Taking the kids (2&4) on their first “ski” holiday at Easter - highly likely to be Isola 2000 or Pyrenees.
Appreciate there won’t be much skiing being done but I’m on the lookout for items to borrow such as small skis, salopettes etc.
Equally helpful, any advice. Should I just drag the 2 year old around the x-country trail on a sledge?
My wife is after some entry touring skis and boots too - although able to pay rather than beg/borrow!
Based in Chepstow.
Hi, our kids loved snow at 2 yes old but got cold after 5 mins playing in it so the X country option with warm clothes might be good as is a resort with a pool to take them swimming. The EDF ski school piou piou club is good for 4 yr olds for a morning or afternoon - it gets them in skis and playing in the snow. We took our kids to Les Saisies - lots of easy slopes but a big ski area for the adults and also excellent X country options. Not much touring though unless you drive down the road to Beaufortain. The resort has a good public pool. We’ve been going for 10 years and there has been something for the kids every year as they progressed. We get all our kit from Facebook marketplace - there is usually good quality stuff there at a fraction of the cost of new items and you only need it for one season. Have a good trip!
Thanks very much for the info! All sounds sensible things I’ve read elsewhere or thought it.
Obviously it’s a case of seeing how it goes.
We have booked a self catering apt on the slopes of isola 2000. I’ve been there before and it’s a small place but it’s relatively close to nice airport and flights in Easter aren’t an awful price!!
I’ve optimised for staying as close to the slopes as possible to minimise walking. Which I think it’s probably the best option. This led to isola as really the only option in April given the budget we have.
Family ski holidays really have become expensive!!
It’s not easy or cheap. We left it till they were older (both 4 or above) and found a bargain package deal with Mark Warner in Les Deux Aloes with everything included, including child care. It meant parents could ski and so could the kids. They both went into ESF lesson programme together which was good for our boy being only 4. He did a whole bunch of dry slope lessons and had time at Scottish skiing resorts before going so he could use the poma tow (although he spent a lot of the time on the poma airborne). They had their own skis because we were skiing in Scotland and bought on eBay.
Not sure if MW are still doing the cheap package. Les Deux Alpes was marked down as accommodation wasn’t great but food was excellent. We went back for four or five years in a row. One year we went with Neilson which was a big mistake… MW was perfect for our needs.
Now we have teenagers who have left school and we’re back to renting budget accommodation which is still possible to find in Argentiere. And they lead us down the slopes.
Helmet covers are also a good idea so you can recognise your tiger, unicorn or whatever they might be.
We have some awesome memories from that time. Enjoy!
Thanks Anne - interestingly I used to work for Mark Warner as a ski host - before ESF came and ruined my job!! I have prioritised accommodation next to slopes, as it means we can come and go to the learning area as we please. My parents are also coming (my dad used to be a ski instructor) so it will all come down to how much the kids decide to listen to him!
Hi Sam.
Here is my opinion.
I don’t agree that it has to be expensive.
The two year old is too young really and its snowman building type of stuff. The four year old is a perfect age for learning, and in between your legs, playing around on the green slopes etc are fun activities.
Tips: don’t expect too much, don’t force it. I think it is both easy and fun if expectations are low (of what YOU are going to get done).
Cost savers: pick the right place. It can be very cheap in the pyrenees. In the vallee d’ossau, Gourette has a debutant ticket for 24 euro. Its not mentioned on the website but its always there. Its a perfect place for learning (and for you having fun too). You can get a bus from Pau including a full lift ticket for 30euro. Artouste is a very cheap ticket, but the terrain isnt ideal for 4years on their first ski legs.
Bagneres de luchon also has a very cheap ticket for adults and kids and a super green run we did laps of. For the very first days in Peyragudes the magic carpet is accessible from the base. Only need to buy one kids ticket and you can walk up beside. Can get a bus there from Bagneres de luchon.
I personally enjoy this type of skiing with the kids, it’s certainly different!
Can’t disagree with your locations, they look great
But the challenge is accomodation and flight costs in Easter or Feb holidays. Especially if you don’t want a huge transfer distance from resort.
Balancing the above was a huge challenge for me.
Out of interest, did you drive from UK to Pyrenees? We used to drive when I was a child, but my wife won’t tolerate 12/16hrs in a car with me… understandably! But that does mean smaller resorts are more complex to get to. Kids and buses can be fun, but not every day.