First family ski holiday and on a budget

[lovepeaceandvodka]

Hello,

I am trying to research a skiing holiday for 2 adults and 3 kids, who will be 9, 7 and 4. They will need to go to ski school, we will need to hire skis etc. We don't mind where we go or when but it would have to be in the holidays. I am thinking the first week of the Easter holidays would be good - from 27th/28th March. Not sure whether this would cut out the lower possibly cheaper eastern European resorts? I have only skied once in the French Pyrenees so I don't know much about it but as we are on a budget I think the Eastern Euro resorts might be better. Oh we would like a swimming pool/other stuff for the kids to do! Thank you in advance for any experiences and advice on where to go and how much it all costs!

Well skiing and budget don't really go together I'm afraid. Ie we have free accomadation in Austria but need to still buy

Lift passes x4 (2 child,2 adult)= £800 approx
Ski/boot hire -(£40-60 each), so say =£200
Flights = £1000
Transfers from airport or car hire =£300
Ski school for x2 children, morning only = £650

So that's £3000 which won't vary much. Without including accomadation or food.

Budget ski for 5 I would say is £5000 for the week

You can get skiing lesson whilst your there (that's where I learnt- when I was actually skiing) but if you really want extra practise head down to a dry ski slope. They are pretty much everywhere so just google them.

Skiing is a fabulous family holiday, but it comes at a financial cost.

It's very very expensive.

But you will have a lovely time and will be happy to sacrifice summer holidays in future.

We tend to go to Switzerland which is jaw droppingly expensive, but drive, self cater and don't do après ski to make it a little more affordable.

Luv it tho...

thanks for the replies, dh doesn't like summer holidays but adores skiing and I know the kids will love it. Has anyone tried the cheaper resorts e.g. Bulgaria?

We live in central Europe in any case, so there's less of a struggle getting to the more eastern resorts: it will be a five hour drive for us. We've booked next February in the northern Czech Republic, a resort at approx 1300 metres called Spindleruv Mlun. We have friends who go every year and totally recommend it. One set of friends do a real budget option in a primitive hut and cross country ski instead of downhill (ie no lift pass needed), so they pay very little. Other friends went for a 3-star hotel plus lift pass (but no lessons) and good meals out every evening, they paid in total 1800 euros for 4. The place we've booked will be 500 euros for two rooms for the week b+b, then 100 euros each for lessons for the week, same for lift pass, less for ski hire. We just need to pay petrol to get there, so I think we'll manage the whole thing for about 1700 euros (1500 quid?) for 4. We'll be paying premium rates for accommodation as we're going during German school holidays - if British school holidays manage to be different you could well save considerably on those prices. All service personnel speak German and English, apparently.

A flight to Prague would not be extortionate and there are good coach connections to Spindleruv.

Sure I'd love us to go to Switzerland but firstly we can't afford it, and secondly it's too far away for us. However, friends of ours can totally recommend the Crap Mountain Hostel in Switzerland!

That's one resort that needs a good PR to change its first impressions [ grin]

It can be done on a budget but it isn't easy! We have been a few times with friends who have the budget formula down to a t!

1. they hire a large chalet and go with 3/4/5 other families. Chalet is cheap because although it is in the French alps in the Porte du Soleil area, it is a drive from the ski lifts. Accommodation shared between so many is cheap. We share a room with some of our children - think camping with central heating and bathrooms!

2. drive - it is cheaper and then you can drive to the ski lift each morning

3. self cater for dinner and make baguettes for lunch to take with you.

4. hire skis from a small village rather than a resort town - it is about half the price

We ski for 7 days on this basis for £500-£600 per head for our family of 6. That doesn't include any lessons though as we don't need them any more. It includes everything else including tolls, crossing, overnight hotels on both outward and return journeys, and all food/drink.

When we had more cash we used to go in a catered chalet and thought our friends were doing it all wrong - but we are converted!

We are fine with camping, just not sure about a long drive with our 3. Makes sense though, we live on the SE coast so would be a good option. Do you need snow tyres or other specialist equipment Beingfrank? Do you hire chalet privately and where from if you don't mind me asking? thank you x

End march too hot!
Self drive to France in Feb half term?
Stay around chamonix les get megeve tinge etc?

Yep forgotten that. Winter tyres are compulsory if you want to drive through Germany. It's a legal requirement and tourists are not exempt. There's also the Swiss vignette which you need to buy to drive on Swiss motorways.

My car needed new 2 tyres for its mot last week and we bit the bullet and bought 4 snow tyres in anticipation of our ski trip ( not yet booked) Typically since then the temperature has temperature here has not dropped below 17 degrees and the car has been sat on the drive !

Sigh ... It will all be worth the expense when we are on the slopes in 5 months !

Yes, we take snow chains - and we have a big roof box to transport the skis. Our friends all either put skis in the car or have a ski rack on top, but we need the roof box anyway for luggage and with 6 in the car there's no room for the skis as well.

Our friends have always the found the chalets, online and privately rented. Needing to drive to the ski lift seems to be what makes them reasonably cheap.

The only time we have flown to a ski resort it seemed much more stressful than driving - flights in middle of night, long coach transfer to resort, waiting ages for bags to come off etc.

We have a small house in a town in the French alps that we let to friends or family. I reckon that £2000 all in would be cost for 5, including 350 rent. That woud be driving and self catering. Chose a smaller resort if you want to keep costs down eg Reallon is about 19 euro a day, it's small but great for families, although not likely to be open at Easter.

Hi Johnogroats

You have replied to a couple of my threads re, snow chains etc, where about is your house ?? Sounds interesting for future holidays ? How many does it sleep etc etc

Carol

Carol

I have PMd you.

Friends have enjoyed Bulgaria (Borovets). I skied in Andorra which was surprisingly ok and much cheaper than the big French / Swiss ones. However that late in the season it is risky due to altitude. You could try Bulgaria / Andorra for Feb half term or wing it and get a last minute deal for Easter holiday to one of the higher bigger French resorts. Easter is less popular than new year or Feb half term so you may get lucky. Yes, this is a risk.

Other people cut costs by driving to France themselves and renting a self-catering apartment from Ownersdirect / similar.

You can save a lot of money by buying all the jackets off ebay / gumtree.

Things NOT to cut costs on: proper insurance and good ski tuition!

Hi,
I would suggest you to go for France. It has really some of the beautiful places like Avoriaz, Alpedhuez , Saint Lary where you can do skiing with your family and friends. In the winter season there are various camps held for the children to teach them skiing. Not only for the kids but also for the skiing beginners you can get professional instructors to guide you with all sort of information for skiing.

We have booked with snow trex and have got skiing for 4 in France next Easter for £700, including ski hire for kids, accommodation and ski passes. We know several people who have used them in the past and have said they are good. We just need to arrange our travel.

You sign up to their newsletter and every now and again they send out these amazing deals.

I will report back next yr on the success!

we are trying Club Med next year for your family ski holiday - it's all inclusive including ski lessons and lift hire and is so far the cheapest way we have found to have a ski holiday (we've tried driving, self catering, catered chalet, hotel etc).

Good Luck

We've driven and booked Owners Direct to save money. try Les Contamines - lovely resort for great skiing - If you live on the South Coast you save a bundle straight away - we tend to drive through the night and get there early (extra days skiing!) Do get the kids into some fridge skiing (snow domes) - I really think a couple of good private lesson hours there is about the same learning experience of a week's general snow school for children - you'll get much more out of the holiday. And the biggest way to save money - don't go in school holidays. Good luck!

Chalets direct is a great place to look... Especially for last minute deals....

This place is really good. I have stayed here many times and the personal service is second to none.

Great thread this. Ds1 is 4 now and just old enough to take skiing. Sadly ds2 will be just 1 by the time ski season is here. Seems too much expense for lots of hassle.

I don't know if this link will work but if you scroll down to March '15 dates they have some really good offers available for the dates you've mentioned.

Mon 23 Mar 2015 to Thu 26 Mar 2015 for 3 nights sleeps 6-8 - €1725 discount

Sat 21 Mar 2015 to Thu 26 Mar 2015 for 5 nights sleeps 6-8 - €985 discount

secure.supercontrol.co.uk/availability/special_offers.asp?ownerID=2169&siteID=12123&Submit=read+more...