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Original poster

Taking kids out of school to ski

22 replies

User14567891 · 24/03/2018 09:19

We were looking to go to a quiet Italian resort next January but when looking at the ski school they only do weekend group lessons for kids, I assume this is due to lack of demand at that time of year.

If you ski in term time, where do you go? We want somewhere quiet but not so quiet there’s no other kids there!

We are looking at Italy ideally, but would consider Switzerland or Austria. My son will be 6 and can ski well already but doesn’t travel far so a small ski area would be fine. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
TefalTester123 · 24/03/2018 09:29

Have a look at Snowbizz. Very well organised and great value

TefalTester123 · 24/03/2018 09:30

Oops, Snowbizz is France but it is v. v. good.

Original poster
User14567891 · 24/03/2018 09:40

Thanks Tefal. We’ve been with Snowbizz a couple of years ago. They were good but don’t want to ski outside of France next year, as we always go to France. Also when we went, it was mostly preschool kids not that many school age kids in January.
DS understands some Italian so English speaking child care/lessons are not so important.

OP posts:
Original poster
User14567891 · 24/03/2018 09:41

do want to ski outside France

OP posts:
tortelliniforever · 24/03/2018 09:43

We go to Italy but January is quite early. Feb and March you are more likely to find lessons.

Original poster
User14567891 · 24/03/2018 10:38

January is the only time we can go next year - specifically the first week of term in January ☹️
Where do you go Tortellini? I was hoping there are bigger, busier Italian resorts that will have ski school all season?

OP posts:
turkeyboots · 24/03/2018 10:53

We like Cervina and I'd imagine they'd have lessons all winter. Went with Club Med last time which always has kids lessons and was really nice.

tortelliniforever · 24/03/2018 12:34

I don't ski but my kids do - my son has just got back from Folgaria and we also went to Andalo. They are quite small resorts but you could contact the ski schools there and ask whether they have courses running in January.

Original poster
User14567891 · 25/03/2018 21:28

Cervina looks promising!
Folgaria looks perfect and ski school exists dependent on minimum numbers being achieved. So may be a bit risky.
Thanks for the suggestions. 🙂

OP posts:
tortelliniforever · 27/03/2018 13:25

A bit more expensive obviously but you could always book private lessons.

LIZS · 27/03/2018 13:29

You will always find mainly preschool age children in English speaking lessons outside school holidays.

tortelliniforever · 27/03/2018 13:41

In Italy there are no half term holidays so there is a longer "season" but most people go late feb/march.

Swissgemma · 27/03/2018 13:46

There will be groups for children in Champéry/crosets Switzerland in January... but the resort is linked to France if you wanted to avoid that! Andorra (the Söldeu school is good) should have lessons... also have a look at Zermatt as it is likely to have lessons.

Swissgemma · 27/03/2018 13:47

Also st Anton should be good!

GreasyFryUp · 27/03/2018 14:16

I think you are going to find that there will only be Italian kids on holiday at that time of year and your son could get lonely with no one to play with.

SeaToSki · 27/03/2018 14:22

Come to the USA east coast. Lessons all season, english speakers, direct flights and a 3 hr drive.

tortelliniforever · 27/03/2018 17:57

your son could get lonely with no one to play with.

He speaks Italian - he could play with Italian kids!

Original poster
User14567891 · 27/03/2018 19:23

I’ll have a look at all these resorts. Thanks!
We are on a budget this year so I think USA is out, but no harm in looking is there?! 😃
I’d rather book group lessons for him both for the cost and social benefits, but he’ll be fine in non-English lessons.

OP posts:
pompomcat · 27/03/2018 19:41

We're just back from Bormio and had an incredible time, not sure of Jan 2019 but here is the link in case you wanted to check it out:
www.bormioski.eu/en/skiing/services/ski-school-in-bormio/

extinctspecies · 27/03/2018 19:45

SkiWelt in Austria is great.

Very good with little kids.

There are various different villages you can stay in but they all link up in the mountains with the lifts: check out Scheffau, Soll, Hopfgarten, Ellmau for starters.

SeaToSki · 28/03/2018 12:42

If you are looking at the USA, try the Norwegian flight from Gatwick to Boston (great prices), then rent a car to drive to Sunday River in Maine or North Conway in New Hampshire. Look at renting a house (lots on VRBO) and rent skis at the Mountain. Kids skis are often included in the price of lessons. Im a big fan of Sunday River myself as the people in Maine are so friendly. They just had 40” of snow 2 weeks ago and if it isnt snowing they have 100% coverage with snow making. In North Conway, you can drive to several different ski resorts as it is a central spot for the White Mountains. Its also a busy town with lots to do apres ski etc.

drspouse · 15/04/2018 20:59

Just had a look at Sunday River, I see the season normally ends at the start of April, what would the snow be like in the last week of March?

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