Seraching for the Half Term Holy Grail....

Hi, we've just returned from a Half term week in Morzine where we had a great week with our 2 boys loving their first trip to the mountains. The boys were in ski school in the morning 9.30 - 12.00 and here's where the only issue was. Queues to get up the mountain in the morning after dropping off were at least 30 mins before we hit the top of the Pleny. This only gave an hours skiing out before we had to turn round and return for pick up.

So I guess what I would like to know is are there any resorts out there that give good quality ski schools, good all round skiing for beginners and intermediates and that don't have those huge morning queues?

I know half term will always be busy but I'd like to know other peoples experiences. Maybe I am looking for the Holy Grail?

Gravid wrote:So I guess what I would like to know is are there any resorts out there that give good quality ski schools, good all round skiing for beginners and intermediates and that don't have those huge morning queues?

Yes, they're out there... 8)

Start with a list of resorts in your favored country, then cross off all the areas the major Tour Operators go to - you'll be left with a bunch of places most people have never heard of; there are plenty.

Look at the Aravis for starters (La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, etc.); although they're decent ski areas, the big TOs don't go there.

Also look at the lesser-known resorts in the Dolomites; one of the smaller stations on the Sella Ronda will give you access to lots of skiing.

I think bandit may also be able to suggest somewhere but she may need bribing... :lol:

Gravid.
Fir the last 2 years we have been going to Meribel. There are 5 kids in the part all between the ages of 5 & 9. We use one if 2 ski schools, parallel lines or magic in motion. These are both UK based & only have British instructors, we thought this was best for young children. Also the max in a class is 6 pupils with one instructor & one helper. They start at 9.15 & finish at 1.15, so you get 4 hours to yourself, meet for lunch & then ski with them in the afternoon. What is also great is there is about 8 lifts out of the Chaudaune (excuse spelling), meeting area so you simply don't queue to get up the
mountain. If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask.

Gravid. Typing on iPhone so maybe a few typo's lol, such as Fir/For & Part/Party, however, hopefully you get the jist of it.

This is why we started to ski in Italy and Switzerland. By comparison, queues are relatively short and much more polite. The atmosphere in most Italian resorts is comparatively more family-friendly in my experience. The standard of instruction and fluency in English is much higher in Switzerland and Italy, on average, than in France.

As your children get older, you will find that skiing remains the one activity you can all do together - the summer's tend to fragment and eventually they want to do activity hols that don't involve you (wait 'till they want to go on their first trip to Ibiza .... but that's down the line). Switzerland is more expensive, of course, but we thought it worth it and if you go self-catering you can cut the cost down substantially, although I'd admit that basic costs like skipasses and hire can be pricy.

I'd now never go to France again, even outside the school holidays as I just can't stand the queues and hassle. That's not to say there aren't quieter French resorts, but if you're confined to school hols for the next few years, then I'd try Switzerland or Italy. You'll probably also hear similar comments about Austria - I've not skied there so I'll leave that to others to post on.

We were ski-ing in Courchevel last week, during half-term, and we never waited more than about 2 minutes for a lift. Yes, there were lots of people there, but the lift system is so efficient, and there are so many pistes spreading out in all directions that there was plenty of space on the piste as well.

A half hour queue sounds pretty bad to me - was there no way around it?

Ally

Montgenevre is a great 'No queues' resort, even at half-term. It also has great ski school. The runs start from the village, so it's easy to get back in time to pick the kids up.

Lunch won't break the bank either. Lots of great intermediate runs in Montgenevre.

Kids can get the top of the mountain and ski all the way down on Greens.

Might be worth giving it a go.

Volf

Gravid,
Do some research before your holiday to 'see' who in europe shares the same 1/2 term & pick your location accordingly; went to Austria this year as 1/2 term in uk was shared with quite a few of our european cousins & in particularly France ( or Paris at least).
Never had to queue for more than a couple of minutes & slopes were not at all packed ( almost empty some of the time).
Also, refreshment prices ( food & beer) in Austria are way cheaper than France.
FB