Belle Plagne with Espirit.....come here and tell me your experiences

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

DH and I went to Obergurgl last year with Espirit and loved their service but fancy France this year, particularly Belle Plagne.........altho La Rosiere is playing a close second...... Last year we went with large group which filled entire chalet and this year tis just the 4 of us (two adults, two DCs so thought chalet hotel would be the way to go (do not want to be only family who dont know entire chalet quotient). So any experience of Deux Domaines would be appreciated.

I agree about the difference between beginners and improvers. I'm not sure how they do officially move up since at the end of beginners week they can do basic traversing and snow plough turns and have perhaps used button lifts but Improvers requires them to competently complete blue runs and manage all kinds of ski lift.

DS1 had completed a weeks skiing before last year and so Esprit automatically placed him in Improvers. Poor little mite was scared out of his wits and in floods of tears after 20 minutes . They put him back into beginners and actually he learned a lot that week - was able to confidently "ski" with DH and I by end of the week (ah, the fun of the never ending snow plough down a blue run......not sure my knees have ever recovered). This year, I thought he would be in improvers but when I read the info I have booked him into beginners again. He seems a bit miffed but I would rather he was moved up than down again.

same thing happened to us - second year they automatically put them in impovers but then had to move them back to beginners. last year they shuffled them around throughout the week - and sometimes it was obviously to balance numbers rather than strictly on their ability tbh! and the youngest just goes back into beginners every year and is very happy that way...she isn't brave in lessons, but funnily enough is an absolute demon when out with us in the afternoons! i have told her she has to move up this year though!

ok, so he is booked into beginners I think but whilst in the resort, he can be moved?

Was worried there would be no flexibility and he would have to stay in the class he had been booked into IYSWIM...

Yes, twizzler, he can be moved and they will move him if they need to.

the first day they put them in groups according to what they already know ie which you have booked them into, and immediately do an assessment and move them around if need be. then they shift around through the week where appropriate. and if you think they are struggling, if you speak to the esprit people they will sort out moving them down for you. or vice versa. the staff are generally great at sorting things like this out

Brilliant, thanks everyone. Feel much happier now!