Snow holiday with three year old and baby

[jamtomorrow1]

Hello all,

I would be grateful for any suggestions for a European snow destination for me, my husband and our three year old and baby for this winter.

We were thinking of Scotland for ease of travel but I can't find any accommodation that isn't a bit grim. Possibly I'm missing something. I had thought there would be decent family places but I have only managed to find a couple of very tired 'family resorts' in Aviemore.

Self-catering or hotel both fine as long as there's access to a pool and general toddler-friendly activities for our son. We are not anticipating being able to spend much time skiing ourselves as we'll have to take turns on childcare so ability to just mess about in the snow and enjoy other activities is important.

We know Peisey-Vallandry in the Les Arcs area quite well and were looking at the Club Med there but I see that the ski train no longer exists unless you book it as part of an accommodation package and I am quite put off by the idea of a 2-3 hour road transfer from any of the available airports with a baby....

Any ideas?! Struggling slightly....

If you don't mind flying I suggest either Andalo or Folgaria in Northern Italy. They are relatively cheap ski/snow locations and have other activities for kids. Andalo is about 1and a half hours drive from Verona airport though, Folgaria just over 1 hour

Avoriaz has a short transfer, is car free once you are in the resort and is at relatively high altitude if you want to be sure play in the snow with your toddler. Also has horse/sleigh rides etc and a pool complex. It’s also pretty much ski in out if someone can’t resist nipping off for a few runs. Look at Amara for apartments?
I did a couple of transfers to Val d’Isere with a baby and young children; it really isn’t a big deal unless you have one that really won’t sleep in the car!

Thanks very much. The baby isn't due till the end of the month and I am just conscious that my son was an absolute nightmare in the car until he was about six months old.... I will have a look at your suggestions now. Pool complex always very attractive!

Don’t worry about travel too much - it’s just the first and last bit of the holiday. It’s the bit in the middle you really want to think about. I would be avoiding Scotland - as you say, not too far but not set up for young families. Europe is absolutely stuffed full of companies that specialise in family snow holidays, and resorts and hotels that offer childcare so both parents can ski together.

We had lots of happy holidays with Ski Famille in France. We stayed in Les Gets with them, but have heard from friends they are as good in other resorts. They provide childcare, the chalets are nice, and the resorts are always very family friendly. Les Gets is very villagey, with main shopping street, ice rink. Avoriaz is just up the hill and is very snowy - no roads, just horse drawn sleighs and snow bobs for transport, it has a family swimming complex.

We also stayed with Ski Esprit in Italy - again fab holiday but less polished in their child care, even though that is what they specialise in.

We stayed in a Kinderhotel in Austria, which MN rave about, but we’re kicked out with nowhere to go when my son developed chickenpox. The concept is fab, but I would not touch Kinderhotel with a barge pole after our experience. However Austria again do family snow holidays very well, and any ski resort you look at will have a ‘familienhotel’ or two designed to make families with children easier. We’ve been in Saalbach the last few years and although it has a bit of a reputation as a lads’ resort it also has a lot of family accommodation too. Austria has a lot of family resorts.

i have a relative who only ever holidays in scandi, but my experience is that it is flupping freezing and a bit basic out there (they self cater and take grandparents with them for childcare) but is definitely snowy!

if you can be more specific about what you want (is the travel, accommodation, facilities, snow, food, or what most important to you?) I could happily waffle on about snow holidays all day.

for now though, you can’t go wrong with Ski Famille.

Just for clarification, "Kinderhotel" is not a chain of hotels in Austria, it is a joint marketing umbrella for a number of independent hotels that cater specifically for families with small children.

Apart from the awful experience of @backinthebox these hotels, and the similar "familien hotels" in Austria generally get a good rating from MN and elsewhere.

For an idea of what is on offer, look at the Ellmaualm in Hinterglemm - just 90 mins. transfer from Salzburg Airport (along flat and straight roads - no horrible hairpin bends or steep mountain roads) which is served by several airlines from the UK in the winter. Transfer in a private taxi costs around €190 each way.

There are some excellent accommodations for families with the Travel Ski snow train... Have a look at www.skiline.co.uk/ski-holidays/eurostar-train The train is a better way to travel with a small child but my family are big fans of Club Med too.. I think skiline offer discounts on Club Med skiing holidays..

Have a look at Morzine as it is a great family resort. There is a lot of fun things for young children to do like horse and carriage rides, ski train and a play park. If you do need childcare please check out Altitude Nannie altitudenannies.co.uk/

With small children who get bored and cold very quickly, I would strongly recommend Leukerbad in Switzerland. A lot of hot springs and very warm water activities. A bliss to combine snow and spas!