skiing for the first time - need advice please

[catkin14]

I am thinking of taking my 15 year old DS, his girlfriend and my other 2 older DS's skiing in the christmas holidays or february half term.
We have never been before and I have no idea where to start - hotel or SC, where to go and is it possible to do on a budget?
I just need to do a different life to the one I had before divorce and this seems a good start!
Ideas or experiences please?

Sounds exciting. I don't ski but have just got back from a lovely hotel in Zell am See Austria which is also a winter ski resort. My friend has skied there and rents a chalet which is a cheaper option. I loved it there. Great food, beautiful scenery.

Firstly: skiing is not cheap!

However, there is no need for beginners to head for top class resorts and you can save a fortune by heading for places like Bulgaria or The Pyrénées (my favourite - I live there in winter).

For 5 of you, it may be more economical to rent an apartment and drive if you have a large enough vehicle rather than take a package and pay for three hotel rooms. If you go for a package, look for deals on lessons and lift passes and bear in mind that beginners don't necessarily get good value from a lift pass so a resort with a beginner's pass (nursery slopes only) can save a fair bit. At present I'd advise Spring half-term as early season snow is literally a bit thin on the ground at the moment but bear in mind that school holidays mean busier slopes and higher prices although I believe Spain and Italy don't have their own half-term holidays.

I wish you well and hope you all enjoy the most exhilarating way of seeing the world's best scenery.