Skiing for a family of skiing virgins (me, dh, 3 .75 yr old and 5 yr old) - where should we go? Your recommendations please

[handlemecarefully]

Dh and I have never been skiing before and know nothing about it. Plan to go this winter. Have a boy who will be around 3.8 / 3.9 at the time and a 5.5 year old dd.

When should we go to best ensure good snow coverage?

Where should we go? (we don't mind short or long haul and we are not price sensitive). In fact if paying more means it will be less busy then we are up for that

Will the 3.9 year old be too young to learn to ski? If so what do we do with him - are there creches?

Many thanks?

Sorry - don't know why I added question mark after 'many thanks'

Don't assume the 3 yr old will ski . Some resorts won't take them in skischool below 4 or 5 , he may not be physically coordinated enough yet and if the weather is bad it coudl be very unpleasant anyway and the little ones suffer more . Most resorts have snow kindergartens which allow under 5's outside playtime but they will not be good English speaking necessarily. If you want that you have to go with a company like Esprit , MW , Crystal or book a chalet with a nanny.

Snow has been a huge issue and the more reliable resorts are often the least attractive for first timers. Last season in Europe was poor throughout, except at altitude and just before Easter. With kids of that age you are best picking a large, all round resort, easy access to a glacier and with indoor pool, walks, toboggan runs and so on rather than relying on everyone enjoying skiing all day.

Have heard (whilst on my summer hols - always best to be one step ahead of yourself...) that Esprit have afternoon snow/ski sessions for 3&4 year olds. I don't think they're ski sessions as such but get them used to wearing boots and skis in a snow park type thing. - In the mornings they are in a creche/kids club.

We have only taken dd with us with www.skibeat.co.uk. Were quite pleased with them although the chalets weren't overly comfortable (but better than Crystal et al) and not convinced the creche would have been that enjoyable (as it was v. small) for dd even now (she was 13 months when we went, now 2.7).

We're going to look at Esprit for next time I think.

I would go in March/April as it can be bitterly cold in December/Jan/Feb which might kill the children's enjoyment. You can get lessons in France for 3 yo, I believe, and a lot of places will run snow school/creches. I would go somewhere like Meribel which is a big bowl and not (generally) too steep. Avoid Chamonix Valley which is very steep and not so good for beginners.

If i was you i would avoid going on a long haul flight.. it will be very difficult to overcome the jetlag for the children especially if you just go for a week!

I would recommend Morzine in France! And also book early!

Thanks guys - will weigh up all those suggestions.

There's quite a lot to think about (daunting). Good point about avoiding long haul and jet lag

HMC we have been with Esprit and highly recommend it. I know others don't. BUT it worked for us and works for others because

1. the kids are surrounded by 'friends' and therefore have a good time playing with them which allows you to ski reletively guilt free.
2. ALL the ski lessons are conducted in english with other esprit kids (the aforementioned friends) We tried going alone and putting teh kids into a local creche and they were v v miserable as they couldn't communicate with the ither kids and didn't really understand teh staff.
3. They do take the kids (3 and 4) year olds out during the afternoon, by the end of the week some of them were able to go down simple nursery slopes themselves. My 5 (nearly 6 year old) was whizzing down blue runs happily by the end of teh week

OK the chalets/food/staff maynot be posh, although there are new Chalet hotels which look fab IMHO Belle Plagne looks the best, we are going to Meribel. We went last year during teh REALLY BAD January and Belle Plagne was defineatly great skiing.

For beginners you want a resort that you can do other stuff too, as you may want an afternoon off. For that reason Val D'isere/Meribel type places would be my choice as they are villages, rather than just hotels and ski shops. You can go swimming/ice-skating etc

The quietest time is Jan, it is fine then I have never found it THAT bad for temperature in europe it is nothing like USA/CANADA for cold.

If money was no object I would go to Belle Plagne with ski esprit as the new Chalet hotel does look great (really plush) everything is there in one place inc nursery/snow club/lessons/indoor pool and spa etc. We booked Meribel Hotel ALba as it looks great to us and just 20m from teh slopes. ALso we don'thave to share rooms with teh kids and both rooms have ensuite bathrooms!!

Crunchie - you've sold it to me. Going to google it. Thanks

I would recommend Canada or the States if you don't mind long haul or cost. Then you have no language problems, many of the ski schools will take a 3 year old. I'm assuming you don't mid taking dd out of school ? In which case I would suggest 2 weeks early March assuming it doesn't clash with spring breeak whereever you are staying. Silver Star and Big White or Whistler on Canadian west coast, or somewhere like lake tahoe in California would be good I think. We stick to school holidays so are doing Big White and Sunshine at Easter with our children.

ditto everything Crunchie said.

Lizs - snow in our area was fine last year, admittedly not the huge dump of the previous year, the mountains kept it really well and there was only 1 day without skiing due to strong winds. The media hype in the UK has a lot to answer for in the way that it represented snow conditions in Europe last year.

Deb

Sorry , getting back to the op - I would agree with the advice you've been given, March would be a warmer time for little ones, short haul and also short transfer, resort with activities for non skiiers.

Our youngest ds learnt at 3 and it was hard work and we live here, trying to get him to ski on a weeks holiday wouldn't have worked!!The creche/snow play ideas sound the best for your youngest.

Deb

Scott Dunn - courcheval if money is no object

or les gets - lovely child friendly resort..

debs - our info is not based on the UK media. We lived in Switzerland for several years and our friends there said it was the worst season they could remember and areas which were normally reliable , such as where ds learnt with his friends , had no coverage on the lower slopes for majority fo the season despite being well over 1000m.

hello we want to go to zell am see as thinking of buying a year round hol home there due to summer lake sports etc anyone been ???if so any recommendations of a place to stay xx

excellent, a price no object ski holiday..

I would say defo book a hotel with a swimming pool. Your children will not thank you for 8 hours sking every day.

Book a pretty resort that has very little walking to piste etc.

We went to Sass fee with ours first time. Ticked most boxes except can be cold as sun does not hit resort until end of Feb. One hill just for sledging!

Oberlech (above Lech) is eye-wateringly £££
but Fantastic for youg ones, ski school meets o/s the hotels (we stayed atwww.sonnenburg.at/which was great.
Also has a sledse only hill.

Saying all that, and if transfers were no problem I would consider Big White in the Canada.

waves at Anteater (its JT)

all your comments about Switzerland were spot on - Kleine Matterhorn - wowee!

Had totally rubbish snow in March in Morzine, twas like trying to ski on a slushpuppy and appalling light too.
Village itself wasn't up to much either.

Hi Nadine, how are you!

Down your way tommorrow at the Westmerland show, are you going?

dd1 has a couple of rides, so a day off school is in order.

Glad you enjoyed Zermatt, did you try the mountain hut food?

Axx

Oh you could have called in!
No not going - would have liked to but dh working, maybe next year!

Didn't try mountain hut food either - though we did get about a gazillion photos of the Matterhorn

I would suggest Montgenevre France. We discovered it last year and will be returning this year. Small, friendly resort, 1.5 hour transfer from Turin Italy. Good snow and quiet around mothers day (mid march). Our DS's at the time were 3.2 and 5.5. Really nice friendly english speaking creache next to ski school, with a snow garden. We wanted our ds to learn to ski. What a fabulous job they did too. He's not a skier, yet, however he can keep his balance and is confident on a drag lift. Our eldest was flying down the mountain with me and DP after 4 days. (we were so proud). The boys loved it. So whilst DS's were in creche and ski school am's DP and I would do our own thing. We'd meet up for lunch then it was toboganning, Play in one of the two parks or the boys would pracise their skiing.

For children, WEngen in Switzerland is fab- beautiful scenery and fantastic nursery slopes. Deffo give it a go!

Try Ardent in the Portes du Soleil in France - we went with Family Ski Company earlier this year and stayed in Chalet L'Eau Vive. My 3 year old went into the creche and loved it - had fun all day and didn't want to leave. My 4 year old learnt to ski for the first time in their Powder Hounds Club and they supply someone in the lessons to help the little ones along. My children just loved the childcare staff and we felt so confident about leaving them in safe hands. The chalet was lovely too with a hot tub and the food superb. We have already booked again for next winter and can't wait!

totally off the subject of this thread - but i am so of where you live debinaustria! what an awesome photo on your profile!