'First' family ski trip - December

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I can see this has been asked a lot but thought I'd try again with our particular set of circumstances.

DH grew up skiing and is a good skier (but hasn't skied in the ten years we've been together so may not still be looking for blackruns). We have DD 8 and DS 6 who have never skied. I have also never skied (and have two left feet).

Can anyone recommend somewhere for the week before Christmas (looks like we're too late for Christmas week generally) this year? Looking for a catered chalet ideally and French speaking if possible. DH accepts he's probably going to need to compromise on quality of skiing for him. I'm a reluctant skier and, whilst I don't want to spend a crazy fortune, I also would like to use a company that's going to mean a smooth, low stress experience (or I'll never go again). Doesn't need to be massive luxury though. Ideally somewhere where there's something for me to do after I break my leg on day 1.

We don't need flights. Ski lessons for all (and I want one-to-one for me rather than group!).

Any thoughts really appreciated! Thanks

Have you ever been on skis? I'd def suggest you go for some lessons here if not. Unless you're sporty and brave (your post suggests not), you may not even be on the mountain proper in a week. Your kids might do better. I think Club Med would suit you. It appears to be expensive, but it'll cover all the bases and allow your DH to ski and you to find some learner buddies.

We travelled with Esprit pre-Christmas last year and the children had an amazing first experience.

I think though that this season their travel dates are weird and only starting on 19 December to include Christmas. You may wish to check - a couple of companies are doing this

I've never been on skis but we live in Dubai so I'd be looking at GBP 150 for an hour's lesson which doesn't seem worthwhile!

Can you do Esprit without the flights being included?

You are definitely not too late for Christmas week - there's loads of offers around at the moment.
Regardless of skiing ability you need somewhere high and snowsure e.g. Obergurgl, Val Thorens etc as December snow isn't always great.
If you don't need flights, the U.K. Companies like Esprit might not offer accommodation only deals. You may be better off looking at a French-based chalet company like Chilli Powder (although Avoriaz may not be best choice for December) or KinderHotels.
Good idea to get lessons before you go.

Thanks both. I've never been on skis but we live in Dubai so I'd be looking at GBP 150 for an hour's lesson which doesn't seem worthwhile!

I am not sporty and I am not brave. I suspect I won't be on the mountain proper at the end (and may never be :) ). I've been promised apres ski and the opportunity to read my book. Kids and DH are very keen - this isn't really about what I want to do for a holiday (but I'd like to try and avoid being actively miserable).

Did I mention I don't do cold? (There is a reason why DH hasn't been skiing since he met me despite going at least once a year before that).

cross post - I don't think you can. Sometimes companies give a small discount for not using the flights but it wouldn't be good value.

£150 for 1 hour isn't worth it. Wait until you're in resort.

Don't be silly. I learned after three hours of lessons. It's not hard on blue runs.

In that case I would make sure the hotel had a really nice spa!

You need somewhere fairly high up as it's early in the season.

Tignes would be good. Also Val d'isere is high up as is Courcheval.

Mark Warner or Esprit would fit your criteria of catered chalets and would also have snow rangers who will sort the kids out. So they get kids boots on, etc and take them to lessons which is pretty essential when you also have lessons.

I've stayed with Esprit at pretty much every resort they have in France. The chalet hotel in Courcheval is in a lovely location. Mark warner is probably slightly more up market. There are also smaller outfits like Ski Famille who offer similar.

You'd be able to book yourself private lessons in any resort. Either with ESF or Evolution 2. Good ski school in Val d'isere called Oxygne if you go there.

Try for a ski-in/ski-out hotel. Having the hotel within yards of the slope is brilliant when the kids are tired, whiney and unwilling to carry their kit at the end of the day.

Your DH won't necessarily have to feel compromised as you and DC will be in ski school so he'll be free to chase black runs or go off piste. I'd also recommend participating in group lessons rather than 1-on-1 if it's your first time. The groups can be great for commadarie and 4 hours of skiing a day can be really intense. By all means go for 1-on-1 once you have the basics and want to improve technique.

Esprit certainly used to,offer slightly cheaper prices if you don't need the flights.

You can do Esprit without flights - we met a family from the Middle East on our holiday last year.

Yes, I would agree group lessons are better for a total beginner. It's hard work and you will be glad of the small rests while you take it in turns doing a small section! I used to be anyway. Single lessons are a non stop slog with no respite! Better once you've got more of a technique and it's not so tiring.

If you don't do cold, you might be better off holding fire until February/March. A lot of the really high up resorts could be in the region of -10c/-20c.

We have been away with ski famille. We stayed in Reberty - chalet was lovely. Staff all lovely too. ESF do adult classes for both beginners and advanced groups - so your DH could go out with an advanced group while the kids are at ski school then meet you for lunch and go out with you and the kids in the afternoon.

Look at Ski-2 in Champoluc, Italy. We had friends go with them twice and really rated them.

I wouldn't go to Val d'isere for your first visit. I did so and surprisingly did quite well but whilst ok in lessons,, when my friend and I went off to ski on our own in the afternoons we scared the living daylights out of ourselves! Apparently Val d'isere is notorious for marking runs easier than they are.
I've not been but a couple of nervous skiing friends have been to Obergurgl and Courchevel and said there was lots of nice easy skiing.

I have been to Solden which had lots of easy skiing and has access to a glacier and also Corvara which has excellent snowmaking.

Val d'isere is fine as long as you take the cable car down back to resort. The green/blue run back is more like a red. The blue runs at the top of the cable car are fine and plenty up there.

Courchevel was incredibly flattering for the novice skier - wide open pistes. Loved it.
HATED the Esprit accommodation though

Wow. Thanks everyone. Lots of thoughts.

Reason for the 1 on 1 lessons is that the only time I have any form of snow related lesson was a group snowboarding lesson. I threw a strop because the class was moving too fast for me and actually cried. It's one of the more embarrassing moments of my life :) I am really not sporty but am also super competitive (with myself) so I can't cope with falling behind a group.

Maybe I could have one 1-to-1 lesson to get me able to maybe be able to stand up and then go into a beginners group (or maybe I mix both)? I get the point about making friends in a group.

Holiday might be a disaster for the various reasons set out so far but I've said I'll try. If everyone but me loves it then DH can go alone with the kids next time. He hates the idea of the kids growing up without being able to ski because it was such a big part of his childhood.

Cervinia is good for high up, solden, Tignes, Val Thorens all good as people have said. I'd def check out somewhere with a pool or something a bit more than kid care... you might find you're fab... you might welcome a change of scene

Have you looked at Arc 1950? Lovely apartments with restaurants and good supermarket. Spa for you, pools for the kids. Great ski school. And you can book accommodation without flights no problem. Have a look at Erna Low's website.

Hi, we have just booked skiing for a week over xmas and I am in the same position as you! I skied for the first time last xmas so pretty much a beginner and my kids are also new to skiing. My hubby however is an experienced skier.

We have booked with Family Ski Company (who I know has availability over xmas and is doing discounts). Myself and the kids are going into ski school and my hubby with hopefully we able to join some of the other experienced skiers in the chalet. he is hoping there is another singleton like him so he has some company. Otherwise he will join an advice ski school class.

Might be worth a look at FSC if you don't need flights as you book all the bit separately with them, unlike some other companies where flights etc are included.

• advanced, not advice!

Also, the all the chalets are in France and food, wine etc is included! So, hoping it will be a nice and easy xmas!

Right I thought I'd update that we have booked with Esprit (although it's the same price whether or not you take their flights). I've bitten the bullet and gone for group lessons with the idea I can pick up individual if group aren't working out.

Next question - what clothes do we need, particularly the kids? DH keeps saying he knows this stuff but he's basing it on what he wore skiing as a kid 30+ years ago. Were going to Kathmandu next weekend (as you do) and it's a good opportunity to pick up inexpensive warm clothes as we will pretty much have to start from scratch.

Finally, an alcohol question, I can see you get wine with the evening meal at Esprit. Is that generally enough for the evening or do people tend to bring their own on top? I'm conscious we'll be up and about fairly early in the morning so there may not be too many late nights but I'm also too tight to pay expensive resort prices for wine (already crying at cost for a week so far!). Same goes for soft drinks, snacks for the kids. Do people bring their own or are there normally decent local shops for this sort of thing?

Thanks for the advice so far!