Happy Skiing Thread Part 2!!

[lovetoskimum]

Just what is say's :)

Booked euro tunnel this weekend for March 2016, apartment booked and hotels either side booked, so excited already, any one else want to join in :)

Alpinresorts are absolutly fine, we have used them several times and could well do so again when I get around to sorting skis etc out. It is always a good idea though to check out several different firms, they do vary quite a bit and also to pin down exactly where the shops they are using are in relation to your accommodation. In the past we have used various others for online booking including Ski Republic and SnowRental with no problems.

Lovetoski, I didn't learn to ski until I was 45, but that is now 26 years ago. I will get the OAP's discount on the Les Arcs lift pass, but sadly it will not be free for me in that resort until next year.

Christmas morning on the slopes be gorgeous lovetoskimum. I've never been for Christmas before.. Had New Year a few times. My inlaws are in Venice so will be back down there for Christmas Eve/Day. Can't wait!

Def worth booking skis beforehand. We have also used Snowell in the past with absolutely no problems

TrickyD - I have been known to download on the odd occasion so that may well be a plan :-)

Puffy another good rental is rental republic, used them this year really good !

Tricky, good going, my parents started at 40 then dad skied his last 6 years ago and I am 43 !! He was gutted to hang up his skis bit his eye sight too bad !! Still misses it, loves the fact that we go with our daughter !

Massistar - going to start researching chalets - hotels for next Christmas :) just wish it wasn't so expensive !!

Oh yes,Caunie, I forgot Snowell, we have used them too. If you do won't they ask to see evidence when you pick up the whatnots or do you get yours in the post?
Lovetoski, is Rental Republic different from Ski Republic?

Rental republic, deliver to chalet / apartment / hotel, really good customer service if anything needs changing they will head straight out to you, will definitely be using them next year :)

Ah, my happy place I do like a bit of skiing talk! We are off to St Anton in March - we are taking the kids out of school for the week . We have tried Christmas, New Year and February half term for previous trips, but figured that for once we would take the kids out of school. I was in St Anton last March with friends, but this will be the first time with the family. I can't say that I really noticed it being any more difficult than other resorts that I've been to, so hopefully it will be fine for the kids. In reality, they're getting to be better skiers than me, so if I can ski there, I'm sure they can!

The one thing that I think we will find problematic with St Anton is the lack of ski huts up the mountain - we tended to ski down and eat in the villages last year. While that's fine with adults, we tend to find that the kids deteriorate quickly if they're not fed and watered regularly, so I think we'll be stocking up on chocolates before heading up the mountain each day!

We are going with a small ski company this year - Ski Val - I've never heard of them before so it will be interesting to see how we get on with them. The chalet we're staying in is owned by the family of one of the main ski hire shops in the town, so we get free lockers to leave our skis etc by the lifts - result! I gave up on walking in ski boots some years ago...

Anyway, our holiday is still several months away, and has been booked for many more, but it's still an exciting prospect to look forward to!

This thread is getting me excited! We're off to Chamonix for New Year, kids can't wait (4 and 6), they both started at 3 so won't be long before I'm left behind....
Did half term once, never again, too busy. But I am having a cheeky girls only weekend and leaving the kids with DH, can't wait!
I do need new boots though if my feet are to survive.....

Yay two more joining in, just been online surfing a helmets, I defo need a new one !!

Lemon - taking daughter out too cant afford half term !!

Giraffe, my daughter was zooming past me this year at 5 and half, god know what she will be like next year :)

leave me to drink the vin chaud !!

Lemon we went to Val with SkiVal a few years ago and they were superb. I was really impressed by the whole outfit. One of DH's colleagues repped for them a lifetime ago too, which was a happy coincidence. I'd happily go with them again. We're eyeing up St Anton for March too as we had a great trip there last Feb.

love have a look at the Aldi/Lidl stuff when it comes out. Lidl are teasing us this week with base layers and boots, but I found the helmet I got from there far more comfortable than any others I've tried. They have the benefit of being reasonably cheap and also having dirt cheap goggles on sale with them so you can get a set for any conceivable condition without breaking the bank. Also the goggles are designed to go with the helmets so you don't end up with a cold forehead

Lidl have some great base layers in as of today. just got myself some thermal tops with hoodie and face mask built in (IYGWIM) and my DS has two sets of thermals which are according to him 'really comfy and toasty mummy' plus some thinsulate ski gloves. I expect they will sell out fast and I'm very tempted to go get the next size up for DS for 2017's ski trip

I feel a trip to Lidl coming on! Thanks for the tip

Can I join? We're hoping to go skiing in July in New Zealand, am desperate as I really want DS1 to learn to ski as he will be 3.5 which is the same time I learnt but DS2 will only be 8mo so am hoping if my best friend comes so it will be easier with one adult staying with the kids etc.

Having been skiing for ages (I was pregnant, then I had injury problems, then pregnant again) so am really worried I've lost the touch.

Hi DeepBlueLake, skiing in New Zealand sounds exciting. Have you got a resort in mind? How do the costs stack up compared with Europe? I'm thinking lift passes & ski rental?

Hello may I join too please? We are off to Les Deux Alps - haven't been there before. We are going the week before half term as for some reason we are a week earlier here than the rest of the U.K. We booked on-line with Home and Away (I think), and it looks a lovely catered chalet. We will have the whole thing as we are going with two other families for DH's 50th. We have just booked transfers and lift passes and are getting very excited. I am off sick with a bad back though, so really hope that gets better soon as I need to get fit !

can someone let me know if Aldi have started with ski stuff, helmet required !

This thread is great, we were looking on line yesterday and looking for places to eat at lunch slopeside !!! :)

Started saving plan for 2016 maybe Christmas or defo March 2017 ! :)

Ooh MarmiteLover we were in Les Deux Alpes for New Year - t'is a fab resort

I appear to have lied to you love - there were only base layers and boots online but my local store had helmets, goggles etc in at the weekend. Aldi is rumoured to get their stuff in on 3 December. Best to get there first thing on the day its released if you can as it flies off the shelves in no time!

The Lidl base layers with built in hood/mask looked great but they don't cater for my size so I had to miss out

Oh darn - why didn't I check my Lidl emails?! I shall pop over there tomorrow and see if they've got anything left. DS's arms and legs seem to have grown about two inches since last winter

I'd like to check in too! Off to Tignes in half term (groan!) - we have been loads before and are going with friends and my sister. Have 2 kids aged 12 and 10 and also friends children are same ages...can't wait! And it snowed in Tignes this weekend so a great base layer already down! We are with Crystal. I'd definitely recommend pre-booking ski hire direct. I just found the hotel on google street view and looked for nearest hire shop. I have had 2 adults and 4 lots of kids stuff this year for 300Euro.

Yay, more joining in that's fab.

No worries Sweary, thanks for info on Aldi date in diary !! It's a Thursday and im off !!

Me and Hubby are getting super excited, still not till begging of March but love talking about late lunches and deck chairs with beers / vin chaud :)

Snow already! Love seeing the pics popping up on Facebook from the local webcams...

The Kids did 2 hours at the local dry ski slope yesterday, which was lovely and snowy! Great fun, I can't wait to see them zooming around on proper snow. My eldest is working so hard at his technique but he's desperate to learn to board. They've discovered hockey stopping and spraying everyone with snow

Booking Chunnel / ferries / hotels / ski hire tomorrow night, it's getting real..

I need to start collecting slow cooker ideas for food when we are out there!

Just had a surprisingly expensive evening that involved booking flights to Geneva, happy days!

Prices are slightly more expensive in NZ with it being $152 (£65) per day at Coronet Peak in Queenstown which includes ski pass and rental or $185 for a 5 hour lesson as well. And it's about $100 for just a lift pass and it becomes $10 cheaper the following consecutive days you go .

They don't really have resorts in New Zealand, they have huts which are mainly used for ski camps etc but not general accommodation. Normally what happens is you stay at hotels or backpackers in either Queenstown or Wanaka and either drive up or get a bus (busses go up regularly throughout the day). Currently deciding whether to book hotels or stay with friends.

I'm getting so excited, just need to book flights.

Puffy, you sound so excited!! I am like this every year !! Just need to book equipment hire, Even got our spending money nearly sorted !!

Babies, welcome aboard, where are you going ? :)

Anymore joining :)