Where to go skiing with a 5 yr old - suggestions for 2010 please

[MollieO]

I've been a bit surprised to discover that places are already getting booked up for next season. I have no clue where to go so I'd welcome some suggestions.

I would like somewhere that isn't too far from the slopes - ds whinged on the walk every day from the chalet to the lift; catered chalet preferably not too small - the one this year was too coupley and there will be just me and ds; scenic - a few trees would be nice, I'm not a motorway skier so ski area needn't be huge; finally not to long a transfer. TIA

I thought it was bit early but I was shocked into planning when I contacted the company we went with this year and they said that lots of people had already made reservations for next season. It meant our choice was limited. I think it is because the week we want to go is one of the cheaper weeks.

I learnt to ski in Switzerland but not sure where to go. St Moritz is a hike to get to, Lenzerheide is lovely but again not easy to get to and Davos is too sprawling.

Might have a look at Chatel, I went there years ago and had a lovely week.

Interested to know Snowbizz offer half board. I looked and it all seemed to be self catering so I didn't look any further. I don't fancy going on holiday and being stuck in an apartment for the evening alone as that is what I have every day after ds has gone to bed!

My absolute favourite so far is Venture Ski but it is expensive albeit it looks gorgeous. I'd be tempted if we were only doing one week but next season I'm really hoping to do two weeks - one booked now and then a last minute deal. This season was ds's first time skiing and he loved it. So much so that it is the only holiday he has spoken about when we got home (and we've had some lovely holidays which to my mind were more memorable).

I have done a huge spreadsheet like you Kiwinyc and it makes interesting reading. Some of the seemingly more expensive options don't actually work out that expensive once you've compared all costs. Where did you go in Switzerland?

MollieO - we ended up in Klosters. Not the cheapest of resorts but a repeat favourite of DH's family. DD1 learnt to ski on Madrisa - wonderful place to learn imo. And I'm actually a non-skier so there was plenty to do for me and DD2 who was only 2 when we went. Very easy to get to from Zurich too - am v. glad we avoided Geneva airport which I have heard can be a bit of a 'mare! It was my first time to Switzerland and I loved Klosters - so very pretty and low key. Inghams do the Silvretta Park Hotel where we stayed if you want to check out their prices - and the hotel does a shuttle to Madrisa every morning and afternoon. The Hotel also runs its own childcare.

We were lucky enough to go with Powder Byrne and they are expensive, although worth it if you can afford it. Actually PB actually may not be that cost prohibitive if theres just the two of you, and the Yeti Club that your DS would go into is outstanding, both for tuition and care of the kids.

I wish I could book another ski holiday now but DH won't hear of it!

Sorry MolliO - just checked back. We booked everything individually ourselves - flights easyjet, the mountain bus company, doorstep skis, esf, pleney liftpasses etc.. We decided this was the only way to go after an Esprit experience 2 years ago.

I'm now thinking of La Tania with Ski Magic. Has anyone used them? On costings they seem to be the most competitive (my spreadsheet is getting bigger by the day!).

make sure you add lift pass cost to your spreadsheet as the three valleys lift pass is one of the more expensive ones - although maybe you can get one for a smaller area (not whole 3 valleys)

la tania is also one of the lower areas of the 3 valleys so check the snow cover if you are thinking of Easter.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about ski magic...hopefully some one else will!

Have booked La Tania with Ski Magic. Very helpful in answering my many questions, competitively priced and La Tania looks lovely.

happywomble my spreadsheet includes every single cost I can think of plus a whole load of other extraneous stuff! I'll keep it as an aide memoire if we are able to take another week later in the season.

All I have to do now is write a grovelling letter to the school to excuse ds three days from school.

Looks good MollieO - have a good time and let us know what it was like

La Tania is excellent for families or groups of mixed abilities, and we loved it, but we skied in Morillon (Grand Massif) this year, and it was great! The chalet was lovely, although we had it on sole occupancy, and the owners offer ski guiding - again, fab. We all ski, but if the children had been in lessons, we could have used the guiding - as it was, we all went on it! There is a fab run at Morillon, called Marvel, which is aprox 6km long, through trees and past chalets and it's green all the way

Can recommend La Rosiere. Les Gets/Morzine are nice for families but low so can suffer snow-wise - I would only go there last minute if I knew the snow was good.

Risoul is a really nice resort for families - very compact and friendly but not much nightlife if that's what you're after. Easy to manage with a youngster as most of the runs lead back to the village unless you head over to Vars. Quite a long transfer though.

Consider Montgenevre - plenty to do off the slopes -sledging etc. Varied runs with both trees, a big open bowl and the opportunity to ski into Italy which has some lovely (and not too pricey) mountain restaurants.

Have a look at the Review section - Ski 2 based in Champoluc - brilliant. Price includes lift pass and lunch on the mountain, free ski guiding - creche is run to UK standards by UK nannies. www.ski-2.com. 90 minutes transfer from Turin airport - just pick up off your flight.

Try La Tania - we went there last year with 2 other families (7 kids in total aged 5 years to 7 months). It's a great resort 'cos it's mainly car free, great nursery slope, the ESF school was really good - even our 5 year old who had a really bad ski school experience the year before really loved it. We went with Family Friendly Skiing which is catered chalets, but the childcare was amazing & the food was great. We've just booked for next year...