Val Thorens

[Carrie76]

We’ve just booked flights for a weeks skiing in Val Thorens. My 3 kids are 8,10 & 12 and are beginners, can anyone recommend a ski school for them? I’ve skied once years ago so also need ski school! Thanks in advance

We skied in VT before Christmas and my DD skied with Oxygene. They were great, super friendly as she made good progress. Most importantly- she really enjoyed the lessons.

DDs had lessons with Proseigne. No complaints.

Take anti sickness meds with you. I had awful altitude sickness when I was there.

We just came back from there and it was great! The kids were booked with Oxygene and it was great because the groups are a lot smaller than ESF. So many nice cruisey blues to do as they progress too! Our kids loved skiing into the igloo for a hot chocolate.

As an aside, if you have three kids who are all beginners needing ski school, it is cheaper and more expedient to go for the private lessons!

Interesting thought about private lessons for the 3 of them. I’ve a feeling the middle one will take off as he does with everything else he tries. Also not sure if the 12yr old will want to be with the 8yr old!

Where in the village are you staying? We use Prosneige because it’s close to where we stay but I’d use oxygene if we were further up as their meeting point is higher. Don’t use esf.

with your kids close in age and all beginners I’d agree with other comment to use a private instructor. Usually there are 8 children in a group. All of yours will go into a beginner group together with 5 others. The cost of 3 places will be similar to a private instructor. And they’ll progress so much faster with just 3 of them

Also a private instructor will meet you at your accommodation.

I’d say in this case it might be even better to go private, because no matter what ski school you go with, they will group them by level instead of age. This means that in a school setting, your 12 year old would still be skiing with their siblings plus a fair few 5 year olds… My 9 year old is between 2nd and 3rd ski level and still complained that she was skiing with babies because there were some 6 and 7 year olds in her class. Private might help to preserve your 12 year old’s dignity!

Interesting point about the 12yr old being with lots of young ones. We’re staying in Le Chamois Dor

Ok you’re probably slightly closer to Prosneige ski school then. Altho if you book a private instructor then they’ll meet you at the hotel.

for the price of 3 x group lessons you’d be better getting a private instructor. They’ll all be in the same group lesson anyway as it’s by ability not age but this was youd not have 5 other random children with them.

I was going to recommend Oxygène too. They group kids by age and level, at least on busy weeks where there are enough kids to do this. So your 12 yo may not be with the younger kids. I would message them and ask them. They are very responsive.

I wouldn't book instructor to meet you at your hotel, you lose valuable learning time getting from hotel to the slope (which might not be easy for beginners).
If it's school holiday and you haven't already booked then you might struggle to find what you want. Everything seems booked up in the valley this year!