Recommendations - First Ski Trip With Toddler

[afuckinggoat]

Hi all,

We're preparing to book our first ski trip after having our DS. He will be 3 when we go (Feb).
The adults going are moderate skiers (confident on reds).

Can anyone recommend a European ski resort that would be convenient for great skiing, a few days of ski school/morning crèche and activities in the resort?

We love Morzine. Have done La Rosiere ski in ski out a few times which would not be appropriate for a toddler at all so have written off.

Thank you!

We’re going to Val D’Isere with our 4YO and 1YO. 4YO is doing morning ski school, we’ve booked a nanny to look after the baby and they can have both in the afternoons or we can have some family time to do things like swimming or ice skating as well as the skiing of course! We are staying in a chalet to avoid having to go to bed with the kids, not ski in ski out though so we can walk 4YO to lessons. I would have thought any major resort would work if you choose the right accommodation! It’s also worth mentioning that not all ski schools take 3YOs but from memory in France at a minimum ESF and Oxygene do.

If you're planning an independent holiday you will need a nanny to look after the children. I don't know of any resort that has a creche you can book into that isn't attached to a hotel / catered chalet. That said resorts such as Meribel, Alp D'uez, St Anton all have new swimming pools and other leisure facilities.

Far easier than trying to arrange independent childcare is to go with a company which specialises in family ski holidays. They really take the worry from you and will have english speaking staff which creches attached to hotels wouldn't necessarily have. It's a few years since we've needed the childcare aspect on ski-ing holidays but I can heartedly recommended Ski Familie and Mark Warner, with particular recommendation for Esprit Ski. Both have resorts in France and Austria. I personally prefer ski schools in Austria - their approach is more nurturing and supportive.

I don't know of any resort that has a creche you can book into that isn't attached to a hotel / catered chalet
Really? In France ESF usually run an in resort crèche that anyone can book. I’ll admit it wouldn’t be my first choice of childcare for a baby but it definitely exists. Although OP’s 3YO doesn’t necessarily need the crèche section and can just do ski school e.g. club Piou Piou, should they want to that is! That said, Mark Warner etc are a really good suggestion. I’d also add Club Med to the list. We’ve never done their skiing but their summer offerings including kids clubs have always been really good.

We always went with Family Ski Company when ours were little.
Fantastic childcare, a ski school helper in with the youngest’s lessons. Early tea for the kids, family friendly chalets that are all really well located and a babysitter on the chalet staff’s night off. It made for a really relaxing holiday for everyone.