Family ski suggestions
Discussion
Looking to book a trip away, likely flying out boxing day (or day later) for a weeks skiing with the family.
Kids are 10, 15 & 17. Youngest has never done it before, but elder two have done it a few times and want to go away. I've skied quite a bit in my younger days and recently had boarding lessons with my eldest. The wife however has only been once previously (Courchevel 1850, when we first met) and hated it as just couldn't do it, but hopefully as that was 20 years ago that's changed. As such, wife, and two youngest will be skiing, and eldest and myself are open to either skiing or boarding (or maybe a combination).
I'm open to suggestions on resort, but snow would obviously be nice for the 'christmas feel' for the kids, as would a little nightlife and decent restaurants, plus if the resort had things we could do as a family on an evening activity wise that would be great.
If people have suggestions on accomodation thats also great, but resort is the main concern for now. Also, who to use to book it ?
Kids are 10, 15 & 17. Youngest has never done it before, but elder two have done it a few times and want to go away. I've skied quite a bit in my younger days and recently had boarding lessons with my eldest. The wife however has only been once previously (Courchevel 1850, when we first met) and hated it as just couldn't do it, but hopefully as that was 20 years ago that's changed. As such, wife, and two youngest will be skiing, and eldest and myself are open to either skiing or boarding (or maybe a combination).
I'm open to suggestions on resort, but snow would obviously be nice for the 'christmas feel' for the kids, as would a little nightlife and decent restaurants, plus if the resort had things we could do as a family on an evening activity wise that would be great.
If people have suggestions on accomodation thats also great, but resort is the main concern for now. Also, who to use to book it ?
I've been here twice early spring and there were plenty of families about. I went with friends and we had a great time, enough to book again at least.
Worth noting this was in the mid 2000's and so could have changed, but looking at it seems like it's actually modernised and got better if anything.
https://www.sybelles.ski/en/sybelles-ski-area/ski-...
Worth noting this was in the mid 2000's and so could have changed, but looking at it seems like it's actually modernised and got better if anything.
https://www.sybelles.ski/en/sybelles-ski-area/ski-...
its a very open ended question tbf. Where, and who with. Have you any preferences at all? Budget? country? Transfer? Different places can be worlds apart in terms of cost but the same snow is under your feet.
You could dp bulgaria for 50p or courchavelle 1850 for £50,000 :-)
Personally, my best experiences for the skiing, the scenery, the value, and the people are Italy and Austria. France is stupid expensive. Just did ellmau im Austria. Look up the ski welt area. Great for a family and cracking value. For snow sure boxing day also consider very high up like Livigno in Italy.
You could dp bulgaria for 50p or courchavelle 1850 for £50,000 :-)
Personally, my best experiences for the skiing, the scenery, the value, and the people are Italy and Austria. France is stupid expensive. Just did ellmau im Austria. Look up the ski welt area. Great for a family and cracking value. For snow sure boxing day also consider very high up like Livigno in Italy.
I’d be looking for ski resorts where most of the skiing is above 2000m at that time of year to give you a better chance of snow. (I’d probably actually say that all season now) A lot of resorts have the majority of their skiing below that level which can mean you’re struggling for snow at that time of year. Clearly it might be fine but it is worth consideration. Off the top of my head in France Val Thorens. Tigne and Avoriaz are high.
I ski a fair bit in Verbier which is a high resort too. It is definitely not the cheapest and the Swiss Franc is virtually at parity. We were there a few years ago at Christmas, there were buses coming from the Portes du Soleil (Morgins, Chatel) resorts which had no snow.
I ski a fair bit in Verbier which is a high resort too. It is definitely not the cheapest and the Swiss Franc is virtually at parity. We were there a few years ago at Christmas, there were buses coming from the Portes du Soleil (Morgins, Chatel) resorts which had no snow.
Go Austria
Done over 20 seasons, and my group always prefer Austria.
Better accommodation (mostly hotels and 4* gets you pool and spa/wellness centre and remember to keep looking up
), great ski infrastructure with modern lifts (some with heated seats), general hospitality is just better / the local actually welcome you, better food / good restaurants in the mountains, decent apres ski, and something trivial but the toilets are amazingly clean compared to the s
thole you experience in France!
Done over 20 seasons, and my group always prefer Austria.
Better accommodation (mostly hotels and 4* gets you pool and spa/wellness centre and remember to keep looking up
), great ski infrastructure with modern lifts (some with heated seats), general hospitality is just better / the local actually welcome you, better food / good restaurants in the mountains, decent apres ski, and something trivial but the toilets are amazingly clean compared to the sthole you experience in France!Hobo said:
Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
As a rough reference, our Austrian trip, was £1300 each and that included everything other than food.Flights
Transfers (private)
Apartment
Lift Pass
Silver ski/board hire.
Only thing I'd change next time is a hotel over an apartment. I want someone to be there to greet me and let me in when I arrive at night in the snow.
Austria was around £4 a large beer (even up the mountain). Dinner around £15 for wurst and chips (so huge we shared them) or maybe £18 for sirloin and chips, that kind of price. We ate at the serviced restaurant at the top of one of the main gondolas and had fillet steak with grilled prawns for 40 euros with jaw dropping views. Waiter served pint of Erdinger and a Gluevine was 11 Euros sat under animal skins looking over the mountains and valleys. I can't recommend Austria enough - and I got the tip from the other ski thread on here. I'm not a tight wad but I hate how the French fleece you now.
Hobo said:
I was initially looking at the Les Arcs 1950 Le Village as an option.
Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
Arcs 1950 is great and probably the best ski in ski out place I’ve ever visited. Everything is easy to get to with no cars in the village (you park underneath) and perfect for a family ski trip. Being high should make it pretty snow sure. I’ve just got back from 3 weeks there and have already booked again for next year. Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
Forget booking Boxing day; it's a Thursday this year. It's peak (New Year) ski season and pretty much everything will be Sat -> Sat, so you probably need to be looking at Dec 28th -> Jan 4th.
It's also a public holiday for all of Europe, so expect most places to be very busy, especially France.
I don't like crowds or spending over the odds. For New Year skiing I'd avoid France and look at Norway, Italy or Switzerland.
It's also a public holiday for all of Europe, so expect most places to be very busy, especially France.
I don't like crowds or spending over the odds. For New Year skiing I'd avoid France and look at Norway, Italy or Switzerland.
That’s a good point re Sat to Sat.
If you can go the week over Christmas, it will be much cheaper and quieter. The resorts will start to get busy a couple day after Christmas and will be very busy over New Year…busiest week of the year for most resorts.
Not sure about the advice about Switzerland being quiet at New Year. This is Place Centrale in Verbier on NYE just gone….it is always total chaos !! Your teenage kids would love it…mine did
If you can go the week over Christmas, it will be much cheaper and quieter. The resorts will start to get busy a couple day after Christmas and will be very busy over New Year…busiest week of the year for most resorts.
Not sure about the advice about Switzerland being quiet at New Year. This is Place Centrale in Verbier on NYE just gone….it is always total chaos !! Your teenage kids would love it…mine did
Quite a long thread, but will contain some good ideas - or maybe worth asking the question there too ?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
4Q said:
Hobo said:
I was initially looking at the Les Arcs 1950 Le Village as an option.
Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
Arcs 1950 is great and probably the best ski in ski out place I’ve ever visited. Everything is easy to get to with no cars in the village (you park underneath) and perfect for a family ski trip. Being high should make it pretty snow sure. I’ve just got back from 3 weeks there and have already booked again for next year. Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
I'm keen to get something booked this week, but not sure whether to look at booking through the private owners section, or use an agent to sort everything.
junglie said:
La Plagne.
Ski in/out.
Family friendly.
Lots of accom options.
I used to love La Plagne (pre French price madness) - perfect for mixed groups - stayed at Belle Plagne twice. Best long greens and blues I've ever ski'd - great for beginners and those that like to relax, and then of course there is one of the biggest ski area you can throw a stick at.Ski in/out.
Family friendly.
Lots of accom options.
Hobo said:
If you don't mind me asking who are you booking it through ?
I'm keen to get something booked this week, but not sure whether to look at booking through the private owners section, or use an agent to sort everything.
No one, i booked an apartment on Airbnb. There are loads of apartments on there and they all pretty much open on to the main street in front and the piste on the back. You can book ski passes in advance as its cheaper, they usually go on sale in October and they post them to your house. We bought season passes as it was cheaper than 3 weeks. There are half a dozen ski rental shops in the village if you aren't bringing your own with you. I'm not sure what using a tour operator would add?I'm keen to get something booked this week, but not sure whether to look at booking through the private owners section, or use an agent to sort everything.
We went twice last year and once this year for 3 weeks, and have booked for two weeks again next year. We ski a lot, in the last 14 months I've done 12 weeks including, Levi, Breckenridge, Tignes/Val D, the Dolomites and Val Thorens & 3 Valleys (off there again in 10 days time) and we used to have a chalet in the Grand Massif and did 5 "seasons" there but this is my favourite ski village in terms of ease of everything.
No walk to the lift or getting a bus, ski right to the boot room. A good selection of restaurants which are right there in the village (essential to book when its busy though). There are events going off in the square most evenings for a little entertainment before dinner, plus there are 2 pubs and a wine bar which turns into a club later if you want to go out partying.
Just had a quick look and AirBNB and New Year week is between £3-5k for a 2-3 bedroom apartment so it leaves plenty of room in your budget to cover flights, ski passes, etc, etc. Arcs 2000 is cheaper but it isn't the same kind of place.
Edited as I'd forgotten a week in Finland
Edited by 4Q on Wednesday 3rd April 16:39
4Q said:
Hobo said:
I was initially looking at the Les Arcs 1950 Le Village as an option.
Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
Arcs 1950 is great and probably the best ski in ski out place I’ve ever visited. Everything is easy to get to with no cars in the village (you park underneath) and perfect for a family ski trip. Being high should make it pretty snow sure. I’ve just got back from 3 weeks there and have already booked again for next year. Budget wise, sub 10k would be good for the week, excluding the relevant equipment costs and food.
Hobo said:
I'm open to suggestions on resort, but snow would obviously be nice for the 'christmas feel' for the kids, as would a little nightlife and decent restaurants, plus if the resort had things we could do as a family on an evening activity wise that would be great.
That said, the Cabriolet lift up to 2000 runs all night and doesn't need a pass - there's a bowling alley in 2000. I was there half term and they threw a few events on a couple of evenings (freestyle exhibition in 1950, laser disco in 2000) so hopefully they might do similar during xmas week.Thumbs up for the pommes Aligot in Le Parvis if you go.
ETA: I would always recommend booking accommodation with some sort of pool/spa element, particularly if you're not sure how 'into it' the whole party might be. If anybody doesn't get on with the slopes/weather/whatever, it's a great alternative to 'walking around town - again'.
Edited by Hoofty on Wednesday 3rd April 11:25
chip* said:
Go Austria
Done over 20 seasons, and my group always prefer Austria.
Better accommodation (mostly hotels and 4* gets you pool and spa/wellness centre and remember to keep looking up), great ski infrastructure with modern lifts (some with heated seats), general hospitality is just better / the local actually welcome you, better food / good restaurants in the mountains, decent apres ski, and something trivial but the toilets are amazingly clean compared to the sthole you experience in France!
I could have written this myself! Done over 20 seasons, and my group always prefer Austria.
Better accommodation (mostly hotels and 4* gets you pool and spa/wellness centre and remember to keep looking up
), great ski infrastructure with modern lifts (some with heated seats), general hospitality is just better / the local actually welcome you, better food / good restaurants in the mountains, decent apres ski, and something trivial but the toilets are amazingly clean compared to the sthole you experience in France!Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff