What is your favourite location for a family skiiing holiday?

[twizzler]

I am thinking of La Rosiere or Belle Plagne. They both seem very family orientated.

Just wondered if anyone had found a gem of a place and wanted to share their secret!

Northernlurker......I would say that DH and I have both managed to have decent ski holiday with or without childcare with DS's in tow (and mine have so far been little when skiing - DS1 is now 8 but have been skiing with him since he was 3 and DS2 has been brought along since a year old).

That might be because we are on two different levels (DH being of the Black/off piste persuasion and me being of the easy blues and apres-ski persuasion!).

But last year we went with Esprit and although we booked all possible childcare as a back up, we had a great time when we pulled DS1 & 2 out of snow club and piled around the slopes with them.

However, I hold my hands up and admit to wholeheartedly enjoying a glass of gluhwein whilst DCs enjoying high tea catered for by chalet nannies. TBH, I found that with the right back up, a family ski holiday, even with tinies, is fab and everyone gets a break.

I would also say that it depends on having a DH who is more than happy to take an EQUAL share of parenting duties (nose wiping, glove finding etc) - I think even more so than on a sun break.

NL, this will be the first time we have taken DS skiing so we will see!

We were hoping that DS would do ski school for half a day and DH and I would go off and get our "fix" of adult skiing. For the rest of the day we'll do sledging/swimming/hot choc stops/helping DS with his skiing etc.

However, DH is very good and is happy to share childcare "duties".

Toomany, we had more or less decided with La Rosiere but I've just been looking at the Family Ski Company and they sound great-bit pricey tho! Does anyone know if flights are included?

OMG, I am so useless at making decisions!

NL the closest we've come to a well balanced ski holiday with kids is the hotel Alphuebel in Saas Fee I mentioned previously - childcare is included and kids' rates are very low if you book direct. We last stayed there in winter a few years back now but it scores highly on the MN reviews since too.

NL, I also highly recommend the hotel Alpenrose in Lermoos! Its fabulous for children and adults alike. We've been there in summer and winter and always have a wonderful time!

Have a look at www.kinderhotels.com.

La Rosiere is my favourite - would highly recommend it. It is very good for children learning to ski and is linked to La Thuile in Italy so you can ski off to Italy for lunch while your children are having their lessons etc.

La Plagne would also be a good option I would have thought.

Soapbox, a few questions about Beaver Creek - sorry to hijack!

Is it really expensive - what would we spend for a meal for example;
What would you pay for ski passes/ski hire and lessons - just off the top of your head.
Best place to stay?
Cost of transfer from airport.

We really want to go but worried that it will be much too expensive. Want to book the whole thing independantly so will not know the costs of everything.

Thanks for any help you can give.

XX

In answer to Northernlurker-I found it best to take my mother along and she put on boots and rounded up mittens, leaving us free to ski. She enjoyed it and everyone was happy!

Flowertop

Off the top of my head!

Flights, accommodation, transfers (by private SUV) - £5000 with ski safari. That is staying at one of the best hotels though, in a one bed suite. (The Beaver Creek Lodge).

A full cooked breakfast for 4 people in the lodge was around $60 (eggs or pancakes, juice, coffee, toast etc).

Evening meal was really variable, as there is a wide range of different eating places (but probably $50 at pizza place, with wine, drinks deserts, through to $150 at one of the more expensive restaurants. It probably averaged out at $100 a night.

We use a private instructor which is $400 for a morning or afternoon session. The children's ski lesson package including lift pass is about $175 a day.

Life passes vary depending on when you ski - here is the link

There is no getting away from it, it IS expensive, but you get such a fabulous experience for your money, IMO!

Sorry should have said that that is for 9 nights.

Hinterglemm, Austria and in particular this hotel www.unterschwarzach.at/

Another (indirect) vote for the Alpenrose in Lermoos english.hotelalpenrose.at/. I went to Seefeld (Austria) with DS before Christmas and when waiting to buy our train ticket at Munich airport met a British lady travelling with her 4 year old son. She was returning to the Alpenrose for the 2nd time in a year...perhaps she was a MNer?

Lots of votes for Austria! It is very pretty.

Have now booked our ski hol and going to La Rosiere in France-may try somewhere in Austria (credit crunch permitting) next year tho!