Never been skiing but need to organise for 10

[Thisismyusernamefornow]

A group of us are looking for a resort for January 2020.

Mixed abilities although believe majority are complete beginners. Age group 30-40!

Where do we start?

Hotel vs Chalet?

Somewhere fun and lively?

Please can anybody advise!

Thank you in advance.

Also, what are the things / costs I need to include?

Is there such a thing as an all in/inclusive package?

Your starting point is budget before any of the other things! Skiing is never cheap but as with most things, your job will be much easier if there’s more cash to throw at it 😊!

Is it all couples? Will everyone share rooms? Or will there be singles? Would you prefer to eat in a catered chalet/chalet hotel every night or get out and about?

Yes there are all inclusive - could be hotel or chalet. Most fun but not cheapest would be a catered chalet where all meals (except for one night) will be prepared for you and the company usually sorts out ski passes and equipment hire for you.

More info needed. What age, do you want lots of apres ski, budget.

Personally if you can afford it go chalet. All food taken care of with no-one needing to cook. Ski hire is up to individuals esp if you have different levels. Maybe choose a resort that has access to a lot of ski areas. Make sure you're close to the lift or even better ski in/out.

I’d suggest a budget of around £2k per person for a week in a nice catered chalet with ski passes (outside school hols). Does that sounds acceptable? If not then there are definitely cheaper options to look at.

cupoftea ski in ski out might be tricky for complete beginners?!

Morzine is a fantastic resort

Your costs

• travel (fly/train/drive)
• accommodation
• food
• ski passes (£50-£70 a day depending resort)
• equipment rental (£20-£35 a day)
• ski lessons (group or private)

All inclusive chalet skiing is a rip off designed to extract maximum cash from ignorant Brits. Brexit is having a horrible effect on employment of Brits in the Alps.

I recommend you go to Val d’Isere where there is some of the best skiing in the world and where everything is really easy. The tourist office will be able to help you book a ski guide (this is essential) for your group, tell you the cost of the guide, lift passes, ski and boot hire etc. Just get in touch directly - they are very helpful and speak great English.

A very nice and inexpensive family run hotel in Val d’Isere is La Galise.

Came on to suggest Morzine too!

Yes, start with budget. There are all inclusive packages - I’ve never done one so can’t comment.
Chalet is nice but you need to make sure you have plenty of bathrooms. You need to decide if you want s/c or catered: in my experience catered often over-caters (hearty breakfast, afternoon tea, evening meal) and I resent paying for it. S/c is great if you’re able to work out a schedule - eg 5 couples each couples takes a turn to do dinner, and you go out twice. If you’re all adults I can see the attraction of a hotel, if you can find a small one all the nicer.
Try to be as close as you can to the slopes/lifts: particularly as a beginner, walking in boots is hard work and tiring.
Instructor: try to avoid being in a too massive group - it’s really disheartening for the person at the back.
Avoid school holidays if you’re going without children. You’ll get far better vfm.
We tend to drive as we self-cater - if you’re going to do that you need to make sure your car is winter-ready (snow tyres, chains). If you’re flying to France and driving you need to make the car hire company away you’re going to mountains. Some hotels/chalet companies organise transfers.
This are the thoughts that sting to mind....

All inclusive chalets may well be a rip off but they are sooo nice and loads of fun

We frequent Monts Jura resorts like La Faucille which has a good beginners slope. It's usually locals from the Geneva area so somewhat quieter during the week but it's small enough.

Les Portes du Soleil resorts like Morzine and Les Gets are more touristy and full of Brits but have a bigger choice if accomodation and après ski. Les Gets has a really fun beginners slope called Les Indiens. Myself and DH spent days on it!!

If you have a big budget I second Val d'Isère. Best skiing in France by far.

The ski guides in Val d’Isere are really excellent but if there are beginners your group will indeed need more than one guide.

If you’re mainly beginners you don’t need the best skiing, you won’t use the black runs at all. What about Obergurgl in Austria? Great lift system, good snow record, not as expensive as France.

I would highly recommend trying to get some lessons for the beginners (and yourself!) before you go.

Either at a dry slope or at a snow dome. It's not cheap but you'll save yourself a couple of days of the really basic stuff. Even putting ski boots and equipment on is tricky and if you have practise it'll really help.

I did a few hours on a very very basic dry slope and it saved me a good few days as I arrived being at least able to handle the equipment and snow plough etc.

“Best skiing” is not the same thing as “most challenging skiing”. What you don’t want is being stuck on nursery slopes and green slopes in the resort.

Meribel is good too. And there are some great resorts in Austria.

Better value likely to be in places like Serre Chevalier, Montgenevre, Sestriere...

I always thought andorrra is good for beginners as it's a lot cheaper?
I haven't been but I would look at a decent hotel in tignes or la plagne. We stayed in the terra nova in la plagne, there's a slope literally outside the hotel which the beginners in our group loved because after a day or so they would be able to go up and down ir over and over again.
That was with crystal ski and the hotel had good facilities - nice bar - buffet food (for all requirements) and ski shop in basement

If you want to go catered (we do it takes all the hassle out, and because we're ignorant Brits of course) then SkiBeat have some really good options. If you can go outside of school holidays then they can be reasonably priced.
We budget £1.2k a head - That's a week in easter holidays, 2 adults 2 kids in catered chalet, includes flights, accomm, most meals, ski passes, morning ski school for kids and their ski hire.

Val d’Isere is not nearly as expensive as people think. If you book directly with a French owned hotel and go to the restaurants recommended by the hotel you will be supporting local long-standing businesses rather than big tour operators.

I’d establish your budget, decide whether as a group you want self catered, hotel or chalet, then call Iglu Ski and ask them to find you somewhere in Austria suitable for beginners that fits your match. (Although be aware Austria has catered hotels or spa hotels instead of chalets. Chalets are a french thing. Both are very lovely.) I’m recommending Austria over France because of the apres ski culture there. If you have beginners who are finding their legs get tired by 3pm you can spend the rest of the day in a mountain hut happily drinking and singing away! And then go tobogganing - the Austrians do tobogganing like nothing you have ever seen before.

Having organised several holidays for big groups I can tell you that you will not keep everyone happy, someone will want to go somewhere else. So just shrug and tell them ‘this is what the travel agent organised!’ Iglu Ski deal act as a ski holiday supermarket for most of the main package holiday companies and their call centre staff are very familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of each resort and whether they are advanced or beginner resorts. You can organise it cheaper yourself but it will cost you in terms of your sanity!

I think Backinthebox has the best plan here 😊!

If you're beginners make sure you have budgeted plenty for lessons and also for hot chocolate stops / lunches out for when people are tired and don't want to ski all the time. We've had a lot of beginner friends come and not realise how expensive all the extras are.

Once you've got a budget, it can be worth speaking to a chalet company in your general budget area, they have a lot of experience and will give good advice.

With lots of beginners don't go for Val d'Isere! Lovely for experienced skiiers but not that great for beginners and very expensive. Some of the Austrian resorts mentioned will have a lot more for beginners and a lovely alpine feeling if people don't want to ski every day, without breaking the budget. Or Moraine is good too.

*Morzine not moraine!