Christmas ski trip, where to go?

[Connor2005]

Hi we are new to skiing and booked our flights to Geneva for Christmas 21. We are now looking at resorts for child friendly, very Christmassy, not too cold 🤣. And guaranteed snow. Any recommendations x

Early season, you’ll need to go high/glacier for a better chance of good snow, although these will also be colder. Les Deux Alpes, Val D’Isere, Tignes, Alpe D’ Huez and all high and accessible from Geneva. There are some very high parts of the Chamonix Valley, but not necessarily great for beginners. There’s a lot of bussing around in the Chamonix Valley too.

You don't want much 🤣🤣

Having worked in several resorts, I'd say your expectation to find something Christmassy is based on American Christmas movies, rather than European Reality. Sadly. My first Season, I was massively disappointed at the lack of 'Christmas' but I had 35 staff to look after & party with, so all was not lost.

As Bike Run SKI said, it's early season so you'll need to book wisely to have a better chance of runs being open & there won't be a lot of easy to access play areas for the children

Chalet bookings can be 'interesting' too. Especially if you're going budget. One year, we'd only had our 30+ 18/19 year olds in resort for a week, first lot of guests Christmas week, first dinner Christmas Day. Some of them hadn't even boiled an egg before leaving home & the two weeks training isn't really enough when you're covering 'how to make toast' before even starting on the seasons menu (same two weeks all season). 1/2/3 kids cooking Christmas dinner for 20 guests, in a chalet they've been in a few days.. ovens they haven't really used. 20 chalets full of guests. Absolute fucking chaos!!! And despite unlimited wine, not exactly what guests picturing I'm guessing!

In the Evenings the Resorts are good because they're full of happy people getting pissed, but unless you're taking willing babysitters, you'll have to leave the kids with strangers babysitting them (chalet hosts usually keen fir the extra ££ avoid the services, the staff are no better than the chalet hosts and a LOT more expensive).

Personally I'd rebook the flights for later in the season when the snow is more reliable & there's more lower snow for the children & do something else for Christmas or at the VERY least, totally lower your expectations!!

Sorry.

Family ski company use the Geneva airport for their ardent resort. It’s lovely

Will be very cold over christmas, and wanting ‘Christmassy’’ along with guarantees snow will be super crazy expensive - you are looking at very exclusive and very expensive high resorts to get all of that. No such thing as guaranteed snow AND not too cold (you can get that combo from February onwards).
Work out what budget you have and prioritise your wants in order; then you will get more specific advice.
If you are coming with friends and are happy to settle for fun, and happy to bring your own tinsel etc, you could probably get reasonable deals on large chalets at places like tignes.

Christmas is not celebrated in the same way unless you go to a resort with a strong British presence. Resorts tend to be more geared up for NY and lifts etc not fully open for Christmas. Last year you had to go fairly high to find much snow, so look at resorts 1200/1500m minimum. It can be extremely cold, windy or warm so pack accordingly. How ild are your dc!

We spent Christmas at Courchevel Mondial and it was snowing as we arrived, pretty but subtle Christmas lights, the ski instructors from the main school did a torchlight procession down the slopes and through the town all dressed as Santas and carrying a flame. The chalet hotel served Christmas Dinner (it was their second week with guests, so yes, very new staff) It was magical OP but I realise now we were extremely lucky to have snow and I am not sure I would risk Christmas again. They tell you 'snow sure' but there's no such thing and remember they have a vested interest in claiming it... Yes they do have various snow machines and methods for moving it around to make the best of it.. Look up the snow data for your resort for the last five years and see if you are willing to risk it.

I am holding off going skiing until we are on top of the pandemic. The ski resorts were hotbeds for the spread of Covid last winter. Winter cold conditions are great for keeping the virus viable and the apres ski mixing is probably as bad as anything for spreading it.

We all have a responsibility here.

Megeve would be absolutely lovely at Christmas time and is easy to get to from Geneva. Its not cheap though! You also might have to get a cable up to the snow this early in the season.

As on another thread about Italy, we've done 2 x Christmas holidays with young children in Cervinia. Flown to Geneva both times and driven to Cervinia - about 3/3.5 hours -really easy drive. I would say its definitely Christmassy - kind of as you'd expect at home - resort / restaurants all decorated with Christmas lights, massive Christmas tree and decorations outside the village church. Christmas Day is still a "skiing day" but lots of Santa hats and various Christmas references. Went up the slopes (and down again) to a restaurant on Christmas Eve via skidoos which the children thought was magical. There wasn't masses of other stuff going on in the village but we love it.

We also take lots of things to make it Christmassy ourselves - fairy lights, a Christmas tree (flatpacked ), crackers to have on Christmas Day etc.

It's high and has a glacier so even in 2015 which was a really poor early season, we had enough snow to keep us busy for a week, the snow making is very good. Not overly cold and the bonus of Cervinia is that all the accommodation is really close to the slopes so really easy with children.

If you are new to skiing, then I suggest a package holiday might be easier for you, where you'll have reps on hand to explain where ski school is, how everything works and what to expect etc. If you booked flexible flights, then I'd suggest cancelling them and looking at a package with eg Crystal instead www.crystalski.co.uk/

We also booked one holiday via Ski Line and found them helpful www.skiline.co.uk/

For a family new to skiing, I'd avoid big resorts eg 3 Valleys, as you'd be paying a premium for a huge ski area but not benefiting from it. When my DS was learning, we had a very successful holiday at this hotel. It's right next to the slopes. Small resort, so cheap lift passes www.booking.com/hotel/si/alpina.en-gb.html

I have been with a number of tour companies, but the one I would recommend is Snowcoach, www.snowcoach.co.uk/
I have no idea how they are going to be after Covid, but they have been the most value for money firm I have been with and they also offer things that I have not found elsewhere. I got my skiing in with them the week before everything closed down last year and I would have been going in a couple of weeks this year if not for the pandemic.

They had some problems, years ago now, I think because they expanded too much. They have contracted into two hotels which they own, in Valmeinier and St. Gervais. The hotels are totally about skiing and have enthusiastic kids running them. They offer guided skiing and, although I have not been at half term for a while now, a children's crèche (though you had better ask about that if you are interested). They can deal with your lift passes, ski gear, apres ski and stuff. If you are solo, the guided skiing and the big communal dining tables are an excellent way to get to know other skiers.

Their major means of travel is, as the name suggests on a coach. but you can fly or self drive if you want. For me coaching only costs £200 and the best bit --- you ski two extra days over flying, as well as being SO much less palaver!

I drive down to Watford where Snowcoach is based, Friday pm, and leave my car there, sling my gear on the coach, relax and sleep on the coach, usually arriving at the resort 9am for breakfast and be skiing by 10 to 11am.

I can recommend Valmeinier for beginners because the ski schools meet up right outside the hotel and there is a wide slope, not too steep to learn on.

Good skiing!