Ski by train with young kids

[LittleGift]

Hello, has anyone ever managed to find a ski holiday (or booked independently successfully) that has great childcare and allows travel by train?

Desperate to get back on skis now the kids are 3 and 5 but having massive climate guilt about flying.

Have done the train as a couple several times but can’t find trusted childcare.

Thanks

Have a look at this website:
www.snowcarbon.co.uk

A wealth of information about accessible European resorts you can get to by train from the UK.

We decided to go by train this year for the same reasons as you. My partner discovered the Snow Carbon site and it has helped us no end.

A word of warning about ESF though. We went a couple of years ago with some young kids (not ours) and they found the teaching really harsh and a bit too 'no-nonsense' for younger ones, especially if they are complete beginners. Other people have since said to me that ESF is brilliant for teaching people to ski very well. But the ethos is to focus more on the quality of instruction rather than making sure people have a good time, if that makes sense. Austria is meant to be amazing for kids instruction, really gentle and friendly with a focus on fun as well as learning. Italy is meant to be good in that way too I think?

We're taking the train to Sauze Doulx in Italy in Feb with an 18 month old. Breaking the journey in Paris. The journey doesn't look too daunting... fingers crossed.

Hope you do get to go and have a great time!

As a couple of PPs have suggested, Eurostar go directly from St Pan to Bourg st Maurice. The transfer to Les Arcs is by funicular, or take a 25 min transfer up to St Foy. Alternatively, we found Seefeld in Austria to be cheaper, nicer slopes and much much friendlier towards the kids. I have found ESF to be impatient and a little harsh. Above all though I completely support your train initiative. I haven't taken the direct Eurostar snow train but I have taken the TGV from Paris numerous times - brilliant fun. We always overnight in Paris the day before and take the early train out.

Love the idea of a night in Paris. I hadn’t really thought if training further than France.

Do you have any childcare recommendations in Seefield?

Snowcarbon really useful too. Thank you!

Hi OP
We used Schischule Seefeld ([email protected]). They were brilliant. There was a great nursery childcare club at the Geigenbuhel & Birkenlift area - Gizzis Kindergarten. Another thumbs up too for Snowcarbon. The chap that runs that - Daniel - send him an email; he'll come back to you.

Amazing- thanks!

🙏

Another one just popping on to say La Rosiere via Bourg St Maurice. Friends have done it with kids (we always flew) though theirs were in ski school in the morning then they'd have lunch together and ski in the afternoon, but some do have crèche/childcare lunch Arrangements.

Some of the CGH residences have a pool which were particularly busy with kids from 4pm!!

Pool would be great Cobblers. I’ll definitely look at those too. Thanks.

I can recommend Arc1950 - Eurostar ski train to Bourg, funicular up to Arc1600, then taxi or bus the rest of the way up to 1950. And the great thing about 1950 is that it's all ski in/ski out. It's a small purpose-built village that isn't ugly, with everything you need on your doorstep. The ski school (Spirit, a branch of Evolution I think) takes them from 3, and they have an afternoon club too if you want to abandon them all day occasionally . There's also spa stuff if that's your thing.

It ticked so many boxes for us, not least avoiding the nasty transfers! And Les Arcs is a lovely place to ski with fantastic snow, especially later in the season, as it's so high.

We did ours through Erna Low, who were brilliant. Much better than Crystal who we'd previously used and had let us down massively by overbooking accommodation leaving us with nowhere to go ten days before travel (when we'd booked a year earlier..)

Have stayed at Arc 1800 as a couple having done train and funicular (overnight Eurostar though which was grim). I can see 1950 being good with kids. Ski school recommendation is good - thanks.

Will also check out Erna Low. Thanks.

Yeah, I've done the overnight Eurostar twice in both directions. First time was fine, albeit less than ideal for obvious reasons, mostly that the lights are on and the seats don't recline much.

Second time in both directions we were stuck next to a family from the Jeremy Kyle show who fed their children cola all night (predictable results, including one of the bottles landing on DD2 and soaking her hair with it) and let them use their tablets full volume and shouted and swore constantly. They hurled me tons of abuse as I had been the one to ask if they could perhaps turn the volume down on their devices when it was about 1am. Ended up sleeping on the floor between the carriages to get away from them - although this did result in a stream of people passing by expressing their sympathy for us being stuck next to this family! Several of them were regular travellers on the route and said they'd never seen anything like it so it sounds like we were just unlucky. Still, I've not dared do it again.

I might be willing to try the day train in the future though.

The day train was blissful (albeit without kids). What is it with not turning the lights down on the night train?! Someone we travelled with managed to get some sleep in the luggage rack but I think he was the only one who did!

My sympathy on being seated near the family from hell. Why don’t people say anything (apart from you)? I was the one who lost it with some people on the disco train but I was not alone as was joined by an irate French man in y-fronts.

The fact you can’t book the train more than 90 days ahead is a real screwer - we’re going to Montgenevre this year and have ended up on Jet2 as booking accom in June / July but not being able to book train till Jan for April was just too risky.

Childcare in Tarentaise - T4 nannies / SnowLittle - both agencies so you get a nanny and you can stay wherever. But this is pricey.

ESF crèche is gonna be cheaper option. Mid range is the chalet option with childcare - Esprit / Ski Famille / Family Ski Company / Mark Warner / VIP ski / Scott Dunn but as you’ve already found, you need a Saturday transfer for the train which discounts a few of those.

Look at Les Gets / Morzine for short transfer?

I loved the train but when skiing with kids adds the extra complication, something has to give sometimes! (It’s our only holiday of the year so I don’t feel too bad about flying!)

Rodent01 meant to reply before - sorry! Yes, it’s a massive PITA that you can’t book the train earlier. Especially when you’re trying to work around bloody school holidays! You have to plan so far in advance to get stuff sorted. And my school not helping by suddenly emailing today to say that the kids are starting back on a different date than on the calendar after summer (not relevant for skiing obvs but this is my first year really having to worry about school holidays and it’s already pissing me off!).

We are ‘allowing’ ourselves one flight a year too. As we don’t have a car it’s making even trips in this country harder. Not so easy to rent cars from stations or take your own car seats by train etc. It should be easier to do than this!

I've been to Club Med La Plagne when my son was younger, and had previously skied in Valmorel.
If they'd had a Club Med in Valmorel then, that's where I'd have gone so now that they have, I'd recommend you check it out

I forgot to say: Valmorel is 20 mins from the nearest train station Moutiers