Is there such a trip? I don’t want to ski but DS does

[princesspadam]

I have no desire to ski but DS really wants to
id like to take him away for his 16th so he can ski and I can sit in a spa / nice hotel / read etc

is there such a trip?

Has he ever skiied before?

You need somewhere with all day lessons, since he won't have anyone to practice with, walkable to the ski slopes from accommodation.

Never used them, but some places have teenage specific lessons, so he will be with people of similar age.

Austria might work, as their ski schools are often 2hrs, lunch, 2hrs.

You can definitely book a package to a nice resort hotel then add skischool and lift pass as required.

He hasn’t done it before

Have a look at Crystal, .Neilson and Inghams for ideas. Austria maybe a good place to start, pretty resorts and English speaking skischool instructors. He will probably progress quite quickly so look for somewhere with a range of intermediate slopes.

Almost anywhere in Austria will fit the bill. As you have never done this type of holiday before, it is a good idea to use one of the Tour Operators to organise everything - flights, hotels, transfers and ski rental, lift pass and lessons for your son.

Look at TUI, Inghams, Crystal or Heidi - most of the hotels from mid-range and upwards will have "wellness" spas, which might include a pool, sauna, steam room, massages, treatments etc.

As pp^^ has said, group lessons in ski school in Austria are 2 hours in the morning, then lunch (usually somewhere on the mountain) and then 2 hours in the afternoon. He'll be in a group with other beginners, which can be great fun.

If the weather is good it is often warm enough to sit on a terrace or in a deck chair at a mountain restaurant, and many resorts offer reduced-price lift tickets for non-skiers so you can easily ride up to these restaurants to enjoy the view.

Try Mark Warner

Assuming you’re not going for completely private lessons, I would look specifically for somewhere that does a teen beginner group otherwise at 16 he’ll be in a group of learner adults for the week and likely progress much faster than them! Or team up with another parent & teenager who might also be interested in learning?
Maybe he is very easygoing and just happy to be skiing but my teens would grumble about being stuck in an adult group all day every day especially as teens learn faster than older adults… Another option is Camp Suisse (where he can go with other beginner teenagers) but I appreciate you asked for a trip where you could go too so maybe not the right idea.

If you have an indoor sloping close by book him in for a few lessons, then he will feel a bit more confident getting lessons on the mountain.

There are some great ski- in ski- out hotels and resorts with pools, saunas and wellness etc so that won’t be an issue in the slightest. I like France (Val Thorens area) and Austria (Flachau area).

Assuming that the OP is going to go during a school holiday week there will probably also be other teenagers in the group. Obviously, going outside of school holiday times will mean fewer teens will be in the resort - they'll all be at home and at school.

The ski schools that I have worked in have always tried to put teens together, but this is usually with some adults in the group.

Might be worth looking at UCPA family ski. https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/activities/snow-sports/skiing/family-weeks/

Just released. You might need to act fast..

I will assume the parents are skiing but it might work..

UCPA also had a 16/17 programme.. might be worth talking to them. Action outdoors is the UK arm of UCPA