Avoriaz - Ski Schools + Childcare

[Mumofboys189]

Hi all, I'm taking my 5 year old and 2 year old ski-ing in March next year in Avoriaz. I wondered if anyone has any experience of ski schools? I'm looking at the ESF run Village des Enfants, on the surface it sounds great - mixing ski lessons with other fun activities, plus they give them lunch. BUT there are very mixed reivews, some positive but many are awful - no more than 20 mins of skiing, kids crying without being comforted, too many children and too few staff, chaos etc. etc.

Does anyone have experience of sending their kids either? Or have any other options they'd recommend for a 5 year old?

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for childcare for a 2 year?

Thanks!

Hello! Appreciate this is an older post now but wondered what you decided? We are also going to Avoriaz in March, with a four and two year old and went through what sounds like exactly the same thought process as you!

Have decided on morning ski lessons with Evolution 2 for the 4 year old for the same points you've mentioned, and will be using the ESF Avoriaz creche in the mornings for the 2 year old (I think I've seen some of those same reviews as you, but as they seemed to be around the ski lessons/chaos for older children than the nursery itself). Evolution also provides smaller class sizes than ESF and seems to get them out and about more, with more focussed ski teaching (my four year old will be with 4 and 5 year olds in the evolution classes, in the ESF ski village he would be with 3 and 4 year olds).

I wondered if you have any thoughts on skis for 2 year olds? I think mine will like to have a go (though not expecting actual skiing, 10 min of clomping around would be a win) and I'm looking to either get some toddler ones either before we go, or try and pick something up in the resort.

No experience of Avoriaz ski school (great resort though, skied that area many times pre DD). But we used Evo2 in Les Arc 1950 last year, with the hot lunch option for DD, she was 4 then and had a blast. In the afternoon, we were able to do a couple of cruisey blues with her. We had previously done the ESF Ecole d’chalet (basically don’t leave the snow garden), she loved it, but it was very french dominated and I did worry about the larger group of once on the slopes. Lunch was also hit and miss whether she would eat it. Evo2 had much smaller groups, and a more child friendly menu. She really enjoyed the play time after lunch and locally we booked her in for a full day, so we could go over to La Plagne, she got to do a taster snow board session that day. It worked so well we are going back this year.
When she did crèche (through Crystal) we had a couple of days where we stood her on our skis on the gentle slopes by the magic carpets, but didn’t put her on her own skis. Lots of sledging though.