First time family Christmas skiing trip
Discussion
Frankychops said:
have been. we're just after a 'special' holiday.
I went skiing at Christmas once. Christmas Day was just like any other day and not special in the slightest. I think I was a youngish teenager at the time. It seemed like a great idea but I felt like I missed out completely on the festivities.We’ve done Christmas ski trips with the kids 3 or 4 times. We absolutely loved it, fabulous was to spend Christmas. Slopes are very quiet on Christmas Day. No idea what all the negativity is about !
Can’t really help on suggestions for operators but just make sure you go somewhere that is at a good altitude like Tignes, Christmas week is not snow sure in the lower resorts any more. Even the high ones can struggle.
I would also avoid actually being away over New Year as it is the busiest week of the year…slopes will be very busy and lift queues bad. We normally aim to leave a couple of days before New Year’s Day….you can really see the resorts getting busier every day as people arrive between Christmas and New Year.
Can’t really help on suggestions for operators but just make sure you go somewhere that is at a good altitude like Tignes, Christmas week is not snow sure in the lower resorts any more. Even the high ones can struggle.
I would also avoid actually being away over New Year as it is the busiest week of the year…slopes will be very busy and lift queues bad. We normally aim to leave a couple of days before New Year’s Day….you can really see the resorts getting busier every day as people arrive between Christmas and New Year.
While a package is one way to go, and I accept the logic of letting someone else sort out a lot of the unknowns when trying something new for the first time, I'd also take a look at DIY.
If you have a big enough car you can drive down - so more room to take presents for Christmas morning than flying.
Either driving or self-booked flights + hire car and you can book a self catered apartment. That doesn't mean you have to be in cooking all the time and can just eat out if you choose, but it does give you a lot more personal family space (vs just bedrooms and shared spaces in a hotel).
Also skipping skiing on Christmas day may not be ideal. It's day 2 of ski school which you'll be paying for one way or the other, and early in the week is when you learn/progress the most so won't make you the instructor's favourite and will put you at the back of your classes.
If you have a big enough car you can drive down - so more room to take presents for Christmas morning than flying.
Either driving or self-booked flights + hire car and you can book a self catered apartment. That doesn't mean you have to be in cooking all the time and can just eat out if you choose, but it does give you a lot more personal family space (vs just bedrooms and shared spaces in a hotel).
Also skipping skiing on Christmas day may not be ideal. It's day 2 of ski school which you'll be paying for one way or the other, and early in the week is when you learn/progress the most so won't make you the instructor's favourite and will put you at the back of your classes.
Every single skiing hol I've been on, Crystal, Ingham's, Neilsons, the lot (and I used to go twice a year for some years) sells you skiing lessons and lift passes on the coach transfer, and often on their website in advance (more often than not). Neilsons ,btw, have consistently been excellent.
So don't base your decision on package offerings. They all do it.
Xmas is most fun in "up for it" resorts like Val D'Isere, and especially if you are in a younger group in a catered chalet. As you get to my age (50s) they put you in chalets with ski bores and families so I always have an apartment or hotel room now.
Italy represents the best value in my mind these days. They don't have the mega miles of the three valleys if that's your thing but you can eat and drink up the mountain without flinching, unlike France which is bloody rediculous.
So don't base your decision on package offerings. They all do it.
Xmas is most fun in "up for it" resorts like Val D'Isere, and especially if you are in a younger group in a catered chalet. As you get to my age (50s) they put you in chalets with ski bores and families so I always have an apartment or hotel room now.
Italy represents the best value in my mind these days. They don't have the mega miles of the three valleys if that's your thing but you can eat and drink up the mountain without flinching, unlike France which is bloody rediculous.
If you're all beginners then you don't need pay ££££ for a large resort with an expensive ski pass, e.g. Tignes.
A small, cheap resort like St Foy will be more than adequate for your (skiing) needs.
Christmas day is a ski day. You might see a few santa hats on the slopes, but that's it. The big celebration is Christmas eve, in France at least.
A small, cheap resort like St Foy will be more than adequate for your (skiing) needs.
Christmas day is a ski day. You might see a few santa hats on the slopes, but that's it. The big celebration is Christmas eve, in France at least.
swamp said:
If you're all beginners then you don't need pay ££££ for a large resort with an expensive ski pass, e.g. Tignes.
A small, cheap resort like St Foy will be more than adequate for your (skiing) needs.
Christmas day is a ski day. You might see a few santa hats on the slopes, but that's it. The big celebration is Christmas eve, in France at least.
Absolutely - look at sauze d'oulx for great value, and Livigno for the same, but also a stunning town - particularly if it has snow at base level, which it often does.A small, cheap resort like St Foy will be more than adequate for your (skiing) needs.
Christmas day is a ski day. You might see a few santa hats on the slopes, but that's it. The big celebration is Christmas eve, in France at least.
Griffith4ever said:
Every single skiing hol I've been on, Crystal, Ingham's, Neilsons, the lot (and I used to go twice a year for some years) sells you skiing lessons and lift passes on the coach transfer, and often on their website in advance (more often than not). Neilsons ,btw, have consistently been excellent.
So don't base your decision on package offerings. They all do it.
Xmas is most fun in "up for it" resorts like Val D'Isere, and especially if you are in a younger group in a catered chalet. As you get to my age (50s) they put you in chalets with ski bores and families so I always have an apartment or hotel room now.
Italy represents the best value in my mind these days. They don't have the mega miles of the three valleys if that's your thing but you can eat and drink up the mountain without flinching, unlike France which is bloody rediculous.
Thank you for the reply. where in Italy would you look?So don't base your decision on package offerings. They all do it.
Xmas is most fun in "up for it" resorts like Val D'Isere, and especially if you are in a younger group in a catered chalet. As you get to my age (50s) they put you in chalets with ski bores and families so I always have an apartment or hotel room now.
Italy represents the best value in my mind these days. They don't have the mega miles of the three valleys if that's your thing but you can eat and drink up the mountain without flinching, unlike France which is bloody rediculous.
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