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Ski and snowboarding

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Original poster

School ski trip or family ski trip?

15 replies

FollyClower · 08/02/2022 09:25

We were due to go skiing in France this Feb half-term, but it fell through. DH skied a lot when younger, DSs (11 and 12) are novices. I’ve also not skied apart from a couple of lessons many years ago, and due to a long-term health condition (and the fact that I’m ancient) am not sure how much skiing I would be able to manage, if at all, but am desperate to have a go.

The dilemma: oldest DS has an opportunity to go skiing with his school this Easter, or we could rearrange our family trip for the same week.

I think he’d have a smashing time on the trip (despite 14hr coach journey), and though he’ll be going on other school trips I’ve no idea if they will run the ski trip again in the future.

I’d also love us to get away together - we could all really do with it, and for various reasons I think it would be good for us as a family to spend that time away together. DH has wanted to take us skiing for years, and even if I can’t ski much, being away in the mountains would likely be very good for my physical and mental health.

For those who’ve had children go on school ski trips and have skied as a family - WWYD?

OP posts:
QuizzicalEyebrows · 08/02/2022 09:37

School trip definitely

Hoppinggreen · 08/02/2022 09:37

School trip

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 08/02/2022 09:40

Will 11yo get a similar opportunity next year?

The 12yo would have a wonderful time either way. But what about the 11yo?

Original poster
FollyClower · 08/02/2022 09:50

Thanks everyone.

@Aroundtheworldin80movesu I’m not certain at the moment about next year - he will be at the same school, but it will depend on whether the trip is run again and for which year groups. This is part of the dilemma. It’s likely he’ll have the opportunity to go with school at some point, but not certain.

@Hoppinggreen and @QuizzicalEyebrows - can you say why you’d choose the school trip?

OP posts:
Africa2go · 08/02/2022 10:27

School trip definitely. We (as parents) love to think our children love being with us and "family time" is as appreciated by them as it is by us, but its a no-brainer really when you're 11 or 12. If his friends are going, they'll all be talking about it in the run up to the trip, and afterwards, and aside from the fact that he'll have a brilliant time with his friends, he'll be kind of left out of the pre / post holiday chat too. It doesn't have to be an either / or situation (subject to finances) - you can do something as a family when he gets back and potentially ski at Christmas / next half term.

Original poster
FollyClower · 08/02/2022 10:58

I agree @Africa2go, if given a straight choice between going with us and going with his school friends, I'm pretty sure DS12 would choose the school trip. Out of the two years groups that have been invited, only about a third are actually going on the trip, so his friends are mix of going and not-going.

I have the feeling that if we don't go this year as a family, we may never go (for various reasons), which I'm pretty sad about. I think I have to be prepared to be ok with that and prioritise DS's experience.

OP posts:
rookiemere · 09/02/2022 11:21

School trip definitely. I didn't sign DS up for the P7 school ski trip as it was £200 non refundable deposit and he seemed a bit lukewarm about it and really regretted it as it seemed like such a good experience for them all.Doubly regret it now as he missed out on foreign languages trip and outward bound experience because of covid Sad.

abricotine · 09/02/2022 14:43

Better to go as a family if it’s your only shot. Also school trips are quite limited in terms of what they can learn and do. At 11 my daughter had great fun on the school trip, by 14 she was annoyed they couldn’t get around the resort properly as they were stuck coming back to the hotel for lunch every day. There is usually only about 4 hours of teaching. As a fit and active family you can do much more skiing than that with a lesson in the morning and practising and pottering on simpler slopes in the afternoon. If his entire group of friends were going it might be different but if they are already mixed I wouldn’t sweat it. Experience it for yourselves Smile

SourMilkGhyll · 09/02/2022 22:38

What are the finances like? At DC school it seems very expensive. All 4 of us could go on a family ski holiday for the same price as 2 DC on a school trip.
Family time is important.

myrtilles · 09/02/2022 22:44

We did a family trip a different week so DD could do school trip as well. However this year I would do the family trip as there is less chance of any disruption re: covid.

A 14 hour coach journey sounds an underestimate. Where is this to? Coaches only travel at 62 mph and there will be regular stops.

Original poster
FollyClower · 11/02/2022 09:26

Thanks very much for all opinions. We’ve decided to go as a family - after a lot of thought and discussion we realised that this was the right choice for everyone at the moment.

OP posts:
Iamblossom · 11/02/2022 13:24

we gave our sons the option and they both chose to come with us as a family. Even after hearing all about the school one from their friends they were glad they chose to come with us.

morechocolateneededtoday · 12/02/2022 09:34

I was leaning towards school until you said its the only time you'll go as a family. In this case, would definitely do the family one

School trip is definitely brilliant experience but it's only one of your children that gets the opportunity right now. There hopefully will be future school trips he can go on and there certainly will be trips through university and with friends as he gets older

Finchgold · 12/02/2022 09:48

A holiday for just one member of the family or a holiday for the whole family. It’s a no brainier!

Tardigrade001 · 12/02/2022 09:53

I was going to say definitely family. If it's either-or, why should the rest of you miss out?

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