Ski Famille

[Toothfairy2750]

We have booked a week in Les Gets through ski famille as we need the childcare. DD is going through a particularly clingy phase currently. Can anyone reassure me as to what the actual childcare component is like. We are going and that’s that , but would like a bit of info if anyone has been so I can prepare for a different kind of skiing holiday anwyay! Thanks !

How old is your DD? We have used Ski Famille 3 times, our children were well looked after by the nanny team. Our own DD was only 8 months when she first went and they were great with her - although she was eating well by then and not breastfed. They provide much more of a bespoke and homely childcare setting than a lot of the bigger companies. No schlepping to a central creche etc it is all in house. I would choose them again for future holidays especially for the childcare aspect.

Thank you so much ! She’ll be 20 months when we actually get there. She goes into nursery with no problems here, but when we’re out of that environment she sticks to me like glue ! Not sure how the first day will go ! Do they meet you on arrival day or day 1 of skiing ? Just wondering if she’ll get a chance to settle a little with them before we go up the mountains ??

Re: when you will meet the nannies. From what I remember they came early on your first day of skiing to run through your children’s routines, food, sleep etc. They then settled them into the playroom in the chalets and you are free to stay to help your children settle or just let them get on with it. We tended to make quick exit in the mornings and enjoy the empty slopes! They are very experienced in helping children settle in a new environment. Please try not to worry and enjoy your holiday.

Thank you for the reassurance . This is good to know . Fingers crossed !!

I’ve seen the ski familie staff in action on the slopes at Les Gets in previous years and they always seemed well organised and good ratios looking after happy kids. I was impressed and looked them up online when we got home. But I’ve not stayed with them. My kids had group lessons with 365 in Les Gets aged 5+ and they were good with them. Hope you have fab time.

We are going with them for a second time this year, after a year's gap (booked last year as well but it was when France blocked all British tourists because of Omicron 😥) Our kids were 2 and 3 at the time. I remember the nannies being pleasantly gung ho (in a good way!), seeing the parents off with a 'have a lovely time skiing, don't worry about us at all - we're going to have a great time'. Luckily our kids didn't seem upset when we left. Some of the other kids in the chalet cried, but the nannies cheered them up quickly. We tried an Austrian ski hotel with childcare last year, and it was wasn't nearly as good, so glad to be going again with Ski Famille this year!

We went to la plagne last April with ski famille and my daughter turned 2 while we were there. At that point she’d never been in childcare apart from a crèche at the gym. She did cry initially when we dropped her but had the best time and did so much with her nanny. They use tapestry so you get to see photos of their day when you get back in the evening. We have older boys who she met up with for lunch and some afternoons too.

We met the nannies on the evening of arrival and then just dropped and ran after breakfast. They’re so used to it that it wasn’t too much of an ordeal really. I did have to hide at ski school meet time as they always went out for a walk in the buggy so the other nannies would sort of blockade her because she was fine until she saw me!

It was the best holiday we’ve ever had, ski famille childcare was amazing. Food was ok but the staff were all lovely.

@CalmDownBoris72 thank you so much for your reply. This sounds like a realistic version of what I expect our holiday will be like. Fully ready for the crying ! But thanks to all the above replies, I do feel prepared now and actually getting quite excited. I’m glad the nannies are “on it” . Sounds very promising for us !

My tenure with Ski Famille during the 2023-2024 winter season was an abysmal experience defined by gross neglect and mismanagement. Despite the commendable efforts of frontline staff, this company exhibits a distressing disregard for the well-being and safety of its employees.

Let’s start with the basics: accommodation costs for quarters that were downright appalling. Malfunctioning facilities like washing machines were an ongoing headache, and the nightmare of a sewage pipe bursting, flooding our living spaces with human waste, is nothing short of health-endangering negligence.

When these uninhabitable conditions finally forced us out, the lack of communication left us effectively homeless for a spell, only to be shuffled back into the same squalor due to the company's failure to secure suitable alternative housing.

Safety was another casualty of this company's carelessness. Reports of collapsing cupboards and electrical hazards were met with indifference, disregarding the very real dangers posed to employees.

The most disturbing aspect, however, lies in the top-tier management's shocking apathy. Ignoring reports of staff misconduct, including cases of harassment, is inexcusable. Allowing an offender to return the following season sends an unsettling message about the company's values—or lack thereof.

Even during training, senior executives' derogatory comments towards female staff members expose an abject disregard for decency, a stark contrast to the family-friendly image Ski Famille purports. The level of disrespect demonstrated is profoundly concerning, especially considering the company's emphasis on entrusting staff with the care of children.

In summary, my time with Ski Famille was marked by a systemic failure to prioritize the safety, well-being, and dignity of its employees. This company's practices not only undermine its workforce but also cast serious doubt on its suitability for families seeking a reputable and responsible ski vacation provider.