Skiing for the first time - where to start!

[recyclingbag]

We'd like to go skiing for the first time as a family.

I have no idea where to even begin. What do we need to know?

We haven't got a massive budget either. Where should be begin to look?

It all depends on how many children you have and if you are tied to school holidays?

There are cheap ways of doing it... eg. driving over and staying in self-catering apartments. Gear can be bought cheaply these days from eBay/Decathlon/TK Maxx etc. Have you skiied at all before? How many children and what ages? If you don't need childcare then that's a big bonus.

They will be 7 and 9.

My husband and I have skied before but only once and that was years ago. We are definitely novices.

Kids have never gone before.

Yes we're tied to school hols but our Easter is slightly earlier next year than other places I think.

Look for a beginners package with Crystal, Thomson, Inghams et al. Their own chalet hotels tend to be good value as they aim to fill them and your dc will find others to play with and probably be in skischool with. Organising it yourself can be tricky if you aren't sure of your priorities and what you actually need. It might work out cheaper but you will waste time in resort. Try to pick a resort with other activities and facilities such as an indoor pool so you can take time off skiing. I think Aldi have skiwear coming up in the next week or two, Decathlon is also worth a visit for the basics.

If you go at Easter, choose a high resort. You don't want to be stuck somewhere low without snow. Ski Famille & Ski Esprit are 2 other family orientated ski companies which may be worthwhile checking out.

Also, I would suggest booking some lessons at your local dry ski slope or snowdome before you go. It really helps you find your 'ski legs'

We did our first family ski trip last March at Puy St Vincent, with Snowbizz. It was quite a bit cheaper than other places I looked at (self-catering) and we really enjoyed it. Accommodation won't win any beauty contests, but it is genuinely ski in out and everything is really convenience.

Snowbizz run their own ski school, so lessons are all in English, for Snowbizz customers only. Groups are small and children are moved between groups if they need to be. Adult lessons run at the same time as the children's. I made the cut for the intermediate group (hadn't been skiing for 15 years, but it turns out it is like riding a bike!) but DH didn't. As he was the only beginner her had 1-2-1 lessons all week (for the same cost as the group lessons) and he rather enjoyed it.

There is kids club in the evening, which our DD enjoyed the couple of times she went (she was 4, so a bit too young for some of the later nights). We found there was plenty happening and if you wanted to be sociable, but being self catering meant we could plan our days to suit us (and DD).

In terms of the skiing, plenty for beginners and intermediates. the ski area isn't huge, but more than big enough for us, with lots of off piste if you like that (I discovered that I don't). We loved it enough to be going back this February.

We have booked a budget trip this year (first time) - Easy jet flights to Geneva, car hire (to drive to Italy), 2 bed SC apartment through airbnb, private lessons for the children (3) with the local ski school and ski hire online. Will buy lift passes once we get there depending on weather etc. Children (who have never skied before) have had ski lessons at Chill Factore (6 x 2 hr lessons each so far) and are amazing - whizzing down with snowplough turns. Hopefully means by the time we go they won't be limited to the nursery slopes.

Well its done cheap flights accommodation in France all booked!

I'm off skiing! Iwith my 2 boys and hubbie too! How exciting

I think I've not thought about this! I've not skied for 20yrs. Booking was for my elder son loves it got ski bug at school trip!

Any other mad mums out there who've returned go the piste's any offers of advice out there please?

I should add I'm in bereavement too just lost my loving father, so this is impulse I think

Oh think I've flipped its all booked!

We're off to to the piste's France, I've not skiied for 20 Yrs!

Advice needed, what am I doing, must be loosing it!

Hubbie agreed and I booked cheap flights and accommodation. All to please my teenage son, who got ski bug on SCH holiday.

I've done this I'm in bereavement for my lovely dad! Want to please my kids so much- but

I'm worried now, I suppose I'm like a beginner again, are there any other mad mums out there who returned to the slopes?

Any advice please?

Hubbie just bought helmets for him and my younger son, both novices.