Resort childcare and any suggested resorts?

[SarahBeenysBumblingApprentice]

We're currently planning our second ever family ski trip, the first having been as disaster (I couldn't ski as unexpectedly pregnant for starters).

We will have a 4 yo and a 2.5 yo when we go.

We would use Esprit as they're about the right price bracket and the childcare ticks all the boxes but we prefer to drive rather than fly and Esprit offer no discount for self drive, nor inclusive tunnel tickets.

Ski famile/family ski seem too expensive (I would like to keep it under 2.5k including passes/lessons/travel/diesel etc).

I've looked at kinderhotels/familotel and they're too expensive.

I wondered if anyone had any experiences of using the resort's own creche and good resorts for this? Where to ski and snowboard is very negative about most of the French ones and that's putting us off. I'm also a bit apprehensive about the language barrier - Im worried that my eldest would find it terrifying. I'd rather use a creche than a ski nanny because he loves being with other children - that's plan C at the moment!

Gone are the days of getting my husband and me skiing for 1k all in, that's for sure!

Look at Chrystal ski. I was looking at the brochure and some hotels offer free child care, that would help keep the price down.

I often recommend jack frosts, who have a crèche in Champery, which is one of the Swiss Portes du Soleil resorts. Our (then) 2 yo seemed happy enough there, and they also picked up our 5yo from ski school so that we could ski on for longer.

Try the Hotel Neubichler Alm near Bad Reichenhall in Germany. They have great ski deals if you time it right.

To us, an in-house nanny service was essential.
I can highly recommend Snowfocus in Chatel www.snowfocus.com
This family-run company designed and built Chalet La Sonnaille specifically for the family market.
With a superb in-house nanny service, babies through to young teens are catered for. The nannies look after the children from after breakfast, through to 6pm, allowing you a full day on the slopes yourselves, along with time for some après ski in the village, or a snooze! Transport to and from the slopes is provided and the dedicated ski nanny will often accompany the small group lessons and always meets the children for lunch on the mountain, liasing with hand picked instructors, to ensure the children are happy and checking on their progress to feed back to you.
The dedicated playroom is well equipped for babies and younger children for whom half a day’s skiing is enough. A large private garden ensures plenty of fun activities inside and out.
Only an hour and a half from Geneva, transfers, equipment hire and lift passes are all organized for you, and nothing is too much trouble for Sue and AT the owners. Once the little ones are settled, the evening’s dining is top class cuisine, with great hosting by Sue, At and their carefully selected staff.
The proportion of return visits by guests is testament itself to a great set up.
Mumsnet Best winners season after season, says it all. www.mumsnet.com/travel/top-rated-family-ski-resorts

The first year we took DD we went with Le Ski, a chalet company who have a creche in one of their chalets in La Tania with English speaking staff. I'm pretty sure they give a discount for self-drive. We decided to stick to English speaking creches with DD after my brother's experience with a local creche in a ski resort - the staff were lovely but spoke virtually no English and my niece (about 4 at the time) got very lonely and upset because of the language issue.

We used Crystal in La Plagne 1800 last April and they were really good. All English and downstairs from one of their chalets. Prices seemed reasonable, and they were great about getting our older one to and from ski school when needed too. They took them on little expeditions to other villages to do various activities including sledging, even our two year old, so he had fun during the day as well. Got a massive folder of "artwork" for both of them too! Given Crystal was one of the cheaper holidays we found, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Thanks everyone! Lots of useful information.

Crystal is indeed on the radar and I had forgotten about Le Ski.

Snowgirl- poor English in the local creche is one of the things I was worried about, thanks for letting me know that.

Just back from a week in La Tania with Family Friendly Skiing. They have an in-house crèche and the nannies were fabulous. Our two year old loved them and had a really great time.

Another option I looked at but haven't yet tried is Ski Magic, also in La Tania.

Hmm, that's the third recommendation I've had for family friendly skiing! I must have a look, thanks.

Le ski in La Tania are fab. We are there at the moment but I've pulled a muscle and skiing wasn't fun on poorly leg. The nannies are English and my 3 year old is having a ball. The customer service has been second to non - nothing seems too much trouble for the staff. We have been with family ski and ski famille a couple of times before but have to rate le ski above the other two (and they were more reasonable). The resort could do with a bit more snow though

Morzine is great for families. Club Piou Piou in Morzine bit.ly/LESB6b is particularly good. The town has nurseries and children's clubs. The resort has been awarded the "Family +" certificate, an independent award that is nationally recognised - would be a good idea to look out for this certificate when you're choosing your resort?