Help! Beginners off to Morzine, Le Viking - book skis/lessons/pass in advance?

Hi All,

Heres hoping you can advise us on our first skiing trip in Feb 08! We
(2 families) have never skied before but are planning a few lessons
before we go in Feb 08. However, we are finding all the ski lesson,
boot hire, pass options etc a tad bewildering. Can you help?!

Between us we have 5 children (aged 2,4,4,8,10) and will have them
booked into the relevant childcare/ ski lessons provided by Crystal
Ski at our hotel.

Our main qu's a

1. We can prebook skis/boots but our lessons internet research warns
that there are a lot of hire places closer than where Crystal Ski hire
shop is so you sdnt bother booking in advance. Is this advisable with
a half term holiday? Does it work out cheaper? Prebooking we will pay
£67 per adult for ski/boots and this will entitle us to free child
skis/ boots worth £53. Does that make sense?

2. Prebooking local lift pass is £112 (adult). Wd this be cheaper
locally when we arrive?

3. We will be booking lessons but are keen on having a private
instructor for the 4 (or maybe 5 inc. 10year old) of us instead of the
group 8-12 lessons. Crystal Ski tell us we cant do this (presumably as
they want us to book group lessons through them). I assume this is
rubbish so can anyone recommend private tuition that can be based
from/ close to our hotel? We have morning childcare only and ideally
want lessons from 9.30 to 11.30 for 5 or 6 days. I have found info on
a few companies that do lessons but as we are new to this it would be
good to have recommendations.

Is there anything else you can help us with that we should know?
Your hints/ tips would be much appreciated!

Many thanks
Beccie

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:22:46 -0700, Rebecca
wrote:


I think the Morzine website might already be able answer some of it:
http://www.morzine-avoriaz.com/?langue=en&saison=hiver

"Rebecca" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,

Heres hoping you can advise us on our first skiing trip in Feb 08! We
(2 families) have never skied before but are planning a few lessons
before we go in Feb 08. However, we are finding all the ski lesson,
boot hire, pass options etc a tad bewildering. Can you help?!

Between us we have 5 children (aged 2,4,4,8,10) and will have them
booked into the relevant childcare/ ski lessons provided by Crystal
Ski at our hotel.

Our main qu's a

1. We can prebook skis/boots but our lessons internet research warns
that there are a lot of hire places closer than where Crystal Ski hire
shop is so you sdnt bother booking in advance. Is this advisable with
a half term holiday? Does it work out cheaper? Prebooking we will pay
£67 per adult for ski/boots and this will entitle us to free child
skis/ boots worth £53. Does that make sense?



Assuming you're going at half term I would recommend that you use the
Crystal services. Hiring boots etc can be done yourself, but at half term it
will be a bit of a bunfight - especially as you won't know the ropes. Prices
seem reasonable as well.
If the hotel is a little way from the slopes it may well be worth hiring ski
lockers at the slopes. The walk to and from the hotel can be very tiring in
ski boots and carrying ski poles (and 4 year olds!). There are free busses
and a little train, but they can get very busy at peak times.


2. Prebooking local lift pass is £112 (adult). Wd this be cheaper
locally when we arrive?

as above - also unlikely to be much cheaper - Crystal will get a cut,
but this should be from the ski pass company not from you. The only problem
is that they may have chosen a poor exchange rate and you might be able to
save some dosh there. IMHO probably not worth the hassle of doing it
yourself. You don't need a full area ski pass, just Morzine/Les Gets - you
won't even get to ski half of this.

3. We will be booking lessons but are keen on having a private
instructor for the 4 (or maybe 5 inc. 10year old) of us instead of the
group 8-12 lessons. Crystal Ski tell us we cant do this (presumably as
they want us to book group lessons through them). I assume this is
rubbish so can anyone recommend private tuition that can be based
from/ close to our hotel? We have morning childcare only and ideally
want lessons from 9.30 to 11.30 for 5 or 6 days. I have found info on
a few companies that do lessons but as we are new to this it would be
good to have recommendations.

Check the website for ski schools. IIRC there is a highly recommended
kids nursery come ski/snow experience. Again at half term it's no good
waiting 'til your there. I would book the 8 and 10 year olds into group
lessons as they tend to enjoy skiing with their peers more than being stuck
with adults. In the latter case they either get exasperated by the adults
going too slowly or go into their shell, get stressed and won't do it. It's
tricky enough learning yourself, you don't need any further hassle! Learning
to ski in a small group can be quite frustrating, the pace which people pick
it up, and are comfortable at skiing, can vary dramatically. In group
lessons they will often have many classes at the 'same' level and the pupils
are sorted beforehand into similar abilities and speeds. If you progress
more quickly (or more slowly) than others in your group there can be the
chance to change groups to something more suitable. IME the initial sorting
is usually about right. If you have learnt the basics beforehand ( 5+
lessons) you are not beginners and should book lessons for 1 week skiers. In
any case private lessons are often arranged at lunchtime, when the
instructors are between classes. This might sound a bit xenophobic, but if
you do organise the lessons yourself, make sure they are in English, and if
possible with a native English speaker - I'm sure there are British ski
schools in Morzine so start there. The nuances of skiing can be quite
difficult to get across in a foreign tongue

Is there anything else you can help us with that we should know?
Your hints/ tips would be much appreciated!

IME lunchtime at half term is a nightmare - what I tend to do is take a
break for hot chocolate around 11 and take some snacks - mars bars, cereal
bars, choccie biscuits etc to keep us going til a late lunch after 2 when it
quietens down a bit. Your ski lessons may dictate these times.

Many thanks
Beccie


Have fun

Paul

On Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:22:46 -0700, Rebecca
wrote:

Hi All,

Heres hoping you can advise us on our first skiing trip in Feb 08! We
(2 families) have never skied before but are planning a few lessons
before we go in Feb 08. However, we are finding all the ski lesson,
boot hire, pass options etc a tad bewildering. Can you help?!

Between us we have 5 children (aged 2,4,4,8,10) and will have them
booked into the relevant childcare/ ski lessons provided by Crystal
Ski at our hotel.

Our main qu's a

1. We can prebook skis/boots but our lessons internet research warns
that there are a lot of hire places closer than where Crystal Ski hire
shop is so you sdnt bother booking in advance. Is this advisable with
a half term holiday? Does it work out cheaper? Prebooking we will pay
£67 per adult for ski/boots and this will entitle us to free child
skis/ boots worth £53. Does that make sense?

2. Prebooking local lift pass is £112 (adult). Wd this be cheaper
locally when we arrive?

3. We will be booking lessons but are keen on having a private
instructor for the 4 (or maybe 5 inc. 10year old) of us instead of the
group 8-12 lessons. Crystal Ski tell us we cant do this (presumably as
they want us to book group lessons through them). I assume this is
rubbish so can anyone recommend private tuition that can be based
from/ close to our hotel? We have morning childcare only and ideally
want lessons from 9.30 to 11.30 for 5 or 6 days. I have found info on
a few companies that do lessons but as we are new to this it would be
good to have recommendations.

Is there anything else you can help us with that we should know?
Your hints/ tips would be much appreciated!

Many thanks
Beccie


Beccie,

My own experience of the Viking was four years ago with two kids.
Excellent hotel and location half way up the mountain. Food was good
and plenty of organised evening activity for the kids. You get to and
from the town by cable car.

Ski school meeting place is outside and ski hire shops in town are
much of a sameness. You'll need to get down early on day 1 in order
to get back up for lessons.

I've used BASS for the kids. Never used ESF. Half term is busy but
the slopes can take it. You need to book early.

Stan

1. We can prebook skis/boots but our lessons internet research warns
that there are a lot of hire places closer than where Crystal Ski hire
shop is so you sdnt bother booking in advance. Is this advisable with
a half term holiday? Does it work out cheaper? Prebooking we will pay
£67 per adult for ski/boots and this will entitle us to free child
skis/ boots worth £53. Does that make sense?


Would not say £67 is particularly cheap. Smaller specialist Peak
Retreats which also features Morzine charges £49 for 7 days good
standard skis, boots & poles for adults, £29 for under 6 and £38 for
kids under 12. You also get free helmet which is strongly recommended
for children (although not really not for tiny ones staying in
kindergarden).
see http://www.peakretreats.co.uk/ski/morzine.htm (click more in
Skiing section for more info)
So with Crystal you just pay the Free child in the high adult rate but
if you get 4 kids free then go for it!


2. Prebooking local lift pass is £112 (adult). Wd this be cheaper
locally when we arrive?

Morzine-Les Gets lift pass (don't book Portes du Soleil pass for
anyone below intermediate) is 141 Euros per adult so £97


3. We will be booking lessons but are keen on having a private
instructor for the 4 (or maybe 5 inc. 10year old) of us instead of the
group 8-12 lessons. Crystal Ski tell us we cant do this (presumably as
they want us to book group lessons through them). I assume this is
rubbish so can anyone recommend private tuition that can be based
from/ close to our hotel? We have morning childcare only and ideally
want lessons from 9.30 to 11.30 for 5 or 6 days. I have found info on
a few companies that do lessons but as we are new to this it would be
good to have recommendations.


You can of course have private instruction for your four children! The
only thing to bear in mind is that most ski school use their
instructors for group lessons in priority during the lucrative half-
term weeks so you may not be able to get a top slot. usually lunch
time (12.00 -14.00) is allocated to private lessons. To be honest I
think your kids will learn much better being with other kids rather
than with just their siblings. They will be far more motivated in a
group even if they will of course get less individual attention. The
little ones will be far better in the kindergarten than with older
children.
If you want an idea of price, Peak Retreats charges £78 for 6 half-
days children's lessons it arranges in conjunction with the ESF. All
that said you will need to check that whatever you find can be
available from close to your hotel as meeting point for most ski
schools tends to be down in village.


Is there anything else you can help us with that we should know?
Your hints/ tips would be much appreciated!

Half-term is going to be very busy in Morzine so do make sure you book
everything (ski lessons, equipment hire particularly) in advance. It's
the French school holidays too and the resort is very popular with the
Brits.

Assume it's the Palladien-Altitude Viking you are staying at ?
As that hotel is really far from everything and only accessible by the
telecabine you may be best to leave it to Crystal to arrange it all
though!

"Rebecca" wrote in message
oups.com...
Is there anything else you can help us with that we should know?
Your hints/ tips would be much appreciated!

Many thanks
Beccie

Yes - if you're first-timers then you may not be aware just how much being
fit before you go can improve your experience. No need to go mad; just some
regular, non-impact exercise like cycling will get your fitness levels up
effectively.

Oh, and do this everytime (not just your first)...

Bon Ski!

RM
www.mountainpassions.com - an Online Magazine with Altitude.