Advice on First Family Ski Holiday in France

by **sammyf6** on Thu Jan 17, 2008 12:20 pm

I am planning ahead to take our family of four on our first ever skiing holiday for New Year 2008/2009. I have two children who will be three and six years old. I think i have narrowed it down to a good family resort, Les Gets, France. However i am undecided between two ski holiday operators: Ski Famiile in a chalet or Esprit in a Club Hotel. Any advice or experience in either the resort or these operators would be gratefully received. Thanks Mark Tuckley

by **Honey Bunny** on Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:57 am

A lot of the main tour operator also do ski hols, they also have last minute bargains, even in school hols.I would compare all of them first.

by **russco** on Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:43 pm

mark, i have had the same issues as you and we managed to book up in a family chalet in la plagne france. we chose this resort for the ski schools and where we got free child place as only crystal ski give them to us poor families.Crystal ski have set family chalets which provide everything for kids!!also crystalski has 200pound discount for booking online but dont try to take quote to high street for price match as they just laugh at you cos discount margin is to large so they say.The main thing i was intrested was making sure the ski school was geared up for 3yr olds upwards, i found alot do 3 to 12yr olds but in a few resorts they do 3 to 6yr olds which is call ski kindergarten hence this is why i chose la plagne.Last bit of advice is look at the ski resort websites i found if you ski dot com very helpful regarding ski tuition,prices and general ski info happy skiing!!!!!!!!!!!!

by **Ski fan** on Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:08 am

Having just returned from Austria with Esprit, I can not rate them highly enough.
Beware though when looking at accomodation in chalets where children under 6 must go to bed and can not eat with adults - in the hotels they can.
Also look carefully at transfer times to the slopes - we could ski to the gondola to take us up at Scheffau but other resorts had transfer times of up to 45 minutes - not ideal with young children who may not be able to manage a full day
Esprit child care was fantastic, we'll certainly go back with them

by **pennyqss** on Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:59 am

Esprit, Esprit, Esprit. Worth the extra money. I went when mine were nearly 5 and 12. Didn't need Esprit for the 12 year old but definitelty helped with the 5 yr old. Childcare that they provide over the other operators, is that they will take to ski school, lunch, collect and allow all kids to play in creche until you're ready. You don't have to get their skis on, get them to ski school then go to your own. Very necessary when all are beginners and don't really know one end of a ski to 'tuther. Enjoy.