Tour Operator or DIY
If this is your first family ski holiday then consider using a tour operator for arrangements as getting used to the schedules, the equipment, how to navigate a ski resort and the fine art of skiing can take some getting used to. There is a lot to think about and organise and location and making the right choices is very important. The support of an Tour Operator on your first family ski trip who will give you and the family good support may well be worth it.
Tour operators include slightly different elements in their holidays and you should compare prices accordingly and carefully. Packages can in some cases include free childcare and tuition and online discount for booking over the internet. Some companies offer discounts for bringing your own nanny or grandparents. Operators can negotiate discounts for accommodation and ski passes and generally pass on some of that saving to you. They'll also employ one or more reps at the resort whose job is to ensure your holiday runs smoothly.
Children aged between two and twelve are eligible for a range of discounts depending on the accommodation arrangement. One company that offers something different is France Outdoors who offer adventure holidays, at your own pace, for families and small groups in the Provence-Alps area.
DIY
Lastminute.com have some good special ski offers at the moment with Ski holidays from £179 but so your research and check that they are family friendly. Good value is always a find.
P&V Holidays provide good ski accommodation at affordable prices in France with hotels, residences, Christmas ski availability, hotels with pools and spacious self catering ski apartments ranging from 2-berth studios to family size 7/8-berth apartments. they are currently running an offer ''''Up to 20% off January ski accommodation in France with PV-Holidays.com''''
Here's a selection of some of the best offers:
20% off La Plagne at the PV-Holidays Maeva Plagne Lauze Residence. Great value and located in the heart of Paradiski. From £281 per week for a studio for up to 4 people.
20% off Alpe D'Huez at the PV-Holidays Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers Residence. Fantastic outdoor pool! From £739 per week for a 1 bed apartment for up to 6 people.
20% off Les Carroz (next to Flaine) at the PV-Holidays Residences MGM Fermes du Soleil. Spa treatments and lovely indoor pool on site. From £518 per week for a 2 bed apartment for up to 6 people.
Given the current climate, we thought you might like to know a bit more about their budget ski accommodation brand, Maeva. Via the P and V Maeva brand they offer 50 apartment residences in just under 30 French ski resorts. You can expect cosy, functional apartments in all the best locations. And they are great value, starting from £59 per person per week.
If you know a resort well and are very comfortable organising a ski holiday either before or after having a family you may find it more cost effective to make your own arrangements. With the DIY holiday considerable savings can be made on self catering if you are confident with your navigation of a ski resort and all the nuances of a ski holiday with the family.
Family friendly hotel and self catering options are also available through booking.com and you can book stylish and hip boutique chalets and hotels in the snow with Mr and Mrs Smith.
Hotel ski accommodation
You have a number of options when booking your family ski accommodation. Hotels can be expensive but usually offer more facilities than self-catering choices. They tie you in usually to eating there in the evening so do check that this suits you and the family.
Self catering ski accommodation
Apartments can offer the benefit of the kitchen and living room in the evenings and extra space although they are notoriously small as space is always at a premium in ski resorts. Consider also that you are less likely to want to cook and clean after a busy day on the slopes.
You can make a considerable saving however if you do book self catering accommodation but check carefully the quality and location of the property and for example if there is parking available if you are organising your own transfer. Parking can be an expensive item in ski resorts. Eating in can save you a lot of money as restaurants in ski resorts are expensive. Prices in supermarkets are higher up in the mountains and there are options of having privately organised catering in the apartment or getting prepared food in the supermarket or from local shops.
The '''' PV-Holidays: Residence MGM ski apartments "'' apartments have spacious living areas, as well as large balconies and bright living rooms. Featuring 1 to 5 bedrooms, they can cater for up to 11 people. Many (but not all) have pools and meals can be delivered in some locations as well at fresh breads for the morning.
Most of the Residences MGM are well set up for children, ski lessons can be booked at the same time as your apartment, on request they can provide you with a full baby kit including a travel cot, fitted sheet, high chair and some surprises for baby free of charge. Each residence offers a free loan service with children’s enjoyment in mind including board games, paperbacks, cartoons, portable games and consoles and there is a children’s area in the Meribel, Chamonix and Les Menuires residences for kitted out with children’s furniture, games, television etc where they can make new friends.
Chalet ski accommodation
Chalets can be a great option and usually offer catering in the form of breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. They vary substantially in size and quality though and you do pay for what you get.
It is worth considering with friends who have children to fill up a whole chalet as they generally accommodate two to three families although if you are booking with an operator it may be an idea to check who else is booked in. Some chalets have childcare based in house for younger children which can be great as you do not have to wrap up the children early in the morning to the first fresh snow and can be equipped with toys and books.
Baby Equipment
Child-friendly ski resorts normally provide travel cots, highchairs, baby baths and bottle sterilising facilities but do check and reserve them in writing in advance. Bring sufficient supplies such as nappies and baby food/formula as supplies can be limited in certain resorts.
Transfers
Transfers are generally longer for ski resorts than for sun holidays and depending on where you are going you can be traveling for between three and five hours drive time alone. Picking the day you transfer alone can save you two hours if say you travel on a Sunday and not a Saturday. Smaller coaches with less passengers will get you there quicker.
If you travel with a tour operator which is the cheapest way to transfer you will have to wait for all the other passengers to board and have their luggage collected and loaded on and off and there are of course multiple hotel and chalet stops along the way. Add to this the fact that it is late and you have two or three tired children and you may need to think about the other options which are not as easy as just jumping in a taxi to the beach hotel twenty minutes away.
Other options include a taxi or private transfer but they are expensive so price this before you finally decide on how you are going to go. You could also hire a car but you must have snow tyres fitted and must carry snow chains in the event that the weather gets severe. Weather conditions can be difficult so this is not for the faint hearted and you will also need to be sure that you can get parking and that it is not very expensive.
Lift passes
Lift passes can work out very expensive so do factor this in to your budget and when you are shopping around. Larger tour operators will sometimes provide free lift passes for children and in some cases second lift passes for free.
We have prepared guides to choosing the perfect family resort, what age to ski and childcare options.
You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday.
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