posts:

loachey · 25/01/2013 21:49

We have skiied with Ski Magic in La Tania twice. TBH, the first time was fantastic but it was our first time in a catered chalet and our host was fab. This was 6 years ago.

Since then we have done 5 more ski holidays (always catered chalets) and when we went last year it wasn't as great. But it was still good just not brilliant like it had been the first time. There were problems with the chalet and the host wasn't as good but maybe we have got pickier over our years of skiing. We also went for xmas and the food wasn't that great on xmas day (but hey, very small kitchens to cook a xmas dinner in) And they didn't do the ski hosting that was promised which was annoying.

But they pretty much always offer free part time childcare and the top up to full time was only about £80 if I remember rightly. And the childcare was brilliant. They were always early so I rarely had to get DD ready and myself ready for skiing in the morning. They came and got her ready. And I also think children go free if they are sharing your room - but yours would be anyway and I don't think anyone charges for infants do they?

loachey · 25/01/2013 21:50

so anyway forgot to add at the bottom - they are very reasonably priced for a catered chalet and La Tania links to Courcheval so good skiing!

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 26/01/2013 22:02

Have a look at family ski company.

We have used their crèche and ski school helpers / childcare clubs and have found them to be excellent.

BeachMum3 · 28/01/2013 20:19

I second that - Family Ski Company all the way - we have stayed in Ardent, Saas Fee and Les Coches (just back...) and they have always been consistently good - childcare is second to none, and food & wine always excellent

babybarrister · 28/01/2013 20:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ValentineWiggins · 28/01/2013 20:21

Hillwood holidays in zauchensee...

Skilover · 28/01/2013 20:54

Hello there, hope I'm not too late. I am currently in Val Thorens with 20 month old and assorted other family members. Brand new self-catering apartment with 2 restaurants, v lovely (and currently v empty) creche booked through www.ernalow.co.uk open from 8h30 - 17h30 daily with various options. Lovely warm pool for post ski family time and am loving not having to worry about other people in a chalet. Can't recommend it highly enough called Hameau du Kashmir and snow is amazing.

BNmum · 28/01/2013 20:54

Just checked out the website for VIP ski and it looks really good babybarrister. What property did you stay in and how did you find the childcare?

babybarrister · 29/01/2013 09:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

UC · 29/01/2013 09:48

Try Family Friendly Skiing in La Tania (although it is quite low there). Lovely chalets, great childcare, and all wraparound in the chalet. Not as pricy as Esprit.

LemonEmmaP · 29/01/2013 09:56

If you were willing to book holiday and childcare separately, I would also add a recommendation for Jack Frosts who operate in the Portes du Soleil area. Specifically we used their nursery which is based in Champery, but they also offer nannies who will come to your accommodation each day, depending upon where you're staying. We found them really helpful, and flexible when our needs changed at short notice. The nursery was lovely and just a few minutes walk from the main gondola.

andiem · 30/01/2013 15:04

I agree with babybarrister VIP ski is fab pricey but fab we are planning to go with them for xmas

deste · 31/01/2013 20:37

We were in Obergurgl two weeks ago with Crystal to the hotel Austria. They advertised a nanny every morning. Crystal were amazing, I could not fault them in any way.

LadyGoneGaga · 06/02/2013 14:04

Late to this. We went with Ski Esprit to Meribel over New Year with our 16 month old daughter. I have to say I cannout fault them. The Hotel (Alba) was great - nursery on the top floor, the nannies were lovely and they had a baby listening service. Basically you sat with them for kids tea at 5:30, then did usual bath, bedtime. From 7:30 until 11 one of the childcare staff sat RIGHT OUTSIDE our bedroom door whilst we went downstairs for a 5 course dinner and unlimited free wine. The food was better than most restaurants I have been to. Really great. Location is amazing. The hotel is approx 20 metres from the piste and there is a little ski bridge so you ski almost right into the boot room. Ski shop directly under the hotel.

They are expensive but I have seen some really good last minute deals outside of school holidays - especially in January so worth checking the website.

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