First time family skiing holiday

jedi82

Hello,

We are thinking about going skiing next year. OH is a teacher so will have to be Feb half term (or Christmas maybe) so I know that will be expensive. I was wondering whether anyone had any advice on cheap places for me to research that are good for beginners? There are 5 of us (2 adults and 3 kids 8-12).

I am completely clueless and assume that we will pay for the package holiday and then will need to pay for ski school and lift passes. Is there anything else?

Also read somewhere to borrow what you can and that you hire skis etc there?

As I said, clueless!

Any advice greatly appreciated.

x

scumsthorne

go where their is snow. Who knows what the snow conditions will be like next year. I knew people trying desperately to resell ski holidays in december due to no snow.

Bulgaria is 'relatively' less expensive

http://snowbizz.co.uk do family ski holidays, but again you don't know if their will be snow at xmas.

ski passes are becoming a joke, £250 odd quid for 6 days for an adult in parts of europe,

michele-p

Ski holidays can become very expensive, the cheaper prices tend to be b+b or apartments, but eating out for each meal can add to the costs. We tend to go to catered chalets,which have a bigger upfront cost, but includes all food (not lunch) and wine.

Every resort will have ski school, and many hire shops for you skis, boots, poles and helmets. So no need to buy as beginners.

We are off to a Club Med hotel next week, which is a first, even more expensive up front, BUT the price includes lift pass, and ski lessons - which for a beginner could help out a great deal. It includes our lunch on the mountain, and a free bar!!! Worth pricing up.

Resort wise, we tend to go high to try and be guaranteed snow, this year not so much in our chosen resort of Cervinia in Italy, snow cannons are a must wherever you go, so they can make snow if needed.

Bulgaria and Andorra are the cheaper countries, but maybe not so high. But then as beginners you need good nursery slopes.

We went to Obergurgl in Austria the last 2 years, which is a nice friendly small resort town, not massive night life or hoons about, and mainly hotels and chalets rather than apartments. They had familiy friendly chalet next door to our adult only one, the kids seemed to be having a fab time, with the nursery slope right outside our door. I think they were with Inghams, next door to Chalet Christophorus.

have a look at these sites maybe:
http://www.igluski.com/
http://www.skitotal.com/deals/top-deals/

Clothes wise, Aldi stuff is great, or Sports Direct, I got a jacket for £15 for my first holiday 4 years ago - it needn't cost a fortune, but that would be a whole different thread.

EconomicsGirl

We've been skiing in France first week of Easter holidays last couple of years and had snow both times plus hotels half empty so cheap rates and facilities to yourself.

Do need to check where you go though facilities are still open then. We tend to book hotels with pools and something to do locally in case of no snow. About 30 mins drive from Chanomix both times. Husband is French so knows where to go. Book through Booking.com.

EconomicsGirl

We hire skis and gear there. We just book hotel then get what we need there. Drove down. A lot cheaper than packages but make sure hotel is close to where can ski with kids.