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Ski and snowboarding

For ski chat, join the Mumsnet Ski forum. Check out our guide to the best resorts in Europe and our family ski holiday packing list.

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Original poster

Ski repost at Xmas

43 replies

2kids1Hubby · 25/12/2022 11:20

We are looking to go to a ski resort for next Xmas

Can anyone recommend any places ? We live in south east right near the tunnel and would like to drive

11 yr old
17 Month old by then

Husband can ski, I can't but I'm not even fussed about skiing to be honest. If he can do off for a little ski in the mornings whilst I have the kids and maybe some activities for them I'm fine with that. Then lessons for the eldest maybe.

Our criteria
Closest drive from Calais possible
( we are def driving don't wanna fly )
Child friendly resort
Nice pool area
Food onsite either all in or can purchase
Definitely not wanting self catering

Plan is to stop over somewhere on way down so not too long in the car

Thanks ! This is all completely new for us and it's over whelming when you look online
X

OP posts:

ChateauMargaux · 25/12/2022 23:43

There has been very little snow at Christmas in French resorts for the past few years ... not sure it's worth the huge expense.

Find somewhere lovely to spend Christmas and send your DH and 11 year old on their own for a few days.

Being in a ski resort with an 18 month old and not skiing yourself, is tedious at best. You will only be meeting the needs of 2 of the family, at most and at vast expense.

schoolworries22 · 26/12/2022 00:02

We've been to France at Xmas for the last several years. This year is the first there hasn't been much snow (and it was ok until mid week this year).

schoolworries22 · 26/12/2022 00:04

We also drive and it takes around 9 hours. We break it around 3 for a sleep and then do 6 hours the next day. As a family we are used to long drives so it is fine but it is a lot of car time.

ChateauMargaux · 26/12/2022 00:22

@schoolworries22 ... which resort (s) have you travelled to that have had good snow at Christmas these past few years?

Emanresu9 · 26/12/2022 06:06

We are in resort now and snow is great. We were here last Xmas too and was also great. Alpe Dhuez. It’s at 1800m

for Christmas you need a resort that is high. So alpe dhuez, tigne, Arc 2000,

don’t go anywhere lower than 1700m

Ragwort · 26/12/2022 06:35

If you don't ski then think carefully about whether you want to go to a ski resort with young DC. Surely your DH will want to do more than go 'for a little ski' in the mornings ... will your 11year old be in ski school? That means you will be on your own with the baby all day and unless you go to a very upmarket resort with lots of facilities what are you planning on doing all day?

We've been on a few ski trips ... I don't ski but DH and DS do .. DS did ski school from 3. I was happy to go swimming, sit and read all day but wouldn't want to be entertaining a baby all day, it's difficult to even 'go for a walk' in many resorts. I don't go with them anymore ... the novelty has worn off and I would rather be home alone .
(DS did go to Alpe Dhuez this year and had a fantastic time).

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 08:39

@ChateauMargaux that's interesting thank you! No that's not an option, def want to stay together ! So looks like finding somewhere with snow is key for us.

@schoolworries22 that's exactly what we were thinking time wise which we are happy with.
But if there's little snow the other end will have to have a location rethink!

@Emanresu9 thank you. Much to do with an 18 month and non skiers or would you agree with pp it would be tedious ? ( can't see it would be tedious myself )

@Ragwort yes we definitely want a ski resort. I was thinking other activities for the children. Crafts/walks in the slow/sleigh rides/Xmas activities / swimming/park area/ etc
I only stay home entertaining baby all day so figure somewhere change of scenery where there is no cooking/cleaning. And being away at Xmas and somewhere with Xmas fun/activities .

Yes he's more than happy with the morning ski, and then spend the afternoons together
If ski school is all day then little one won't be interested in that. I was thinking a lesson or an hour or so. She can't even ski. So a report with other things on.

I'm more than happy just being away and spending time with the kids in the snow !

Maybe Lapland might be an idea. We were going to do that one year but now little one is 11 and won't believe next year we haven't considered it again ( booked and got cancelled over covid ) but guess we could consider that.

We've been quoted ( roughly as nothings been released yet ) about £7k for what we want.
Is this about right?

We have used an independent local travel advisor. She isn't the cheapest but she Taylor's it to what you need. But thought I'd get some ideas on here whilst she's coming back to me in the new year

OP posts:

QuentininQuarantino · 26/12/2022 08:49

I love skiing but I think it would be dull as anything without actually skiing. I went one year with family to tignes when recovering from surgery so couldn’t ski and was bored out of my mind!

the French alps are incredible for skiing but there isn’t so much else to do (aside from bars!) You could consider a Pyreneen village as in the Pyrenees you tend to sleep and the bottom and get a big cable car up to the lifts, so Cauterets for example has a spa and there’s Lourdes nearby, other things to do, but very accomplished skiers find the skiable area too small.

TBH Lapland sounds about right for what you’re looking for, you don’t need to go on a Santa package. When we went we booked a private Santa to come to the cabin for 20 minutes but otherwise did our own thing. Skiing is much more expensive there though!

Thelondonone · 26/12/2022 08:54

We love alpe d’huez (and relieved there is snow as we go tomorrow). There is tobogganing and an ice rink a pool and stuff to do. However, I’d hate to be stuck in a hotel room with a baby so would want a chalet which if you want caterer will be expensive. For beginners ski school is usually all day but you could just do morning or afternoon (we actually preferred afternoon as makes mornings less stressful). However, I think you’ll struggle being stuck in a hotel room. £7000 for what you have suggested is about right.

itsgettingweird · 26/12/2022 08:58

Emanresu9 · 26/12/2022 06:06

We are in resort now and snow is great. We were here last Xmas too and was also great. Alpe Dhuez. It’s at 1800m

for Christmas you need a resort that is high. So alpe dhuez, tigne, Arc 2000,

don’t go anywhere lower than 1700m

Agree with this.

I did 2 ski seasons in alpe d'huez.

This was 2 decades ago it had the Dmc lift, ice sculptures, snow run (but boards and sledges) for kids, ice rink and swimming pool.

There was also always quite a bit of snow - even the year we had a giant puddle at the resort level due to the warm weather!

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 08:58

Hmm may have to re think then. Thought it would be the ideal holiday for hubby to go off and ski for a bit and for us to do something but maybe not......just looked quickly at Lapland its 3.5k for 4 nights so not bad if we then add a couple of days ski on to it somewhere else. But then that 3.k price is to fly and ideally we want to drive. We don't mind being away for a while so if we can do Lapland and then ski but not sure that will work. He will probably be ok if he has a little ski. He's not a pro or anything and he hasn't even been on a ski holiday with me ! Just thought it would be nice.

Maybe Lapland instead for next Xmas and a ski holiday another time ! X

OP posts:

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 09:00

Lapland just seems a waste when eldest doesn't believe and little one is too little !!

Maybe somewhere else snowy with some actives ? Does that exist?

And yes totally agree would hate to be stuck in a hotel room....definitely chalet or something
X

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Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 09:02

There's some chalets and bungalow options I saw on tui when I checked Lapland with half board/full board and there was b&b with prices accordingly so maybe that is better option for what we want....just wouldn't want self catering and don't think caterer is necessary

Not sure what to do now.....

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Emanresu9 · 26/12/2022 10:03

Staying in the Bergers area of Alpe DHeuz would be perfect for you. There is a luge on rails, swimming pool, sledging, pedestrian lift passes take you up for a nice coffee higher up. Loads of sledging and snow fun

FlounderingFruitcake · 26/12/2022 10:13

Pointless. It’s a lot of driving and money for your DH and 11YO to ski half days whilst you schlep around shops that mostly sell ski wear and visit the same swimming pool on repeat with a toddler in the freezing cold. I’d either:
-Go, sort childcare, give skiing a go yourself or just enjoy not having the toddler for a bit and get spa treatments, read a book and drink champagne in a deckchair in the sun.
-Don’t go and let DH take the 11YO on his own.
-Find an alternative holiday that works for all the family instead.

PuttingDownRoots · 26/12/2022 10:26

I'm a non skier on family ski holidays. I get up to help get the kids to ski school (9-12 this year in France). Then it was back to the apartment to tidy up, have a bath, rrad etc, meeting DH at 11.45 for hot chocolate then lunch. In the afternoon the kids either went out with DH for more skiing or had a quiet afternoon.

Ski resorts are very expensive, just skiing for a couple of hours a day is a bit of a waste of ski hire, lift passes, the more expensive accommodation etc.

One idea... go somewhere like Innsbruck for a week. Then DH and older child go to the ski resort for a couple of longer days (stubai glacier is about 30 minutes away for example, but I think there is closer). So a sort of city break with skiing added on.

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 11:24

I've spoken to hubby - he's failing to see how it's expensive for just a couple of hours
As opposed to what?
If we went elsewhere what sort of things could we do that we couldn't do at one of the ski resorts?
I think because he's been before and I haven't I can't quite visualise it but posts here have put me off but hubby can't see where the issue is x

OP posts:

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 11:25

@PuttingDownRoots that sounds like a nice plan you have there

Obviously I'll have a young child so won't get to chill! But I'm ok with that and with any other holiday we choose it would be the same

It's just nice being away from home, different scenery and not at home every day like we are every Xmas x

OP posts:

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 11:28

I think we (all) want to be on the actual ski resort not a town 30mins away. Innsbruck looks nice but We don't want that nor a city break not not to be away from each other

Plan was we would have breakie together, he goes off skiing - I'll take kids out to walk/play/activities on site and then meet for lunch.
After noon can be toboggan / snow rides / more activities for kids / swim etc and then nice dinner out it back at chalet etc

I think that's what he's set on and my travel lady thinks it could work well x

OP posts:

FlounderingFruitcake · 26/12/2022 11:35

If we went elsewhere what sort of things could we do that we couldn't do at one of the ski resorts?

Er loads. For starters the toddler could play outside- you may well find it’s too cold or too snowy to have them out for long. You could actually walk around because without an all terrain pram you might struggle to get out at all if there’s been recent snow fall. You would actually have things to do that aren’t just looking at Moncler bobble hats in the shops. Even the non skiing activities are usually geared towards kids older than 17 months- tobogganing, ice skating etc. Sure a big resort will have a swimming pool but that takes up what an hour a day. And what the hell do you do the rest of the time? There will be none of their toys from home.

If you book childcare it’d be better because they’d have stimulation and you’d get some down time. If you don’t want to at the moment then I’d put the trip on ice for a couple of years, until they’re old enough that you deem them ok to leave and/or do ski school.

FlounderingFruitcake · 26/12/2022 11:39

Oh and why are you saying taking the kids (plural) out? Your 11YO needs to be in ski school! If they aren’t even going to learn to ski then it’s all even more pointless. Hubby goes skiing whilst everyone else has to tag along?! Why doesn’t he just go on his own or with friends?

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 11:44

@FlounderingFruitcake you're really missing the point! Horrible attitude as-well correcting me and the way you are coming across isnt nice at all
Yes I like to take my KIDS out
Plural thank you for the correction but not actually required

Thanks to everyone else though!

Funny how MN can get so irritated it's strange
Never got that

Also putting my child in childcare not what I asked

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FlounderingFruitcake · 26/12/2022 12:05

Er not being horrible… I just had initially assumed you had meant you’d just be looking after just the LO because 11 is a great age to learn to ski, bit unusual to go all that way and not have them learn. So I was only correcting myself and my prior presumption, not your use of language!

And I like to take my kids out too! It’s just really bloody difficult in a ski resort to get tiny ones out and about and there is literally fuck all for them to do! I’ve been there skiing with a baby and it’s shit. The roads are sheet ice, the pavements can be snowdrifts, it can get below -10, there are no playgrounds, restaurants aren’t expecting to cater to them, if there isn’t fresh snow it can be hard pack that isn’t even nice for playing in.

Rightly or wrongly there’s a presumption that people either don’t ski with kids that young or that they use childcare. It’s a very expensive holiday to have little suitable activities bar a council style leisure centre. It’s a very expensive holiday if only 1 out of 4 is actively skiing. There’s of course non skiing stuff for big ones but again that’s really designed to fill an hour at the end of the ski day e.g. an ice rink as there is a presumption that skiing is the primary activity and it again leaves someone on childcare duty for the little one as they can’t participate.

I’m really not trying to be rude, sorry if it came off that way, I was just trying to be clear about what it’s actually like (since you’ve never been before). If it’s not helpful then ignore. Lastly though I do think PP’s suggestion of Lapland is great- unlike purpose built French resorts, Lapland is more geared around non skiers with skiing as a bonus add on so could suit you all perfectly.

ChimneyPot · 26/12/2022 12:14

Ski resorts in Finland/Lapland have lots of other activities for non skiers. It’s not just Santa.
Sleigh rides with reindeer, driving huskies, snowmobiling. The skiing is quite basic and a bit of an after thought. And it is dark most of the day.
Its a lovely winter family holiday.

i don’t think you could drive there.

Original poster

2kids1Hubby · 26/12/2022 12:14

The way you've written it definitely comes across that way. Starting sentences with er and oh and exclamation marks etc.

Yeah ok you make some good valid points as have others but it does sound like the places you have been to weren't ideal.

Im hoping we can find a resort that does cater for smaller ones.

Yeah I thought of Lapland or something similar but with my 11 year old who doesn't believe and a 17 month old I just didn't consider it initially! But it's more the activities we want, toboggan, sleigh ride, snow/craft activities etc not just Santa if that makes sense so still really torn

Hubbys srill adamant but just wanna make sure it's the right sort of thing.

Yeah it's expensive but not to sound like we don't care about money but we have the budget and for someone who said it's a lot of money for just a morning - like hubby said he's happy to pay it and spent the rest of the day with us.

I think what our criteria is - it's exactly what we want and we just need to find a resort that will cater for it all.

I can't see it boring when Xmas week we are just stuck at home most days. You just make the most of it

OP posts:

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