help with hubby and kids and where to go

Hi there

Hope you can help. I have been to Sol in Austria twice and loved it years ago (15 years ago) anyway I am 6 stone heavier and have not been skiing since. Hubby is a complete novice, never been on the slopes at all and kids who are 7 and 9 have never skied before and if there balance on ice skates is anything to go by, then they probably will not be able to stand up.

Anyway I have finally convinced hubby and kids to give it a shot and we are thinking of skiing 6th april for a week.

What i would like is some advice on where to go.

Obvisouly we will need to hire all our stuff and kids and hubby will need a ski school. I will also need some tuition I presume, or is it like a bike? doyou just remember, and also do yuou think the fact that i am overweight and unfit will have a big impact?

I just dont know where to start as it has been that long. Where will there be snow in April? everywhere or are my options limited? Do you think it would be a good idea to go to dry slope first or do you think it might put them off as I have been to dry slope in the past and found it nothing like skiing on snow,

Any advice appreciated.

Karen

Karen

The problem you have is going that late in the season you normally would have to go high for good snow but as you say your party are complete novices and most nursery slopes are lower down the mountains thus the channce of having OK conditions although not impossible are reduced, contact the likes of crystal ski and ask which resorts offer a ski school on the higher slopes otherwise you could find yourself stuck in the mud !!

Don't be to hung up on fitness levels just yet, only ski if you feel like doing so not because someone tells you to, once you've had enough call it a day before any accidents happen and have another go the next day

Forget the dry slopes try and go to an indoor slope with real snow you will learn some good tips for when you go away. Enjoy :thumbup:

thanks for your advice. I would love to go to one of those snow domes instead of the dry slopes as I think they are a bit dangerours-if you get your hand in the middle of one of the criss cross things - sorry for technical terminology. lol

we live in the north east of england so i think snow dome is out of the question. not sure where the nearest is but problably miles away.

the reason I wanted to go in April is to coincide with the school holidays and also hubbys 40th. I also dont like the idea of being split from the kids after reading some experiences people have had leavig their kids in schools. I will also be taking my nephew who after his week away in schladming this week, should be able to ski with me while hubby and kids go in the school. or maybe i should just book lessons on the dry slope and not bother with the ski school? what do you think?

:DHi Karen,
glad you are once again deciding to go skiing again,there is a snow dome in Tamworth (real snow,or as near as it can be, not sure if this is anywhere near you) which might be within reach of you.

When choosing a resort idealy you want somewhere that has skiing on mainly north or northeast slopes and with runs from 16 - 1800m up to and over 3000m,a glacier thrown in aswell would be a bonus.

From a transfer point of view as you're children are 7 & 9 and would not probably like a long transfer( mind you none of us do i think) it might be a good idea to look at resorts that have transfers no longer than 2 - 2 1/2 hours,most of the resorts in the Tarentaise are within 2 1/2 hours with the longest about 3 hours,La Rosiere,Tignes & Val and Les Arcs (although i am slighlty biased towards the last),also the resorts of the Trois Vallee's down the road from the afformentioned have reasonable transfers aswell and might also be worth a look.

Another aspec that may be a deciding facter where to go will be the choice of catered or self catering.

From the financial point of view a rough cost for ski hire will be around £45 - £55 per person,lift passes around 195euro's(although there are some free chair lifts in most resorts that do not require a pass so beginners and normal skiers alike can find thierlegs for free),flights are relatively cheap also but over easter like most other places and business's prices rise above normal so expect to pay between £60 - £120 return per person if travelling independantley,and around £150 - £190 for car hire (this is normaly about £135).

On the fitness side i can only suggest that as with everyone else they should take everything at thier own pace,after all one of the main joys of a holiday in the mountains is to take the time to enjoy the majesty of nature that is all around,when i was a beginner i seemed to spend most of my holiday racing around trying to keep up with all the others(experienced skiers) and never got the time to take in the view).

Hope some of this is of help and enjoy you're return to skiing,and have a pleasant safe trip. :D

My kids learnt to ski in Livigno. It's very high and should be fine (well at least better than anywhore lower) in Esater. Prices are cheap because it's Italy plus they are some sort of non-tax principality. Instruction is very friendly and cheerful Italians types who speak good English. Finally, the learner slopes are great, because there's a graded series of them with entirely separate to the main runs, so you don't get experienced skiers and boarders causing havoc among the novices.
The big downside is the transit time - 4 hours or more from Bergamo. Which also means an early start (like 4am!) on the return journey. However, I would say that if you prepare everyone, and take plenty of provisions and entertainment for the kids then it won't be so bad.
Overall, probably worth the transit hassle for guaranteed snow late in the season and good learner slopes.

Hi - just read your message.

I'm off to La Plagne on 5th April. Staying in Plagne 1800. With my 7 year old son. We went at about the same time last year. The ski school 'Oxygene' is excellent for kids and adults, based in Plagne Centre, at about 2000m. Lots of easy buses to get you to Plagne Centre, if you can manage the pistes. Last year the snow was still in excellent condition at 2000m and even better up top - I left my son for his lessons in the morning - met up for lunch and then spent the afternoon on the fairly gentle slopes together in the afternoon.

There is enough for kids to keep them happy in the evening and the food is varied enough too.

He loved it so much we are returning to the same appts and he's asked for the same ski school.

Given the snow conditions NOW - the first week of April should be good too.

Book it now - you never know - may see you there!!!!!

Hi
We have skiid in April for the last 3 years, and love April skiing with the children as the weather is warmer and therefore although the snow is not as good as February - the childrens comfort is greatly improved!
We ski in La CLusaz which is very low, but have still enjoyed our skiing, the snow is like soup after 3pm so I would recommend a slightly higher resort,or you can ski until then and then have a very late lunch - but you will all have fun wherever!
We found our children have benefitted through having dry slope lessons - just having a clue what they are trying to achieve made it much easier to understand when taught by someone who was trying to teach in a couple of languages, and the dry slope is so much slower it is much easier to learn! We thought they benefitted so much they continued after returning from our holiday and are now amazing.
Hope that helps!

karen72 wrote:Hi there

Hope you can help. I have been to Sol in Austria twice and loved it years ago (15 years ago) anyway I am 6 stone heavier and have not been skiing since. Hubby is a complete novice, never been on the slopes at all and kids who are 7 and 9 have never skied before and if there balance on ice skates is anything to go by, then they probably will not be able to stand up.

Anyway I have finally convinced hubby and kids to give it a shot and we are thinking of skiing 6th april for a week.

What i would like is some advice on where to go.

Obvisouly we will need to hire all our stuff and kids and hubby will need a ski school. I will also need some tuition I presume, or is it like a bike? doyou just remember, and also do yuou think the fact that i am overweight and unfit will have a big impact?

I just dont know where to start as it has been that long. Where will there be snow in April? everywhere or are my options limited? Do you think it would be a good idea to go to dry slope first or do you think it might put them off as I have been to dry slope in the past and found it nothing like skiing on snow,

Any advice appreciated.

Karen

Sounds to me like 2 weeks in Rhodes in July would be best for you )