Ski resort advice

iainf72

Any skiing guru's here?

Can anyone recommend a good resort, preferably in the Alps, which would be good for a 4 year old to have a go at skiing? And has all the other good childcare stuff available etc etc.

term1te

The most child friendly resort we've been to recently is Galtüre in Austria. My youngest learnt to ski there when she was 4. The ski school was very good and there was a creche, but we didn't use that so can't comment. Everything is quite close together, so there is not too much walking in ski boots, important for little people. The majority of runs end in the same place so no one will get lost. Whilst it is quite a small resort there is a good mix of runs, appealing even to my psyco-ski-dude son.

There isn't much of a night life, either.
http://www.galtuer.at/

il_principe

Depends when you are going. The Alps have enjoyed their best start to a season for 55 years in terms of snowfall. However if you intend to go the late season go high high high to ensure you have good snow. This is particularly important if you have young ones as the beginner slopes tend to be at or just above resort level which can mean they struggle for snow in lower altitude resorts. I'd recommend Obergurgl in Austria; it's perfect for adults and kids and has a great mix of runs that suits all levels of skiers. I've always found Austrian ski resorts to be far more friendly than their French counterparts. Alternatively Murren is Switzerland is great for kids and families, and has the Snow Garden childcare centre. However, Murren does not have the greatest snow record - best to go there in Jan. If there's good snow then Murren is also home to one of Europe's longest ski runs: The Schilthorn to Lauterbrunnen run starts at an elevation of 2,970 meters or 9,742 feet and continues some 15 km, or 9 miles!

APIII

I ski every year in Austria, Kitzbuhel for the last four years. They have a good selection of decent hotels with good service, kids are well catered for, Instructors speak good English, etc. Last year was the first time I've had problems with lack of snow, but so did the rest of Europe. I think the Austrian resorts have a level of charm not found elsewhere

onehipwonder

La Tania as far as I know is a very family friendly resort and, being as it is in the 3 valleys there would be lots of opportunities for better skiers in the party to explore.

Although not in the Alps Andorra also has a good reputation for beginners/families.

Try this company.We have been going to Val D'Isere and Courchevel with them for years and can say that they are an excellent company

http://www.leski.com/

pneumatic

If you choose France, Flaine is the resort that most specialises in Family facilities (quite good fun for grown-ups, too!). Les Deux Alpes is also quite good for beginners, as is Les Arcs.

Do check the likelihood of snow on the nursery slopes late season. The first time we took the minor pneumatics, we carefully researched a hotel in Morzine with a nursery slope right behind it. When we got there (mid-March), it was 28 degrees and there were flowers blooming on the slope!

The sight of our offspring being herded into a cable car by the instructor and carried away into the sky was heart-stopping. Needless to say, they didn't give a monkeys, had a great time and have demanded to be taken regularly since.

This year, we are going to Chamonix: IMHO the best skiing in Europe (and I've done quite a bit) but definitely NOT for complete novices!

mea00csf

I'd personally discount Les Deux Alpes as the mountain is "inverted" This means that the easier runs are at the top and the more difficult runs into the town are at the bottom. For beginners this can be good and bad, for adults they actually get to go up the mountain rather than being stuck at the bottom all week, for kids, prob not so good as they'll have a half hour ride up in 2 sep gondolas then the same on the way down, obviously with you accompanying them, so not ideal.

Agree with the comments about Austria, much prefer it to the french resorts.

ajohn9

Go to Flaine, thats good for the kiddies. Theres only about 5 bars. not amazingly lively .
good place for em to learn though

flattythehurdler

Be very careful about transfer times when booking. Some resorts like Val d'Iseres and Tignes are a long way away. Also look at flight times. Mark Warner are fantastic.

onehipwonder

flattythehurdler wrote:

Be very careful about transfer times when booking. Some resorts like Val d'Iseres and Tignes are a long way away. Also look at flight times. Mark Warner are fantastic.

Not when you fly into Chambery. And on a Sunday the roads are quieter. Check out the link in my last post.

homercles

A few people here have recommended Flaine - would second that as it is very family friendly.

Also, Alpe d'Huez could be worth a look. Good set up for beginners as most of the green (beginner) stuff is in the main bowl around town so you can get up and down quickly. There's also loads of other stuff to do there as the town is quite large.

And you could have a crack at the alp - in snow!! :twisted:

flattythehurdler

Exactly why I was recommending he check as it may not have occured to him. Many UK airports don't have flights to Chambery, and it is over 4 hours from Geneva.

tambo46

I'd go for Les Gets. About an hour transfer from Geneva, easy village to get around in, lots of alternatives, loads of English speaking instructors including British Ski School. Also the skiing for adults is not too shabby either if you look for it. Loads of early snow plus lots of snow making make this a go-er this year. Don't be put off by the low altitude, the skiing is good. I spend every winter there

passout

Save your money and go on a cycling holiday. Or maybe Soll in Austria.

millar time

I think a part of your decision has to be based on your own level of skiing competence and experience, especially if you are considering somewhere like L'Espace Killy (Tignes + Val d'Isere) There are several reasons for this, in Val D'Isere especially the vast majority of suitable green and blue runs for family skiing with 'beginner' children are well above the tree line and as such are exposed to the weather, also the runs to resort level can become dangerously crowded as they funnel people into narrow areas, in essence there is no 'easy' way off the mountain with kids if you're planning on skiing with tehm outside of their lessons. Therefore you have to think about your own ability to descend the mountains safely with your kids. Sorry if that sounds a bit negative, but I speak from the experience of being a ski instructor in Canada and having spent many many weeks in Val d'Isere observing all of this close at hand.

In its favour, it has every amenity you could hope for, and some of the best ski schools in the alps, particularly Evolution 2. Oh and one of the mountain restaurants sells the best tartiflette i've ever tasted. I would agree with Jashburnham, Austrian resorts have a tendancy to be friendlier than French ones and can be a good deal quieter and family friendly, for example Saalbach.

And finally Flaine is as ugly as sin.

pneumatic

millar time wrote:

And finally Flaine is as ugly as sin.

I always thought the whole point of sin was that it looked rather attractive. At least to start with.

But, yes, there is something of the Le Corbusier about the buildings at Flaine. Thank goodness for the snow, trees, peaks and blue sky.

APIII

pneumatic wrote:

millar time wrote:

And finally Flaine is as ugly as sin.

I always thought the whole point of sin was that it looked rather attractive. At least to start with.

But, yes, there is something of the Le Corbusier about the buildings at Flaine. Thank goodness for the snow, trees, peaks and blue sky.

I assume you're not a fan of Le Corbusier then?

pneumatic

APIII wrote:

pneumatic wrote:

millar time wrote:

And finally Flaine is as ugly as sin.

I always thought the whole point of sin was that it looked rather attractive. At least to start with.

But, yes, there is something of the Le Corbusier about the buildings at Flaine. Thank goodness for the snow, trees, peaks and blue sky.

I assume you're not a fan of Le Corbusier then?

Well, actually, I am! It is just that most people regard him as the synonym for ugly utilitarian architecture. I have to say, when you visit French ski resorts in the Summer (I am thinking in particular of Chamrousse, Flaine and Avoriaz), they are breathtakingly out of sympathy with their environment. When you visit in Winter, however, there is something curiously elegant about their design. Sort of 2001 Space Odyssey.

I am a big fan of bold French architecture, generally. They seem to get it right more times than not. Our creative types are so beset by mithering traditionalists and small minded accountants, it is a wonder they ever manage to procuce anything worth looking at.

Richie1964

Neiderau, very child friendly with excellent an excellent ski school and nursey slopes right to the town centre.

secretsqirrel

Iain,
I'm off to Zermatt first thing tomorrow morning, a very beautiful resort.
I think it may be very unsuitable for little'uns, but if I find this is not the case I shall let you know on my return.
Happy hunting!

Spender

Since the kids started skiing we have mainly kept to the French ski resorts. We used to go to USA, Austria and Switzerland regularly pre kids. The French resorts are usually well linked and you can go quite far and meet up with the kids after their ski lessons at lunchtime. Alpe Duez was where we first took our sproggs (4 & 6). They loved it as there were heaps of other things to do- good ice rink, swimming pools etc. The beginners slopes are close to the town and have good access.

We did make the mistake of using the French ski school that first time. They were terrible. They didn’t seem to give a stuff about the kids and didn’t give the standard of care we would have expected.

The next year we went to Flaine and although the accommodation was poor the skiing was good. We put the kids into an international ski school and they enjoyed that better and hence their skiing improved. They also made friends with other kids and did stuff in the evening with them.

Les Arcs next was larger and better skiing. Again International Ski school.

Last few years have been in Merribel and the kids loved it. Small ski school sizes and good interconnecting runs. We are booked for this year.

One thing I recommend is that you go later in the season with the kids. The snow might not be the best but there is more chance of decent weather. Being really cold will put kids off.

Enjoy it. And if you can avoid Geneva airport- It’s a nightmare.