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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

I LOVE THIS TOPIC!

42 replies

twizzler · 06/01/2009 17:56

Can I just say, I am loving reading about where everyone is going. Everyone is so excited (as am I!).

Lots of great tips and hints for kids and great websites for gear.

Thanks to everyone who has helped me with planning my holiday and posted replies to my (numerous)questions!

Developing a bit of an addiction to the skiing topic! (taken over from AIBU)

OP posts:

fourkids · 07/01/2009 21:14

Katisha

i should think plenty of us on this particular thread would say go to la rosiere!! it's small and extremely child-friendly with easy skiing for all the family. a catered chalet with someone like esprit is fab - especially first time! (i remember thinking my first time that i was so exhausted that if i'd had to feed everyone we'd have simply starved!!)
you'll need lessons for all - la ros is also quite good in that the esprit lessons are just the first three days (at least the used to be) which is enough to get you up and runnng but leaves you free to enjoy the rest of the week. you'll need lift passes for the adults, but is worth leaving the dcs' until you get there because they may not progress to needing a pass - the lower couple of lifts are free. or they might just need one for the second part of the week. and you might want the dcs to have surpervised lunches to give you a bit extra practice time...is worth reading the discussions that have gone on re all this stuff on the most recent few posts including resorts and individual chalets in la ros esprit would tell you which skis etc to book, but it's fairly self-explanatory. and then you need to get to the sales for some warm clothes!! and have a look at esprit's website for feb offers - everyone is so skint that there are loads of unbooked places - far more than normal! the keep coming on here and getting a bit over-excited with the rest of us

Katisha · 07/01/2009 22:42

Thanks fourkids will have a proper look at esprit site.

slalomsuki · 08/01/2009 15:37

We never bothered with lift passess until the last day since the nursery slopes were free.

Ski lessons were 5 days for mornings if they were in sprites and afternoons in spritelets.

I booked supervised lunches for the sprites and they went to ski lessons at 0845 and we collected them at 2pm for an afternoons skiing. For the spritelet I booked snow club for her and she was collected at 0845 and looked after all day including taking her to and from the ski lessons. She was brought back trierd and happy at around 4.30 ish for tea.

fourkids · 08/01/2009 16:03

ah, sorry i was unclear - i meant the adult ski lessons were for three days

hellyhanson · 08/01/2009 16:40

just got back from xmas week ski-ing in St anton. stayed with ski esprit, chalet alber. Don't stay there if possible anyone who is thinking of going!!! It was a bit of a shambles and the provisions for a baby (we've got an 8 mth old) were pretty non-existent. Childcare in the nursery was good but the rest was bobbins.
ski-ing was fab though!

TheRealMrsJohnSimm · 08/01/2009 17:04

Helly - is that the new Chalet that has opened? I hope not. My friend is going there in a couple of weeks with a large group (including diddy ones)

Was it just provisions for tinies that you didn't like or were there other issues?

hellyhanson · 08/01/2009 19:23

I don't think it is newly opened, in fact pretty sure not. The issues I experienced were general disorganisation in the chalet - the kids running it were all nice, well meaning people and did their best to meet your needs but they just weren't great at sorting out a chalet hotel for 50 people. And the main issue for me was the poor provisioning for babies - could not manage to get fresh vegetables provided, toast, mashed fresh food etc. Steriliser & baby bath took three days to materialise. There was one other baby there and mother felt the same. Other kids there(older than one) seemed perfectly happy so I think it was babies. Other adults were also generally happy but there were quite a lot of comments on the poor running of the place.

Original poster

twizzler · 08/01/2009 22:36

toomany, have you decided where to book??

Can you go on the 8th? There is still space in Le Bracconnier with us .

OP posts:

toomanyprojects · 08/01/2009 23:24

hi twizzler,
funnily enough I rang up Esprit this morning to see what was available on the 8th in Braconnier as it is definitely my first choice- there is a downstairs room with space for a cot. The upstairs twins are available but we have already discussed those!We had a panic as DS's passport has run out (5 years since we first went with Esprit) so I was busy sorting that out and wanted it sent off before I could concentrate back on the skiing again!

The 8th would be better from DH's point of view (something to do with an American football game!!) but it runs into half term - I have always liked having a week back at school and then another break - can't decide if that is a good thing or not - based how tired the older two are after 4 days back at school it may be a better idea to run the weeks together. How old are your family?

We have got to decide this week as DH really needs to book his holiday - I work from home so can juggle either way. I hate dithering - I must have spent hours over-analysing all this - tried to discuss it with DH last night and he just said he'd be happy with anything!

Original poster

twizzler · 09/01/2009 09:15

I had the same thoughts as you actually but in the end it worked better for us going on the 8th.

Your DH sounds like mine! Was trying to show him all the info on mumsnet but he just can't be bothered reading it and meanwhile I usually go over and over everything and work myself up over all the little details!

I received the brochure in the mail yesterday and must have spent a good couple of hours reading about every detail and wondering if the chalet was in a good position, how far from ski school, lifts etc. etc. .

Our DS is four and a half. I saw from your one of your previous posts you have three-you brave woman!

OP posts:

sunshineandsnowflakes · 09/01/2009 10:16

In honour of the skiing thread, have changed my name from twizzler to the above!

toomanyprojects · 09/01/2009 10:37

hi twizzler/sunshine, I'm reckless than then brave I think! We moved house in June 2006 with a 3 and 5 yr old to a "project" (hence my name) for me to do up before DS was as school full time and I could get more work. In Sept 2006 I found out we were expecting DD2 - she was born the week the builders knocked the wall through from the extension into our bedroom...

The children are now just 6 and 8.5 and DD2 will be 2 in April.

Braconnier is in a great position - I remember the yr we went we dumped our luggage, got togged up, did the ski hire etc and spent the late afternoon sledging before tea. Depends on any delays of course.. am getting very excited now.
I got a bargain of a snowsuit for DD2 - £14 from Tchibo which arrived yesterday along with some salopettes for DD1.

fourkids · 09/01/2009 10:41

just check - i think the 8th is french half term which will make the resort busier...but will still be quiet compared to busy resorts

toomanyprojects · 09/01/2009 10:57

fourkids,
thanks for reminding me - have just checked on the French Govt website -it is just Zone A - Caen , Clermont-Ferrand , Grenoble , Lyon , Montpellier , Nancy-Metz , Nantes , Rennes , Toulouse who are on holiday that week. Zone B and C are the following two weeks.

fourkids · 09/01/2009 11:24

ugh british half term week will be busy!

toomanyprojects · 09/01/2009 11:35

sorry didn't explain that very well Zone C starts 14/02 and Zone B on the 21/02. So there will be 1 Zone off for the 8th, 2 off for 15th and 21st and 1 for 28th Feb.

sunshineandsnowflakes · 09/01/2009 12:40

You put me to shame! We also moved in 2006 to a "project" which is just about finished.

I need to get on and finish lots of things but am very slow and indecisive. I'm not even working and DS is in school full time now. Too much time MNing and reading ski brochures.

Right, must have a look at some colour swatches....

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