Recommendations sought for a weeks family skiing in April next year...

Family of 5.

1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be coaxed
onto the slopes.

2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.

1 four year old who may have a go.

We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow record
is important.

Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got lucky
with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a bit
slushy & patchy )

So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that time of
the year?

On Sat, 02 Sep 2006 08:59:55 GMT, "Betty Swollocks"
squeezed out the following:

Family of 5.

1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be coaxed
onto the slopes.

2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.

1 four year old who may have a go.

We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow record
is important.

Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got lucky
with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a bit
slushy & patchy )

So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that time of
the year?

Val Thorens.

--
Colin Irvine

Betty Swollocks wrote:
Family of 5.

1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be coaxed
onto the slopes.

2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.

1 four year old who may have a go.

We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow record
is important.

Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got lucky
with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a bit
slushy & patchy )

So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that time of
the year?




The choice of early April for your party is ideal. The weather is usualy
kinder, the snow at its maximum depth, the prices sensible the evenings
lighter and because it is usually about a month to the end of the season
staff are experienced, but not demob happy.

Most of the high level "mega" resorts will be suitable. Early April is
far from the end of the season and some excellent skiing can be found. A
few thoughts and considerations:

What does the possibly non skiing parent plan to do? Choose a resort
with other suitable activities or better still persuade them to ski.

With children find accomadation very close to the ski school and
preferably ski in /ski out. IME kids do not take to ski busses or long
walks. And to children pretty villages are completely irrelevant. Go
high and ignore the architecture. Look at the piste map for the number
of telepheriques, they are horrible unless you a a/ patient (waiting
for them) and b/ large (kids get fed up looking at bellies).

The 4 YO could take ski lessons, but otherwise who will look after them
during the day.

My suggestions would be to choose a chalet with either an English (or
your own nationality) cheche. We have had good experience with all the
UK companies we have used, but less good with the resort creches.

Choose one of the big resorts in France, such as Tigne, Les Arcs or Val
Thoren. Val Morrel may be a bit on the low side for April, but otherwise
very suitable. I have no personal experience of Flaine, but other
reporters say it has good late season snow.

Consult the guide books and the web pages such the skiclub of great
Britain, ifyouski (http://www.ifyouski.com/resorts/). Also try one of
the specialist skiing travel agencies; we used snowline very
successfully for years. Speak to them rather than just use the web site
they are very knowledgeable.

John

Jungfrau region, Switzerland. There's loads to do around there for
non-skiers, and the slopes probably suit your party.

There is a small risk that the snow won't be good enough at that time of
year, however. But I've had great skiing there in early April in the past.

Adrian

--
Adrian Shaw ais@
Adran Cyfrifiadureg, Prifysgol Cymru, aber.
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru ac.
http://users.aber.ac.uk/ais/weather/ uk

In message , Betty Swollocks
writes
Family of 5.

1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be coaxed
onto the slopes.

2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.

1 four year old who may have a go.

We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow record
is important.

Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got lucky
with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a bit
slushy & patchy )

So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that time of
the year?

Val d'Isere. I took my family last Apr. It was very good. Stayed with
Mark Warner but there are other places that cater for the kids just as
well.
--
Devs
"Punchdown Pete the old Kroner"

Betty Swollocks wrote:

So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that time of
the year?

Tignes is good at that time of year and the resort is child friendly
with a good range of extra-curricular activities if they get bored of
the skiing (which they shouldn't, it's a great skiing area). There are
a number of child-oriented package companies that go there with their
own creches and childcare options, the skischools are all geared up for
children as well, and there are a number of private childcare options,
my wife included. In the interests of avoiding shouts of "spam!" I'll
simply say that searching for private childcare in tignes will get a
bunch of hits.

The snow at 1600 was getting a bit dodgy early April this year, but
stay high and you *should* be okay.

Matt

Many thanks to all that replied below, some good suggestions and info.

Looks like a big French resort will be our best option. Val Thorens looks
interesting.



"Betty Swollocks" wrote in message
...
Family of 5.

1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be coaxed
onto the slopes.

2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.

1 four year old who may have a go.

We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow
record is important.

Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got
lucky with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a
bit slushy & patchy )

So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that time
of the year?

"Betty Swollocks" wrote in message
...
Many thanks to all that replied below, some good suggestions and info.

Looks like a big French resort will be our best option. Val Thorens looks
interesting.

Tignes all the way. If you want any information e-mail me after unspamming
the address.

Joe

"Betty Swollocks" wrote in message
...
| Family of 5.
|
| 1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be
coaxed
| onto the slopes.
|
| 2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.
|
| 1 four year old who may have a go.
|
| We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow
record
| is important.
|
| Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got
lucky
| with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a
bit
| slushy & patchy )
|
| So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that
time of
| the year?

A slightly radical alternative to previous suggestions... given the
presence of non-skiers who may or may not do some skiing, how about the
best of both worlds? Les Arcs not only has the option of going high *if*
there is a lack of snow (usually excellent first week of April though),
but also benefits from a funicular railway than whisks skiers to its
slopes in 8 minutes from Bourg Saint Maurice in the valley below. Why
not stay in Bourg?

That way there's the choice of skiing, or spending time in this
attractive town, with its considerably cheaper prices (food,
accommodation) and real Savoyard atmosphere.

Both Tignes and Val Thorens are pretty ugly (and expensive) dumps. Val T
is treeless, as is Val Claret (highest resort at Tignes), and a mix of
beginners/intermediate would probably not find themselves straying far
away from the near-resort ski areas in the space of a week.

Particularly when the weather and visibility are poor, the option of
having tree-lined runs to ski in is a major plus.

Pete
http://mysnowsports.com

PS ... we're fully booked ;-)

pg wrote:
"Betty Swollocks" wrote in message
...
| Family of 5.
|
| 1 parent intermediate the other a non-skier but may be able to be
coaxed
| onto the slopes.
|
| 2 children 10 and 13 have only one weeks experience on snow.
|
| 1 four year old who may have a go.
|
| We want to go in the first week of April, so a good late season snow
record
| is important.
|
| Did Kitzbuhel this year which was good but we realise now that we got
lucky
| with the snow (they had the most snow for decades but it was still a
bit
| slushy & patchy )
|
| So where's good in Europe at that time for a family like us at that
time of
| the year?

A slightly radical alternative to previous suggestions... given the
presence of non-skiers who may or may not do some skiing, how about the
best of both worlds? Les Arcs not only has the option of going high *if*
there is a lack of snow (usually excellent first week of April though),
but also benefits from a funicular railway than whisks skiers to its
slopes in 8 minutes from Bourg Saint Maurice in the valley below. Why
not stay in Bourg?

That way there's the choice of skiing, or spending time in this
attractive town, with its considerably cheaper prices (food,
accommodation) and real Savoyard atmosphere.

Both Tignes and Val Thorens are pretty ugly (and expensive) dumps. Val T
is treeless, as is Val Claret (highest resort at Tignes), and a mix of
beginners/intermediate would probably not find themselves straying far
away from the near-resort ski areas in the space of a week.

Particularly when the weather and visibility are poor, the option of
having tree-lined runs to ski in is a major plus.

Pete
http://mysnowsports.com

PS ... we're fully booked ;-)



While agreeing totally with the concept of Les Arcs I would be cautious
about staying in Bourg with children. Unless you have your own car
getting one small child to the funicular in the morning can be a real
hassle - even if you leave all your equipment at the funicular station.
The potential for loosing gloves etc. is just too great. My suggestion
would be to stay up the hill and let the non skier travel down – if they
want.

Driving to Bourg is not a bad idea if you find airport lounges, long
waits at check in etc. with children a real hassle. It takes about 9
hours to drive from Calais to Bourg and if you do it overnight the
children just sleep all the way. It will then give the potentially non
skier some transport if they want to do other things (as some one who
hates shopping and is not keen on sight seeing, I cannot think what
there is to do until the rafting and mountaineering season starts, but
there is a nice pool in Bourg st. Maurice). If you live somewhere near
Ashford or London there is a good direct train service to Bourg st. Maurice

Les Arcs is my personal favourite resort. It has a large range of very
good skiing for all abilities and a very long season. We had excellent
skiing there at the end of April last season. It also has one of the
shortest transfers in the Alps - just a 5 minute walk from the railway
station to the funicular. The slopes in 1800 are ideal learning
territory, there are few lift queues and there is usually lots of space
for nervous beginners. If the snow is starting to melt in the afternoon
you can watch the water skiing antics as various skiers ski down a slope
then attempt to water ski over what appears to be a small swimming pool
at the Arpette. Some actually make it, but most end up soaked to the
skin. It provides hilarious entertainment for the afternoon. As Pete
says in his email you have the potential of skiing with trees around you.

John