first family ski holiday want it all at new year !!!

Hello to everyone first post.
We have booked a holiday to el tarter in andorra on 30th of december.
I have learned to snow board indoor only.
I am about to have ski lessons with my wife.
Neither of us have ski before.
two kids 17 and 22 ! both can ski.
son 17 has done usa 5 times with school
daughter 22 done bulgaria two years ago.
This is all for wifes 50th.
I have read many comments on Andorra and for our standard of skiing would seem ideal.
The only thing that is worrying is snow conditions and lack of anything to do of an evening I think we are in the quiet part of a quiet resort I would like to wonder about at night if I have the energy and enjoy winter wonderland. The girls love to shop and we feel this resort will be not be the picture post card place we are expecting.
I am thinking of spending some more money and moving location maybe even USA ?
Anyone help
beginners/intermeadiate skiing
livley but not 18-30
shopping
village
christmas card stuff
and snow????????

Cheers in Advance :D

Hi Hugh?

Not sure about Andorra? Snow could be a problem but it could be anywhere.Have you thought about Meribel in the 3 valleys? if you want a real picture post card try St Anton Austria both these options will cost you more but worth it.
Ta

Hi,

El Tarter is not going to give you that winter wonderland picture postcard feeling. It is small and quiet.
If i were you i would look at some of the Swiss and Austrian resorts and go high to be sure of the Snow.

Having said that it certainly would be great for your skiing ability though.

many thanks
mu thoughts seem to be right
I will look into other places
any ideas?
someone rec. obergugul ?

Much as I love Obergurgl, it wouldn't fit the bill re shopping and I wouldn't want to be a beginner there either. The apres ski especially in the Nederhutte is fantastic though :D

cheers still looking would usa be a choice over new year or wasted on us first timers ??

Hi Hugh,
I wouldn't bother going to the U.S.A. - if you can afford it I think you should take your family to Courchevel. It's my favourite resort out of all the ones I've been to (9 resorts I think).

Courchevel has everything :D

It's really beautiful, very well maintained, good snow history, part of the massive ski area of the 3 Valleys (600 Km piste), it's excellent for beginners, intermediates and advanced, and it's got loads of shops etc. (although I think your family will only be window shopping here) and the lift system is modern and very efficient. And it's got tree-lined pistes as well as the very high altitude areas.

The only downside to Courchevel that I've been able to discover is the price of a holiday there. We got around that by going self-catering and buying and eating our lunch in our apartment in the cheaper village of Courchevel 1550 (which is only a 5 minute ski below the main village of 1850 and directly connected by gondola and chairlift).

And they do amazing firework displays and night ski-ing down an easy green piste once a week. Oh yes- and there's a very long toboggan run which runs in the evening between 1850 and 1550.

Anyway - I wish you luck with your search and I hope you have a great family ski holiday, wherever you end up going :D

We went to Andorra for my first ski holiday. The terrain was fine for my limited ability but a bit boring for those in our group who were more experienced skiers.

There wasn't much night life but we did enjoy a trip into Andorra central which has loads of shops and restaurants etc. and the biggest indoor spa in Europe, well worth a visit.

The killer for us was the very, very long transfer from the airport.