Suggestions for skiing over Christmas with two teens

[Member869894]

I've only ever skied once in a s hool trip and loved it. Its been a hard year (bereavement) and 'd like to take my two teenagers away for aweek over Christmas and have no idea where to begin. I've heard Bulgaria is cheap. Could anyone make some suggestions please ? Do I just get everything i need when I'm there?

As first-timers I think that you should let a Tour Operator do all of the work. Crystal, TUI, Inghams, Nielsen etc. The Christmas week is not a particularly busy time - people like to stay at home - so prices can be reasonable. The New Year week is far busier and therefore far more expensive.

Everything that you need will be organised by the TO. Obviously transport to and from the resort, but also ski and boot hire, ski school lessons, lift passes and usually a social programme of some sort too (horse sleigh rides, tobogganing, bowling) if that's your thing.

All you need to organise is ski clothing - underwear, fleece, trousers and jacket (go to Decathlon or Trespass for good options at reasonable prices), gloves, ski socks (proper ones, not tubes with snowmen on) and a warm hat. You can rent a helmet, but if you prefer your own then Decathlon or Aldi have perfectly safe ones for £30-£40. You must also organise your winter sports insurance.

You can't go wrong if you pick any of the mid-sized resorts (which is where the TOs go anyway) regardless of whether you go to France, Austria or Italy. For a cheaper option look at Andorra - Bulgaria is cheap for a reason (but there are people who have had a great time there too).

France - Les Arcs, La Rosiere ... others will have other suggestions.
Italy - La Thuile, Kronplatz, Canazei ...
Austria - Zell am See, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Westendorf, Soll, Rauris, Wagrain, Maria Alm ...

Personally, I prefer the village atmosphere and the teaching approach in Austria rather than in France - Austrian group lessons are huge fun and will give you and the teenagers a social group for the week.

There is an old thread that you could look at >www.mumsnet.com/Talk/skiing/3893018-First-time-skiing-how-does-it-work
particularly the post from @TeetotalKoala about 9 posts down.

Andorra is relatively cheap.

However... with Christmas being a Saturday this year, you may find you get the choice to go the week before Christmas, returning Christmas eve, or fly out Christmas Eve return NYE. We are doing the return Christmas Eve option.

(We are going to Bulgaria with Crystal. We do cheap and cheerful unlike some on MN, we can't afford the big name resorts. It does come with the payoff of not being quite as good.)

Christmas isn't snow sure. You need to go high, and might be disappointed. I have been to Bansko and wouldn't go back to Bulgaria for skiing ever. It was awful.

Look at US / Canada, budget is high in the first instance but it's so much cheaper once you're on the mountain. No pissed people skiing down to potentially take you out for a start. I've been to vail and Winter park, Denver at Christmas with good snow although not all runs open. You don't want them to be learning on sheet ice because they're using cannons and water, it's not fun for anyone.

Canada is cheaper on the mountain? Lol

"You need to go high" is no longer relevant for the resorts across Europe that have snow-making facilities - which is most of them. I ski every Christmas, usually in Austria, and there is always snow on the mountains even if there is less actually at village level.

The price of daily lift tickets in Canada is eye watering these days. Over GBP100 a day each

Canada is bloody freezing at Christmas and the distance between ski areas really requires a car. It's a very different vibe to Europe.

We’ve just booked with Andora Travel Services… usually just book ourselves, but could spread the cost a bit this way.

thank you everyone for your messages - how much per person did it cost you NorthFace?

Have just pm-ed you - hope that’s okay!

@AriettyHomily "You don't want them to be learning on sheet ice because they're using cannons and water"

Snow cannons don't produce sheet ice. They are SNOW cannons and produce crystals that are very similar to snow which is then groomed by piste machines. A beginner would not know the difference.

OP I recommend Cervinia - its high so likely to have good snow and even if it doesn't, it has great snow making. Its relatively compact, everything is in walking distance, cute main high street which is very pretty decorated for Christmas, pizza & ice cream for teenagers, its Italy so not as expensive as some of the other resorts, good apres ski but not OTT. Extras like ice skating, restaurants accessible by skidoo. You can ski over to Switzerland for a day (we've done it on Christmas Day) - Zermatt, they have a little igloo village which the children loved. Lots of Airbnb accommodation if you want to DIY your arrangements, accessible from quite a few airports to minimise flight costs. We've done Christmas week there a few times and loved it.