Skiing Holiday Advice

Steedie

Steedie

Steedie

Man of Honour
Joined
29 Jun 2004
Posts
21,639
Location
Oxfordshire
Hey guys,

Looking to book a family holiday for this year, and we're set on skiing. I've never been before and neither has my girlfriend and I know nothing of ski resorts or where to go etc.

I wanted to book a package holiday and a few quick Google searches show so many companies offering packages that I have no idea who to go for in terms of price, what they offer and resorts. I've seen on here a few times about people who have gone on awesome ski holidays so hoping people could offer some advice

My only concern is my son will only be 4 by the time we look at going, so not sure if he'll be far too young? A few sites have mentioned that they offer skiing activities for his age group but I don't want to go if he's going to be bored or feeling left out

Budget wise, don't really have one. Happy to spend a lot if it's worth it. Only real criteria is that it's suitable for families, other than that I don't know enough to dictate :p

Thanks in advance :)
 
www.crystalski.co.uk is a great starting point, have used them a couple of times before.

Not sure I can comment on a 4 year old skiing, I would guess that he would go into a ski school with kids his age - how would he feel about that? I would definitely look at lessons for all of you before you go, so you can get the most out of the holiday.
 
4 is definitely not too young! You should book into a ski school - private lessons are best for learning but group lessons are a LOT cheaper - and then learn to ski yourselves.

If you think you can handle doing everything, self-catering apartments are cheaper than all-inclusive, but an all-inclusive chalet which cooks you breakfast and dinner will be a lot easier especially if you are wet and tired after learning to ski all day.

I'd say go to France, just because they have a massive Brit community in almost all resorts and you can get excellent English-speaking ski instructors who will help you learn much faster if there isn't a language barrier. In terms of timing, as your little one isn't in school you can take your pick - because learning usually involves lower down slopes, going in Feb/March in a non-half term week is probably your best bet for good conditions.

I actually prefer independent chalet operators and holidays, but maybe not for a first time. Crystal, Neilson, Inghams, Mark Warner, Club Med are all big name options.
 
Maccy said:
www.crystalski.co.uk
Click to expand...

chanjy said:
4 is definitely not too young!
Click to expand...

Thanks both! Very helpful, reassuring to know you both say he's not too young as well

Yeah I think I'd like to go all inclusive, just because as you say, it would be nice after a long day not to worry about cooking. Have I missed the boat for best time to go this year then? I was ideally looking to go late this year, but are we best going early next year?

Crystal seem very decent :)
 
Vouch for Crystal Ski, have been with them 3 years in a row and always everything is well orginised. As you have never skied before don't expect to be skiing well within a day, it takes days or even weeks to be confident to ski down the red slops confidently, however most people can enjoy easy blue runs after an hour with instructor.

Tuition is what you need to go for, as you have never done skiing before you need to start with some lessons, it's very important to do it as skiing is very dangerous, instructors will make sure that you learn what you need during your first few days of skiing.

Also try to find a resort which is beginners friendly, all resorts have baby/learner slops, but it gets boring really fast if you can only ski one slop, try to find a resort which has many blue and red runs (in some places red runs can be already difficult for some people) so that you can go different routes all the time.

As for kids, I usually don't see parents skiing with their very young children, kids of age 3-4 normally ski in groups (just kids with instructors/schools), it's very easy for kids to learn skiing as they learn on very short skis.

Don't forget that you will need special clothing and gloves for your skiing holiday, skis + boots + helmets can be hired but the rest you will need to buy.

I go skiing every year and even though it is kinda expensive you get an amazing experience each time.
 
Steedie said:
Yeah I think I'd like to go all inclusive, just because as you say, it would be nice after a long day not to worry about cooking. Have I missed the boat for best time to go this year then? I was ideally looking to go late this year, but are we best going early next year?
Click to expand...
I would never go self-catered for a ski holiday. It sounds a bit arrogant, but in all honesty besides the skiing, a very close second is the whole chalet experience. I don't necessarily mean the club 18-30s style party chalet (although you can get that if you want), but just getting off the slopes, having a couple of beers, getting back to the chalet for afternoon tea, doing the sauna, shower/freshen up and then straight into a 4-course meal with unlimited booze. That's the way to do it :cool:

I think you're probably too late to go this year, unless you find out where still has really good snow? :confused: You'd want to be going next week though :p

I haven't actually skied for the last few years but the last place I went was St. Anton in Austria. On the whole I much preferred Austria. Less snooty, much cheaper, and just more fun overall. I haven't been to France in years though.

EDIT: I'd skip this year and save for two weeks next year. Seen as you've never been, a week will be slightly frustrating as you'll just be getting going by about day 4 :p You should all do lessons as much as possible too, just accept you won't necessarily be skiing together apart from maybe meeting in the afternoon. When I was younger skiing with my family I was generally in lessons every morning and afternoon, only occasionally skiing with my dad. Loved it though.
 
Just to reiterate 4 really isn't too young. A lot of the Scandinavian kids can pretty much ski before they walk. I got burned off by a cheeky 3 year old!
Be prepared for sore knees
 
I taught my 3 year old daughter to ski this winter, by the end of the seasons we were handling red runs and slaying the powder fields.

As soon as they can stand they can learn to ski, but some kids take to it easier than others. Also, they can only do an hour or 2 at a time initially.
All resorts will have a special ski school and baby sitting service that normally sees the children feet a few hours skiing and a few hours playing. Whether you you likes that will depend on how comfortable they are amoung strangers.
 
Also,you say this year but what do you mean?
The season has ended now and most resorts are closed, except a few higher ones but it is so hit the snow is baked.

The ski season doesn't typcitypi start until mid-December, but the snow won't be reliable.until mid January. If you can only book 1 trip mid-February to end of March will guarantee best snow and weather. January is usually good but cold, December can be very flaky for snow, cold and short days. Christmas is Xmas and busy but snow no better.
 
Steedie said:
Ah I'd rather stay closer to home, I'm not a great flyer :p
Click to expand...

Ok, this is planning too much in advance - the best time for ski holiday in Europe must be March or late February, which in this case means almost a year from now.
My friendly advice to you would be to really stay as close to the UK as possible. Don't take adventures to some third-world EU countries in the South-East :D
Because it might be somewhat cheaper but people in the tourism sector are not paid well, they get extremely low salaries and accordingly their service is not good either.

On the more pleasant note, I would love to try Argentina - the season there begins mid-June and lasts till October: http://www.powderhounds.com/SouthAmerica/Argentina.aspx

Ski Argentina
Argentina isn’t just about the magical tango dance. Argentina is the world's eighth largest country. Away from the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires, and the dry arid heat of the expansive deserts in the north, Argentina has extremely cold and wet conditions in the south in the wild remote areas in Patagonia. Argentina also possesses some of the world's tallest mountains and the majestic Andes provide the perfect backdrop for various Argentina ski resorts.

Skiing in Argentina
Argentina has about 14 ski resorts dotted along the Andes with three major ski regions: the ski resorts near Mendoza; the Lakes District and Patagonia ski areas in the south; and Ushuaia way down south.

Mendoza Argentina Ski Resorts
Las Leñas is renowned for its steep terrain and adrenalin pumping double-black diamond chutes. Whilst it has something for everyone, it has become a mecca for extreme skiing and snowboarding. Las Leñas has easy backcountry access as well as cat skiing and heli skiing tours.

The Las Leñas lifted terrain reaches altitudes of nearly 3,340 metres (11,253ft) with a base elevation of 2,240m (7,394ft) making this the highest ski field in Argentina. The annual snowfall at Las Leñas is around 6 metres (250 inches) and the powder is renowned for being pretty good. Las Lenas is trendy and the nightlife is vibrant, so if partying is your thing you can dance the night away (and half the next day as well!).

Los Penitentes ski resort sits on the international highway between Santiago in Chile and Mendoza, 183km west of Mendoza and only 25km from the Chile border. Penitentes is a mid-sized ski resort that’s good to visit for a day or two of skiing or snowboarding if driving between Las Lenas and Portillo.

And 4.5km down the road is Los Puquios, a small cheap ski area that is ideal for families and beginners.

Ski Patagonia – The Lake District
Argentine Patagonia includes the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz, and part of Tierra del Fuego.

The Lake District is in the north of Patagonia with Bariloche being a common gateway to the ski resorts in this area.

Starting in the north of Patagonia is Caviahue (Centro de Ski Cerro Caviahue) which sits near Copahue and takes skiers up to the peak of Volcan Copahue at 2,953 metres. Copahue is 978 km (608 miles) south of Mendoza and 554km (344 miles) north of Bariloche. The little beginners' hill of Batea Mahuida is near Villa Pehuenia.

Cerro Chapelco is located near the town of San Martin de los Andes, a 262km (163 miles) drive north of Bariloche. Cerro Chapelco is a modern ski resort with some good lifts and tree skiing.

Cerro Bayo is an upscale boutique ski resort near Villa La Angostura which is one hour north (70km – 43mi) of Bariloche.

Cerro Catedral is the local Bariloche ski resort, only 20km (12 miles) from Bariloche. Cerro Catedral (aka Catedral Alta Patagonia) is a large, modern and bustling ski resort.

At the other end of the spectrum is the wee little Perito Moreno ski area near El Bolson, a hippie town 121km (75 miles) south of Bariloche.

South of the Lake District is La Hoya ski resort, a step back in time where lift tickets are cheap. La Hoya is located near the town of Esquel which is 282km (175 miles) south of Bariloche.

In Patagonia the climate is much cooler than near Mendoza and the ski resorts are at lower altitudes. With the exception of Caviahue, the top elevations of the ski resorts are only about 2,000 metres (6,500 feet). This is a great place to start your Argentinean ski holiday if you have any concerns about altitude sickness.

Ushuaia Argentina Skiing and Snowboarding
And way down south at parallel 54 degrees is Cerro Castor. This southern ski resort is located near Ushuaia in the Tierra del Fuego. The base of the ski resort sits at only 195 metres above sea level.

Heli Skiing Argentina
Argentina heli skiing is quite rare. Powder South offer week long heli ski packages from a luxurious lodge in the wine region of Mendoza.

Argentina heli skiing is also available at the "end of the world" in Ushuaia.
Cat Skiing
Cat skiing and cat boarding is available from Las Lenas.

And Canadian style snowcat skiing is available at the Baguales Mountain Reserve south of Bariloche.

Or for a really unique backcountry skiing experience, Mallin Alto offers sled skiing with overnight glamping stays in a remote spot not far from Bariloche.


When is the Argentina Ski Season?
The ski season begins in mid-June and runs to October. However the best skiing conditions in Argentina are generally mid July to early September.

A great way to explore the Argentina ski resorts is to go on a multi-resort tour or camp, and some itineraries also incorporate snowcat skiing. You don't need to be an expert or advanced rider as there are many intermediate trips available, and some tours incorporate instruction or coaching.

See the Argentina ski tours pages for more information. For tour dates and an indication of availability, check out the South America ski tours schedule page
Click to expand...
 
Went on my first ever Ski holiday February last year. Mrs Cheesyboy had been once, but this was the first time with kids. Eldest was 7 (turned 7 the day we flew), youngest was 3.5.

We went to Norway, Trysil, with 3 other families (one 2 adults + 2 kids, like us, the others 1 + 1). It was superb for families. Slopes were, I was told, much less crowded than the Alps, but it was a good range of slopes for a beginner/intermediate skier.

Booked accommodation, flights etc ourselves and it worked out at something like £3k plus food. With 4 families, we took turns cooking.

Enjoyed it so much we went back again this year. I think it was 10 nights both times

As a note on lessons for a 4 year old. Ours didn't get on with it all that well at 3.5, but this year at 4.5 was much better. We were able to take her all over the mountains by the end of the holiday.
 
For your first time, perhaps pick a smaller resort which is likely to be less crowded and a rather more quaint experience. Somewhere huge will potentially seem quite daunting and you're unlikely to be able to ski most of the runs anyway.

March is a good time to go, unsurprisingly it tends to be warmer and the days are longer. Cheaper too.

As others have said, skiing is tiring so it's preferable to not have to worry about cooking, again particularly for your first time.
 
I was about 4 for my first skiing holiday in Scotland. All I can remember is cold wet misery.
Thankfully i got over that and still go skiing regularly.
Another option for an easy ski holiday package is Mark Warner, and also I've heard that Esprit are good for families with young children as childcare is included.
Meribel in the 'Three Valleys' used to be great for families (not sure what its like now as haven't been there for years) as has loads of slopes including less challenging ones.
 
1st time - package deal and take the stress/confusion out of arranging everything separately.

Off the top of my head, I've used:
https://www.crystalski.co.uk/ (as has been mentioned)
https://www.neilson.co.uk/ski
http://www.inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays/

and there's a couple agents that can be a little cheaper:
https://www.sno.co.uk/
https://www.igluski.com/

(^^^ but, as I don't have kids, I'm not sure how child-specific they will be, but as soo many people travel with children then they must be suitable?!?)

Want something money no object and great child-care then https://www.powderbyrne.com/ could be an idea - know people that have worked for them, and they will look after your kids while you enjoy yourselves ;)

1st holiday - lessons are a must. Do group lessons and have a laugh with the other pupils, and possibly ski around/practice together outside of lessons.

4 year old - arguably too young for snowboarding, but easily old enough for skiing, so get some infant lessons - but, make sure to check the transfer times from the airport to resort, as some can be ~4 hours, which could be a lot for a little-un.

resort: Try to avoid the massive/expensive resorts, as you'll be paying a lot for the lift pass that you're not really going to be using 80% of. Somewhere smaller is ideal, like Arinsal in Andorra, & Pila in Italy (some also praise Bansko in Bulgaria, but it might be a long transfer for the kid, and it's hardly a picturesque resort when I had a season there ~7 years ago). Thinking about it, a few years ago I was an instructor on a school trip to Passo Tonale in Italy and it's amazing for beginners as it's a small resort with open runs and (almost) impossible to get lost. Or a medium sized place like Soll or Zell am See in Austria are worth a shout. General rule of thumb - you'll pay more for France, but they tend to have bigger resorts for more experienced skiiers/boarders and they have more chalets if it's your thing, which also seem to be appealing to more experienced snow-fans. For 1st timers, I'm not sure that chalet would be a big selling point over a hotel - if you're in lessons then you'll be in lessons, the appeal of chalet (to me anyway) is meeting random people and riding/exploring the resort with them, which is obviously a non starter if you're (a) beginner and (b) in lessons... So, yeah, a hotel package won't detract from anything. Personally, I prefer the "look" of Austrian resorts with their chocolate-box styling, and would 100% recommend looking at Zell am See if you're after somewhere beginner friendly and picturesque (and dare I say, quite romantic around the town and lake).

gear: One of the big expenses for the 1st snow holiday is clothing - so make sure to check your locak TK maxx over summer and they tend to stock last season's gear from around July-ish time. So, can get some decent gear for moderately cheap. Otherwise, there's Decathlon after about Sep, when their winter display goes out.

Another thought - if you have a snow-dome locally, then arrange some lessons there over summer first. get some basics established and it will only help when you get onto the real snow ;)
 
Last edited:
Ruka in Lapland is good if you're going with small kids. The skiing isn't the best, but as a winter wonderland it's an amazing experience, with lots of activities as well as the skiing.

Crystal-Ski are good if going for a package.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom