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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

Where to go skiing if one of you doesn't like it

22 replies

WannabeMathematician · 25/05/2023 16:13

Ok, so I don't know if this is possible but my husband really loves skiing. We haven't ever been together as I hate it. But it's been a hard couple of years and he still looks wistful when other people bring it up.

No we have DS 2.5 I thought there is now something for me to do which is watch him in ski school and (more importantly) have a day or two relaxing in a spa. Is something like this possible? My husband really likes the idea of going with our son later in life as he did with his parents as he speaks fondly about this.

He's not looking into this as I haven't told him about my idea yet as I'm not sure if it's possible or where to look for what I want. Travel by car or plane is fine, about a week, somewhere with ski school and a spa.

Thanks

OP posts:

ReviewingTheSituation · 25/05/2023 16:24

My friend doesn't ski and we go to Kitzbuhel with her. She loves it. Loads to do for non-skiers. The ski school is great there too (the Red Devils - that's the translation, I forget what it is in German). Loads of really great skiing for your DH too.

2.5 (or I guess 3, by next winter) is still very young for ski school though. Your DS is unlikely to get much out of it until he's about 4. So you may be looking at a different kind of holiday again where DH is skiing, and you're with DS. In which case, I'd think carefully about your accommodation. I'd want to be in a chalet, or some kind of SC place where there was a decent living area, so you have somewhere to chill out/relax (or just spend time!). Being limited to a hotel room would make me feel a bit restricted.

ReviewingTheSituation · 25/05/2023 16:26

Also, even when your DS is a bit older, ski school is only likely to be for a couple of hours. There is all day ski school in Austria (one of the big pluses, IMO) but I imagine that's only for older kids (school age at least I should think).

Gough20 · 25/05/2023 16:29

Have a look at Kinder Hotels, lots of lovely ones with spas in Austria.

Or go to somewhere like Levi in Lapland. Could do reindeer rides, snow mobiles, ice fishing. And even Santa!

cloudjumper · 25/05/2023 16:32

Have a look at Esprit skiing holidays - lots of options, and I'd say they would suit your requirements

Ethelswith · 25/05/2023 16:34

I don't really like ski-ing. I was never that good at it, then one year the snow conditions were bad (icy moguls all the way along even the easy slopes) and I scared myself. The DC and DH really love it though.

So I used to do pretty much what you envisage - down time to myself when DC in ski school, then afternoons with them, usually swimming, whilst DH continued to get his fix. As DC grew, they'd ski with DH in the afternoon too, but I'd have them if they were too tired. I had massages, did yoga classes etc, and when I got a longer day to myself, went off snow-shoeing.

What's your budget? We used resorts in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland. All the larger ones have multi-lingual ski-schools, plus some have ski-kindergarten too. Swiss standards are so high, you can use the drop-in creches without worry.

Murren is a car-free resort (though there are a few utility and farmers' vehicles permitted) which means that you can let your DC wander round independently much younger than you might in other places

helpfulperson · 25/05/2023 16:46

Agree with somewhere with a Kinder Hotel. Pertisau is nice. Depends a bit what level of skiier your husband is and what type of runs he is looking for. Many of Swiss resorts good for non skiing options as well.

LIZS · 25/05/2023 16:51

A lot of ski-schools won't take at 2 1/2. It is often more like daycare especially if the weather is bad.

MagratsDanglyCharms21 · 25/05/2023 16:52

Lapland (finland).

Original poster

WannabeMathematician · 25/05/2023 21:49

Thanks all!

So I should have said that we’re planning next years holiday so he could easily be four by then. Both my husband and I come from families that book holiday 12 months in advance as we come from a place with limited flight options. So this is for winter 2024.

As for price I’d prefer no more than 2.5k a person. I know that’s a lot but we have been lucky in the last couple of years with jobs and not actually gone anywhere out of the British isles in a while. Though I’m not actually sure if that is a lot for skiing!

I’m going to go have a look at all the suggestions that you lovely people have given me.

Thanks all!

OP posts:

similarminimer · 25/05/2023 22:26

I had a lovely non-ski skiing holiday in Solden, Switzerland. Amazing train through the valleys for a day-trip. James Bond-esque spa in the Solden Grand. Ski up restaurants accessible by taxi.

Fluffycloudsblusky · 25/05/2023 22:33

Another vote for Kinder hotel. The ones in Austria will take your children skiing. They often have spas and a swimming pool. We had a lovely holiday in Serfaus at a kinder hotel.
Davos isn’t a pretty ski town but it has lovely scenic walks, plenty of shops and cafes, spas, swimming pool and a good bus service through town.
The larger French resorts - Courcheval and Chanonix also have plenty of non ski option.

twilightsleepiness · 25/05/2023 22:41

We went to banff when I was pregnant so couldn't ski. Flights were actually really reasonable and I hung out in the town whilst dh got the skibus to the mountains. There was an amazing - like seriously amazing- spa at the fairmont hotel and you don't need to be a resident to use it. It's expensive but so so worth it. And I imagine your budget would cover it

EmptyBedBlues · 25/05/2023 22:50

I sent DS skiing with DH and went to Vienna by myself. It was great.

Havanananana · 26/05/2023 19:13

Either a Kinderhotel - e.g. Ellmauhof in Hinterglemm - or a hotel with spa ("wellness" in Austria), pool, massages etc. such as the Alpinresort in Saalbach, which is all-inclusive and very good value for money. Alternatively a resort with a big spa complex like the Tauern Spa between Zell am See and Kaprun.

Ski schools in Austria will take kids from about 4, depending on their level of independence and motor skills, and usually have all-day lessons with specialist childrens' instructors and with supervised lunches, indoor activities if it is too cold or snowy etc. Outside of school holidays, the prices are reasonable and the kids in ski school will mainly be 4-5-6 year olds.

Kazzyhoward · 26/05/2023 19:29

I used to go skiing with DH. He was really into it, but I was never much good and just did the easier slopes. We'd do a bit together, but most of the time, I went off and did my own thing when he went skiing.

Two of the best for us were Zell Am See in Austria which was a lovely town with lots to see and do besides the skiing, shops, a lovely lake, and I took a day trip on my own to Saltzburg (Capital). The other was Les Duex Alpes in France which was another largish resort with other things to do - they had ice sculptures in a cave in the glacier at the top of a mountain which non-skiers could get to via the ski lift and then a funicular railway which was so good, I went back the next day with DH so he could see it too!

A couple of other places were severely lacking in anything for non skiers, being Flaine (France) and Passo Tonale (Italy), where I remember I was bored rigid on the days I didn't go skiing with him. In both cases, a 10 minute walk around the "town" and that was it!

MinnieMountain · 27/05/2023 09:27

Look at the WellnessHostel4000 in Saas-Fee. It’s got a pool and a spa- a fancy hostel.

similarminimer · 27/05/2023 15:57

Ignore my previous message - it was Arosa not Solden!

TrickyD · 30/05/2023 10:08

I love skiing but with a useless knee plus being 78 I’m not really up to it any more. But the family love it so we go to ClubMed in Serre Chevalier. Skiers have a great time with the included guiding/tuition, grandson, 5 1/2 did brilliantly with their ski school and all day care and entertainment. All inclusive drinks and great French food plus an indoor pool, so fine for me, worth your taking a look.

SmartHome · 30/05/2023 10:13

Placemarking for suggestions

May09Bump · 30/05/2023 10:18

Avoriaz - france . Shirt haul. Doable on budget.
Snowmass Colorado, next to Aspen. Long haul. You would have to check budget wise as haven't been for many years.

LIZS · 30/05/2023 10:27

MinnieMountain · 27/05/2023 09:27

Look at the WellnessHostel4000 in Saas-Fee. It’s got a pool and a spa- a fancy hostel.

Agree with Saas Fee. There is a mountain specifically for non skiers, cleared paths, the public pool is very nice, accessible lifts up to mountain restaurants and glacier. Nursery slopes and kids snow garden very central.

Whenwillglorioussummercome · 04/06/2023 14:19

The Kinderhotel we went to took kids from 3 and my youngest started then. It was very age appropriate with lots of play and breaks, and all in English. Parents could stay of course but didn’t have to. It was a full day with a lunch break. By the end of the week they could definitely ski well enough to get down the nursery slopes no problem (no lift involved as the nursery slopes were at the hotel - the 4 year olds went up the mountain though).

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