Good ski experiences?

[victoriaaurora]

Haven't managed to ski for 3 years for obvious reasons but trying to get organised and choose something for Feb half term next year or perhaps first week of easter.

Have done Obertauern, Alpe d'Huez, Valmorel, Megeve and Courchevel.

I loved the club med experience but the kids hated the massive French ski schools and it really put them off. Lots of waiting around. Did a chalet with them in Courchevel with small ski school and the experience was much better.

Husband & I are experienced skiers but this will be the kids third time and they need a ski school - will be age 12 & 14 by the time we go.

Was wondering whether anyone may be able to recommend a ski resort based on the following desires (!):

No more than 2 hr transfer time form airport
Modernish/chic chalet hotel - not dated
Close to lift
Good selection of restaurants in resort (if hotel)
Decent ski school with small groups

I know that's what most people want but really I was interested in people's positive experiences of a good ski trip.

Thanks!

We enjoyed Tignes.

Stayed in the Hotel Diva, so not particularly modern, but very comfortable, good food, nice bar. Kids club was in the hotel, so your kids might not use that. Boot room in basement, ski equipment shop 10 yards from the door, lifts 100 yards from door.

Ski school met not far away, but the kids club run by Crystal ski took the kids to the meeting points which was so convenient.

And you have the whole Tignes and Val D'Isere ski area which is epic.

Could you stretch to a big trip abroad to Canada or the US to ski? Whistler meets all your criteria, and is a next level experience. I haven't had experience with the ski schools in years, but last time I had, I found it to be good sized groups. Likely to have better spring snow too in that part of the world.

I may have a slightly biased view as I lived there for a few years, but Meribel has everything you are seeking in a ski holiday.

A variety of accommodation close to lifts.
Large selection of good restaurants to eat.
Many ski schools of all sizes to choose from.
A good range of slopes from beginner to advanced.
A picturesque resort.
A decent transfer time from various airports.

Had the time of my life over there.

I've since been on a ski holiday with my children and they loved it! Hope to return one day.

Try somewhere other than France? (But I did see that you've been to Obertauern in Austria).

In my experience Austrian ski schools are very much more child-focussed and fun-focussed than French ski schools, so somewhere like Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Zell am See, Solden, Ischgl or any of the big resorts would suit the bill.

Almost all resorts are within 2 hours of Salzburg or Innsbruck airports.
British-style chalets are rare - but there are plenty of good value, modern hotels in the village centres and close to the lifts and ski schools.

If money and time allow, Canada is certainly worth a trip - but for a minimum of 10 days to allow for the long travel time and effects of jetlag. Whistler ski school is excellent, with great programmes for teenagers (when I worked there, "Ride Tribe" was the special teenager programme, but the programme changes every year). Whistler is at the expensive end of the price scale, but perhaps not much more expensive than somewhere like Courchevel - but skiing in Canada is a totally different experience to skiing in Europe.

Even in Austria we didn't have a good experience with the local ski school (very big groups of children, lots of waiting around, not much real teaching).

The best experience we've had is with Esprit - small groups, English speaking, group abilities are more staggered. Have heard good things about New Gen too (though not tried them).

Alternatively you could try an individual instructor.

Just to say - obvs haven't commented on where we like to ski best as adults (Andorra for us) - if you are going with kids that need ski school then that becomes a bit of a priority in my view.

Get a private instructor for 2 hours a day, presuming that the children are roughly the same standard. It will work out to a similar cost as ski school x 2.

I was going to suggest Tignes as well if you're looking for Easter, although transfer is longer than 2 hours. We frequently stay in Val Claret at Easter and had a good experience with Evolution 2 ski school in the past for our dc. Only problem is, at 12 and 14, your kids could possibly wind up in a class with kids much younger than themselves. Given their ages, I'd be inclined to book a couple of private lessons for them (although these will likely be at lunchtime).

Can't comment on hotels, as we always go self-catering: I think the Hotel Curling in Val Claret is an option with Crystal, but never stayed there: the vast majority of the accommodation in VC is self-catered. Other options for late season skiing to think about are Val Thorens and Cervinia.

How about Les Arcs. There’s a good self catering complex in 1950 that’s genuinely ski in and ski out and bars/restaurants/shops within a few minutes walk. But my reason for recommending is that when we went the ski school had groups for teenagers, not just based on ability so my 14yr old dd was not stuck with 9 year olds. This was more than 10 years ago so worth checking it’s still the case.

Could you stretch to Canada? I loved whistler and Banff. Dd did teen ski school at whistler, not sure on the group size but she was in the 16-20 year old group.

If budget allows the Hilton is the perfect location as at the foot of the main gondola and right by where ski school meets

Evolution 2 has a junior academy aimed at 10+ which I recall ds did one year. He also did the Teen Extreme class when he was about 14, but had to go to the main village of Tignes Le Lac to join the lessons.

I went to Les Arcs with my teens in 2019 at Easter and they liked it (we went with Esprit). We usually go at Easter.

This year we're going to Norway.

I did look at Whistler too as it looks amazing, but the covid rules were too confusing for an under 12 year old and it looked like there are still very strict restrictions there.

Some great suggestions, thank you!

I will look into Whistler. I suppose because we generally go feb half term and so it's easier to go somewhere closer. I do really love the idea though.

Agree that ski school is a priority & the recommendations are v useful.

Villars in Switzerland. Wonderful.

Would definitely recommend New Gen ski school, they're at a number of resorts if you check their website.

Yes have also used new generation ski school and found them very good and keep to smaller groups. Maybe look at where they work and take it from there? I prefer Austria for shorter transfers and general more friendly but hotels often quite traditional. I don't mind that, very comfortable but not modern/chic.

Or another option is ESI ski school, saw a few classes of these when we were away in Serre Chevalier last week and classes were small, and instructors smily and nice.

I live in a little Swiss resort. My boys 5 and 3 have had individual lessons every weekend since last season when the youngest was 2. The eldest has already completed the green, blue and red Swiss ski school levels and is in the ski team.

My point is to say, get individual lessons, not ski school. It probably won’t be any more expensive and will give you much more freedom when choosing a resort. The kids will also make masses more progress with individual instructors compared to ski school, too.

And despite where we live, we’re planning on going to Whistler in November! I’ve skied in Breckenridge USA and loved the N.American experience, and DH (French, grew up skiing the southern French Alps resorts) is also desperate to go. So great to hear the positive feedback on Whistler!

I really like the Oxygene ski school - so far we've only gone to resorts where there is one. I particularly enjoyed Meribel and Val d'Isere - I flew to Chambery and got a transfer from there.

I always had a good time in Italy, Cortina especially. The Dolomites and Sella Ronda are amazing and the ski schools good as well.

Agree with the recommendation for individual lessons. My me, part of the draw of group lessons is that they meet other kids and make friends. But your kids are a bit older and will likely be in a group with younger kids (like the 14 yr old girl who was stuck with my 9 yr old and a bunch of similar age boys in a New Gen group this year!). So I’d definitely go for a private instructor who can teach them both for a similar price as group lessons. And it gives you much more flexibility - you can often choose a more convenient pick up/drop off point for example.
I like Les Arcs 2000. It’s not pretty by any stretch but is car-free, ski in ski out and right next to Les Arc 1950 which IS pretty and has lots of restaurants etc. Taj I Mah hotel is fantastic but pricy (although cheap compared to similar hotels elsewhere in the Alps) and there are good self catering options too.
What is your budget?

Oh and DO NOT go with Esprit unless you have children under 8. They were perfect for us when we our kids were younger but once they reached about 7/8 they had definitely grown out of it! You don’t need childcare for a 12 and 14 yr old.