Best resorts for kids (europe) please

[harimosmummy]

Not interested in leaving them in creches / nurseries... Looking for somewhere I can get my will-be-7MO into a sledge park and somewhere I can get my will-be-21MO on some skis!!

Any advice greatly appreciated (including hotels near slopes if anyone has any recommendations!)

thanks, HM

I would be surprised if there is anywhere you can get a 21 month old on skis. Most places won't take under 3s and a lot won't take under 4s. Unless they have big feet you may also struggle to get ski boots to fit.

AFAIC, I'd like to get him on skis as soon as possible.

I know lots of kids who, once walking, are on skis.

I'm not looking to send him to a ski school - I would be with him the whole time.

I know Cervinia in Italy can cater for such young kids - as can Saas Fee and a few others I've been to...

I'm tempted to go back to Cervinia but just wondered if there is anywhere else.

cheers, HM

A friend of mine got their 2.5 yo onto ski's at Meribel last Easter, i think its just a case of ski rental places having ski's small enough to fit.

But i think many resorts in Austria are particularly set up for tiny children on ski's with snow playgrounds and the like.

I agree with MollieO - even if you DO get your eldest on skis (and they will be little plastic ones, not 'proper' ones) then s/he will likely only last in the cold for an hour at most, and you'll have a very expensive alpine holiday trailing around hot chocolate shops...

You don't seriously think you are going to be able to do any skiing if you haven't arranged any childcare do you?

I'm looking for something similar, although I have 2 dc ages 3 & 6. Small 3 yr old & tall 6 year old.

DH & I are thinking one would ski in the am & the other in the pm, so looking after the DC between us. DD1 (6) can have ski lessons in the am though & it appears DD1 (3) could try skiing at some of the ESF clubs.

Perhaps choose a pedestrianised resort with heated pool (& take baby wetsuits for added warmth) ?

We had our DS on proper skis at just 3.3, and DS 2 will follow at the same age (March!) DS1 loved it - but it was the ski school of mum and dad.

We go to tiny resorts in France (we have a house there). why waste money on 3 Vallées lift passes when you are pootling at the bottom of the nursery slopes. However that doesn't really answer your question...when they boys were up to 1 year old we did put them in resort creches (Risoul being the biggest one, but also Les Orres and Réallon) which were all fine. Since then it has been one of us playing sledges / snowmen / hot chocolate...hard work, but fun too. And now that DS1 can get down a blue fromt eh top of the hill, it seems worth it!

Have fun!

sadabouttheboy - I am not planning on skiing myself.

I took my DS last year and we tried to ski, and I hated it.

I want to enjoy my holiday WITH my kids.

Do sweat it anyone - I'm not planning anything other than 30 minutes perhaps twice a day having a bit of fun - mostly (like last year) on a sled or rubber ring, but ideally I'd like to be able to spend maybe one or two sessions on trainer skis.

I guess what I was looking for is resorts with LOTS of nice coffee / chocolate shops to relax in.

Does that make sense?

I'm not trying to spawn the next Eddie the Eagle!

Mumof222222boys - yes, ski school of mum and dad. A tiny resort would be fab... I'm not planning to buy a ski pass at all (perhaps a pedestrian one!) Is there anywhere you could recommend?

thanks again.

Ah! I see!

Well you might be best going to one of the bigger resorts if you want a bit of variety then...

Val D'Isere?

Our DS has been on proper child skis since 20 months, so it's certainly possible, though the French guides said it was certainly more common with the French than the English!. He and DD (3.25 at the time) would spend an hour or so going round the magic carpet with Daddy and me/a friend. They are 3.75 and 5.25 now, and DD has had several private lessons (started last year at 4.25) and will happily go up the ski lift to do blue runs etc. I am usually to be found in a cafe as I hate skiing too, though DH is a very good snowboarder and all his mates are great skiers.

We always go to Sainte Foy in France, but that's because we have a friend with a chalet there. It's a lovely small resort, but probably too small for you, especially as the cafe has a tendency when not busy to close from 1-3!

We've just come back from La Tania. Lovely but not much there although they do have a very nice ESF snow garden for children.

I reckon Courchevel 1850 is a good bet. Snow garden and lots of shops!

You want somewhere with a 'magic carpet'.... Think La Rosiere has a good kids area right at the bottom of the lifts....

The nicest coffee/chocolate shop I know in a ski resort is in Cervinia. I think it was called the Samava or something, just about halfway up the main street on the left!
So for that reason I would go back to Cervinia. Tha skiing was brilliant there too!

Blowbroth - You have made my mind up.

I know Cervinia like the back of my hand (and they have a magic carpet there too!)

There is a lovely icecream parlour there too. (I know which choc. shop you mean - not sure they are ready for my 19MO son though!!)

The skiing is great - that's where I took DS last year.

Thankyou! x

Brilliant! Although I am now very !

Hi OP,

We base ourselves in a small town between Gap and Briancon, and as we aren't tied into ski lessons, we tend to go for a morning's skiing (or sledging etc) in different resorts near us by car. None have loads of nice cafés, but enough to wonder about and check out different villages.

We go to:

Les Orres,
Vars and Risoul
Serre Chevalier
Puy St Vincent
Montgenevre
Ancelle
Réallon
St Leger Les Melezes

the last 3 are tiny, but have been fab for us - DS1 at the age of 4 skied all the way down a blue from the top of the resort at St Leger...so quiet and peaceful. Reminded me why I love skiing and the mountains. I love trying out these little places - even though I am a good skier and in the "old days" I was obsessed with big resorts and thought anything smaller than 3 vallées was boring!

Have fun!

Thankyou mumof2222222222222222222222222boys

Much appreciated.

HM

Some of you will have seen this video before - ds2 skiing at 22 months, and they are real 70cm skis and boots too. So it's possible as long as you've got a lot of patience and not too many expectations.