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 #1 snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 19:31 |
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Hi, i have done a search, but didn't come up with anything.
Missed boarding the last season, but cant miss another. My boy is now 3, and will be nearer 4 when we plan to go in Jan/Feb.
Any resorts any of you can recommend? Im on a budget really. But dont mind where, i usually go to France, but have been to Bulgaria and Austria too.
I want him to be able to join a kids ski school, and my other half would need beginner lessons and kit etc.
Im not sure what works out best, getting an apartment and then finding flights, transfers etc, or just going with a package deal.
If anyones had any good or bad experiences, i would be grateful of the feedback.
Cheers
James |
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| #2 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 20:29 |
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I’d say that if you want to get any decent amount of time on the snow yourself, you should go with a package company that provides childcare. And if you’re on a budget, I’d think about whether it’s really worth booking your boy into ski school. At that age, it can be really hit or miss as to whether they actually enjoy it; better to wait till they’re 7 or 8. At most, they’d only manage about an hour of ski instruction a day anyway. If they go into ski school for longer, you’re just paying for really expensive childcare. |
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| #3 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 21:34 |
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hi my boy is slighlty younger and i was looking into the same thing, and les gets in a catered chalet was much cheaper than i thought even with cjild care included, plus the resort has exellent slopes and you can board to morzine no problem, theres loads to do for the whole family i will most likely go with my family this year  |
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dont think ....... do |
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| #4 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 23/08/2010 @ 21:55 |
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Hope you dont mind me jumping on this topic, I am in exactly the same situation witha 4 year old son, Catered in les gets sound very interesting especially if the price is right. Do you mind me asking what chalet it was you stayed in ? |
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| #5 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 09:53 |
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Les Gets is really nice for a family. We stayed there several times when my kids were younger and first learning to ski. If you do want a ski school, BASS is well worth checking out. |
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| #6 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 10:20 |
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Hi James,
As far as I know the minimum age for ski school is 4years. Some schools won't take them until 5. So you may need a resort with a creche.
If your other half is just a beginner as well, I recommend you look for a resort with a free learner slope, if you would like to save some money on passes. We have one here in La Tania and there are other resorts that have them too.
The cheapest hol, I reackon, is to come by coach (as little as £120 round trip for a high quality sleeper coach) and come either at the very start of the season or mid Jan or early Feb when the prices of accomodation are at the lowest.
Hope this helps,
Phil |
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| #7 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 10:29 |
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Coach may be the cheapest way, but would it be the most practical when travelling with a 3 yr old? Depends on the child.
One option is to wait a bit more and see what late deals are available, you're not looking at going during the peak weeks so hold out and the likes of Esprit will drop their prices and they have child care included and do take 3yr old on the snow on skis. |
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| #8 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 11:47 |
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Les Gets is a lovely resort but be careful when you go as it is very low down and the beginner / ski school slopes may be closed.
I first look my son when he was 3. The ski school owner said that they would take them even as young as 2½ as it was hit and miss whether they would like it, but actually advertised it as from aged 3. Luke did one morning on his first trip. Second time around when he was nearly 4 he couldn't wait to go and loved every one of the 5 mornings he went. Annoyingly it didn't even tire him out! This year he'll go into ski school in the mornings and if I think he's up to it I'll take him up the mountain. He's also said he wants to learn to snowboard this year but I'm still deciding whether to teach him or not as he's quite small for his age.
I think package holidays which include some childcare may be the best option. Thomson Ski or Crystal Ski may be worth a look. |
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| #9 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 17:42 |
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QUOTE (fatbob - 24/08/2010 @ 11:47) I think package holidays which include some childcare may be the best option. Thomson Ski or Crystal Ski may be worth a look.
I agree with Fatbob, a package is probably best as it works out slightly cheaper. We booked it all independently and found this out later.
We took our youngest when he was 4 to Soldeu, Andorra. The beginners area is halfway up the mountain on a gently sloping area plus they have these Disney "Mickey Clubs" that he went to.
His first day was a little scary for him as being left with peeps he didn't know but after that, once he got into playing at making snowmen and doing other activities he loved it and didn't want to know us when we came to pick him up (bliss)  .
The big advantage of Andorra we found was there was no shortage of English Nationality instructors (unlike Austria and France of late) due to the ESF (France) and the Austrian equivalent.
Thats not to say that Austria and France are bad as I dont know what your child is like around strangers who speak English in a funny accent.
Either way, dont be put off, I'm sure you'll find your nipper will end up loving Snowsports every bit as much as you. |
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- Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us -
- Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly - |
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| #10 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 24/08/2010 @ 22:41 |
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cheers for the replies all. I had read on various resort websites that the age of ski school was as low as 3, so guess it just depends on the resort chosen.
as for budget, i wont need to go as cheap as the coach, everyone else would be gunning for my boy at the end of it, he's not quiet and would drive everyone mad. That in iteslf is enough to fork out for flighst etc.
Guess il start nosing about for a package deal, it looks like its pretty expensive to take a family away to the slopes, now i know why i didn't go as a youngster!!  |
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| #11 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 25/08/2010 @ 10:18 |
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QUOTE (jpeters - 24/08/2010 @ 22:41) Guess il start nosing about for a package deal, it looks like its pretty expensive to take a family away to the slopes, now i know why i didn't go as a youngster!!
Your not wrong there mate !  |
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- Our attitude toward life determines life's attitude towards us -
- Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly - |
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| #12 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 25/08/2010 @ 10:52 |
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check out espirit ski, i had an interview for their child care section yesterday infact. they cater for kids from 4months -13/14years and childcare staff accompany the kids on there lessons aswell as in snow club and offer baby listening options at night.
they offer a range of stuff from small chalets to bigger chalet hotel style accomodation but its worth having a look i rekon there childcare options will be better than crystal neilson ect. you could even take your son to see santa in lapland haha im not sure about the how it will attack your budget but from what they told me at interview yesterday, it seemed pretty deece. so worth a look. |
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jumping off a cliff only hurts if you forget how to fly.
CASI L2 Instructor |
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| #13 Re: snowboarding and taking my 3 year old for his first taste of the mountains..where?? Posted 25/08/2010 @ 12:08 |
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Hi,
not got any kids myself but me and friends have been to arc1950 a couple of times and it seems great for kids!
the town is all pedestrianised v safe , no cars at all, you see lots of people pulling they're kids round on little sledges getting hot chocs and waffles, theres a small slope from arc 2000 to arc 1950 that you get on a little gondola thing to get to which doesn't need a lift pass, so its free if you wanna take your boy up for a little play, there was also some kids club thing that the small kids did every day just across from out apartment with a big teepee and play area for the kids (I wanted a go myself!)
Also they have nights for the kids in the town center, were they have a fire pit and the kids can toast marshmallows, and they put up an inflatable screen that they put cartoons on!
lastly most of the place is apartments (v nice apartments) so it can work out quite cheap!
Hope it helps |
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THE PAINS WORTH IT! |
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