Family package holiday

littleredspot

Right, as the title says, I'm looking to bring Mrs Redspot and a 4 and a 7 year old away skiing next year. Thinking of the first week in February. Myself and the Mrs have skied before but will be looking for lessons, as will the first time kids.
We're prioritizing distance from accommodation to ski school, as I know It'll be difficult with the kids. Ideally not too long a transfer <2 hrs. Flying from Dublin but open to Belfast. Apartments seem to be recommended but a HB hotel with some sort of kids club/entertainment in the evenings might be equally handy.

I've skied independently a few times but fancy having my hand held by a TO for the first time with the kids, I'm guessing it will improve the chances of the kids meeting other kids to hang out with too?

We're not fussy about which country or resort, looking for specific accommodation recommendations please.

Fattes

Neuhaus Mayrhofen Austria - Great Family hotel with a super reputation, good resort for kids with tons to do, huge pool and family entertainment at night

Hotel Bergwelt Obergurgal Austria - Another family run and family based hotel, this one has its own kids club free ski pass for kids under 10 included, great snow sure location.

These are based on a family member who uses both no kids of my own!

littleredspot

They're 2 lovely looking hotels thanks Fattes. Both are about 10 minutes from the slopes though, was hoping to get a bit nearer. Maybe I'm being overly cautious?
One thing I notice is that Austrian ski schools seem to do 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, whereas French seem to be 2.5-3 in the morning. I'm thinking that the morning only option would be better so as to allow family skiing time in the afternoons. Or is it better to have the kids in class as much as possible?

Fattes

littleredspot wrote: »

They're 2 lovely looking hotels thanks Fattes. Both are about 10 minutes from the slopes though, was hoping to get a bit nearer. . Or is it better to have the kids in class as much as possible?

Ideally as little walking as possible with kids is the ideal. Its a 2 min bus ride from the Neuhaus to the lift & the bus is every 5 min & never to busy. Same on the way back

The berg welt was described by my brother as ski in & out. His kids were about the same age as yours when there.

Most Austrian Schools do morning only lessons. It's personal choice about how much time you put the kids in ski school, I know parents that want them in there all day I am with some Austrian instructors tomorrow from St Johann, will have a chat with them for you

Every child & family dynamic is different, some of the best moments I have had on skis is shredding with nieces & nephews.

hawkwind23

seen a great wee deal from belfast earlier that would suit your needs perfect , ill try find link......

ok

from travelzoo

Voyager Travel Direct has just released a peak-season ski holiday for less than you might think. It's now £369 per person for a week on the Austrian slopes, with free ski hire thrown in the mix. That's a saving of up to 45% on the usual price.

What's included?

Direct return flights from six UK airports to Salzburg or Innsbruck
Seven nights' accommodation at Harmony-Hotel Harfenwirt in a Standard Room
Half board
Free blue ski hire (worth £55 per person)
When can I go?
Depart from London Gatwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Southampton or Belfast on 4, 11, 18, 25 January, 2014. It's an extra £30 to depart on 1 February; or an extra £110 to depart on 8 February.

About the hotel
The Harmony-Hotel Harfenwirt is in Niederau slopes, opposite the nursery slopes and a 5-minute walk (500m) from the centre of town. A free bus stops outside the hotel and transports guests to the slopes.

Half board includes a daily buffet breakfast and 3-course evening meal with choice of main, plus a salad buffet. The hotel has a restaurant, two bars, an indoor pool, a sauna, a steam room and a Jacuzzi. All guest rooms have a balcony.

The resort is part of a new Austrian ski area called Ski Jewel, which links Niederau and Alpbach via a gondola to the Schatzberg mountain in Auffach. The area has 145km of pistes, 69 lifts and three terrain parks.

Transfers & baggage
This deal includes 20kg of checked luggage and return transfers.

Read more about the deal here, but call the number below to book.

Fattes

Niederau, is a great family, resort & alpbach too!! Good shout hawkwind

fannymagee

Hi Littleredspot! Re: Skiing with kids, is it their first time on skis? If yes, as much time as possible with a good instructor will benefit them no end- ie full day ski school for the first three days at least. Skiing with your own kids when they're not confident can be VERY stressful, frustrating and exhausting for everyone.

My advice is to drop them at ski school, give them loads of encouragement and reassurance, and then leave!! They will not progress while you're watching. It's only 2 hours, so go and ski and come back for them at lunchtime. Easier said than done, but worth it! Even going on a lift with your own child is surprisingly stressful until they get confident- esp the 4 year old!! I have no prob skiing with other people's kids, but the sight of my own child perched on the edge of a ski lift with his little legs swinging struck terror into my soul, lol!! So that's just a heads up- he's a little ski machine now but the good foundation in skischool made all the difference for that first time

hawkwind23

Fattes wrote: »

Niederau, is a great family, resort & alpbach too!! Good shout hawkwind

yeah and a good deal , hotel gets 4 star on trip advisor which is a decent indicator.

littleredspot

That's a great deal thanks Hawkwind. I've been on to them and it's still available. My only concern is that the skiing might be limited for my wife and I.
We'll both be doing lessons to improve. It's been a few years since Mrs Redspot has been skiing, she's been twice and would be looking for long blues and comfortable red runs. Mainly to improve her confidence. I've been 5 times and can get down a black, but not as gracefully as I'd like to, hence the lessons. We have no interest in off piste or moguls just yet!

I spent an age going through some brochures and managed to narrow it down only to discover a lot of places seem to be booked out. Waiting on Crystal ski to call back today, but if they haven't got a good alternative I think we'll go with the Niederau option.

FannyMagee, thanks for that advice. I'll have no problem entrusting them to the ski school while I head off We were thinking of just leaving them in for the morning so as we could spend the afternoons together skiing/playing /resting. Do you think it would be more practical to have them in full day? (4 hours split between am and pm) We'd still meet for lunch and could always pull them out in the afternoons the last couple of days?

dzer2

littleredspot wrote: »

They're 2 lovely looking hotels thanks Fattes. Both are about 10 minutes from the slopes though, was hoping to get a bit nearer. Maybe I'm being overly cautious?
One thing I notice is that Austrian ski schools seem to do 2 hours in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, whereas French seem to be 2.5-3 in the morning. I'm thinking that the morning only option would be better so as to allow family skiing time in the afternoons. Or is it better to have the kids in class as much as possible?

We have 5 little kids and went with the full day lessons for the first few yrs as the kiddies get great instruction there. The was another family we met over there and they put their kiddies in for half day lessons. By the end of the five days the instructors had our dare devils up the mountain while the kiddies on half day lessons were still on the ski school area. We done this for 4 yrs in a row the last 2 yrs we havent had to put the oldest back in school and will wait for another while before we do as they want to try snow boarding. Proper tuition for the start is essential where ever you go.

On a aside note the ski school done dinner so we could ski away until 3 oclock and then pick them up. We still had a family day together as we went solo and had 6 days skiing. We have never found distance from the ski lift a problem we rented a locker close to it and walked in and out of town. It helps to loosen the muscles in the morning and cool them down in the evening. Also we got a good look around the town and picked different places to have a drink on the way home.

fannymagee

Yes I agree with Dzer- the proper instruction will make a huge difference, and a lot of ski schools offer that service of lunch included. It's handy if there are other English speaking kids in their group, but it can be a long day if they don't have their own little pals. When they get a bit better they'll prob go off on tour for the day with their group, which they LOVE! After 3 full days of ski school you'll see a huge difference in even the most reluctant child- it just clicks. Then once they're out on the slopes they're bombing around in no time.

Just remind them that the lessons are the key to their escape from Kinderland- that kept my fella well focussed!! :-)

littleredspot

Ok, I think I've narrowed it down to Flaine. Anyone have an opinion on there? Seems to be just the skiing that we need. Nice apartments next to the gondola. Good flight times and transfers. Ski school only in morning but for 3 hours. I'm persuaded by the all day argument but my wife has an existing injury which may hamper her skiing all day.
http://www.crystalski.ie/ski-resorts/france-ski-holidays/flaine/centaure-apartments/

fannymagee

Ah that's a nice way to do it too Littleredspot- that way they they get a good run at their skiing in the morning, and then get to show off to you in the afternoon while mum has coffee, and nobody gets overtired ;-)

Have a ball- those first little bambi days on skis are so cute!! And PS be prepared to spend a small fortune on hot chocolate lol ;-)

Fattes

Either of the Ski Schools below in Flaine will be top drawer second one is the best but he gets booked out in advance up to 12-18 months! Seriously that good but try him. ESI are really good too, and have a decent reputation.

http://www.esi-flaine.com


http://www.flaineskiclinic.com/

Lynne is a legend and an ex Canadian race coach does super stuff with Kids and no language barrier!

Accommodation;

Grand Vans building & La Centaure apartments, either or are great locations, a bit basic but nice, clean and convenient. Close to everything you need.

Ski Rental the Skiset in the Foret Commercial is class, Philippe managed to produce a pair of World Cup GS skis for a team mate who broke a pair training!!! Their normal stuff is excellent too. I think Crystal use the one near the Ice Rink but both are great.


Flaine is amazing basically 3 massive snow sure North facing bowls less than 60 minutes from Geneva! Some great skiing, tons of cruisy reds and plenty more above that. A super set up and a really chilled out town, town is car free and very family orientated. The architecture is a very acquired taste but the town has sculptors by Picasso and some other famous people! Prices are really cheap too for most stuff, food, drink and the Hot Chocolates you will be buying

I am pretty sure the beginner lifts are free so you will save a few quid on the lift passes! Beginner area is one of the best in France purpose designed wide and a perfect pitch right beside the village.

littleredspot

I'm sold!

That's great information. Thanks for all your help guys. Much appreciated.