[Closed] Skiing/boarding holiday with a two year old.

No recommendations as we are currently looking at taking a 1 year old in a month or so time.

Esprit seem to be the choice of operator with childacre facilities. Chalets I ahve looked at seem on the whole to want you to book the whole chalet asa group beofe you can bring babies - fair enough really.

Looked at sorting out independant childacare but this seems quite expensice circa £700pf for the nanny.

Before I was with the OH she took stepJnr skiing aged 3. I think he did a minimal amount of skiing spending most of the time in a crech, while she skied in the morning. Then they spent the most afternoons together.

As well as Esprit look at Sky Famille and Snow Bizz.

The OH didn't take Jnr skiing again until he was 7, where she took me for my first skiing holiday too. He was in ski school in the mornings, spent some afternoons skiing with us and some afternoons with the Crystal kids club. we'd give him the choice and depending on the activity he decided if he wanted to be with us or not.

We took our kids skiing for the first time last year they were aged 4 and 2 at the time. We decided to try and get them into the ESF kids club thing that is on the nursery slopes. They are supposed to be over 3 and potty trained before ESF will accept them but the youngest was only a couple of months off and she was potty trained so we just told them she was three and all was fine. We are going again in 5 weeks and the oldest will be up the mountain having lessons while the youngest is still in piou piou.

There are nurseries in Morzine, and I'm sure there are elsewhere, that you can put your kids in for half or whole days. This was our back up plan if we couldn't get her into the ESF.

My first is due in April, I am more excited about taking them boarding/skiing than anything else.

Leaving for a week in Italy very soon with a 2.5 year old daughter and a pregnant wife 😀

It will be my daughter's third annual ski holiday (fourth if you count going to Canada in the womb 🙂 )

We normally take day about doing childcare or riding - though this year I'll be riding while missus takes the little un to her first ski lessons.

Not too concerned with pushing him into ski school that early, more the mechanics of getting them there.

Looking at some of the childcare costs, it'd be almost cheaper to pay for a grandma to come too...

Getting them there: a portable DVD/DivX player is [i]very[/i] useful when sat about for hours in airports, on planes, on transfers etc! Can be had really quite cheaply these days.

We've stayed [url= http://www.360sunandski.com/en/Family-skiing-and-summer-holidays-in-France.html ]here[/url] a couple of times - quiet little resort on the Flaine system, great chalet owned and run by lovely people, highly recommended for a couple with a 2 year old!

We always go with my sister. bro in law and their kids so before they were all in ski school there was always someone there to look after the various kids whilst some of the adults went boarding.

Theres usually nurserys in resort but i've never used them. I'd take a grandparent if you can. Book a self cetering apartment and hire a car from the airport or drive to somewhere like morzine/samoens (it's a doddle). Then you can do other things as well to save any one getting bored.

Don't expect to be on the first lift up and last lift down anymore though!!

It really does depend on your attitude to Skiing, childcare and kids out in the evening.

Last year we did it with a 9 month old, we had a great time but I'm not sure she did. Its not a holiday children can fully enjoy until they are old enough for the snow based activities (i.e. 3 and potty trained) as before that it is just a crapper nursery than they have at home with people they don't know.

For the grown ups spending all day skiing while the kid is looked after by strangers isn't a relaxing way to spend time and its no holiday for the children. Taking time out skiing to spend with the kids is expensive downtime. Unless you take them to the pub then apres is out (and apres bars aren't really child friendly).

So IMO until the kids are older you are better off going skiing without them, either not going as a couple or giving the kids a fun week with their grandparents. A lot cheaper that way as well.

Obvioulsy if one/both parenets are more willing to ski/apres less; or you are happy for them to be in childcare and money isn't and issue then your decision will be different to mine.

Wise words jfletch.

Mrs Tyred and I went a few times with Tyred Jr from when he was a baby - the place I linked to above had wonderful childcare in the chalet, which was properly focused on the kids rather than being a dumping-ground and Tyred Jr always enjoyed it, so we were more relaxed about going off riding, but I mumped about not being on the first/last lifts etc.

When Tyred Jr the 2nd arrived we were too skint to go, and any alternative we came up with - featuring a non-skiing grandparent for instance - meant someone was getting a raw deal. I'm a bit keener than Mrs Tyred and she's extremely kind, so for the past few years I've gone solo (helps that we've friends who live in the Tarantaise full time so its not expensive) and that's what's happening again this year. Mrs Tyred gets a week to herself in return, to do with as she likes. In between, I fit in trips to Glencoe or Aonach Mor and have taken Tyred Jr the elder with me a couple of times.

Next year, the youngest will be coming up on 5 and the eldest 8, so I reckon they'd cope fine with ski school in France - just need to find the million quid that such a holiday will no doubt cost.

Highly recommend La Plagne, just got back actually, we've stayed at both La Plagne 1800 and Central, there's great ski nursery slopes/gardens/luge areas, we also did a few 1-1 lessons with Oxygene, both were soon doing blue runs on skis no problems. Obviously you won't be doing that with a 2 year old, but possibly next year. I've been with Snowline now called [url= http://www.vip-chalets.com/family-ski-holidays ]VIP SKI[/url], they're pricey but very good, had a British nanny with them, who was lovely, made a dvd and photo diary of what he got up to whilst we were ski-ing. We've just been with Ski Beat, very good also.

We went to Les Gets last year with Master Bond, aged 9 months, with Ski Famille. We went with two other couples and had the chalet to ourselves. Two nannies for the 3 kids (although I think that was a bit of an anomoly because they were quiet) and the chalet had dedicated play areas, toys, cots, buggies and all the other paraphernalia you'd expect. Highly recommend them, although not cheap - we got a healthy discount as we booked the whole chalet and I think they were struggling to fill places last season.

This year we're going to St Anton with VIP Ski, a hotel rather than chalet, but still set up with kids in mind. Have heard good things about them so fingers crossed.

To be honest, we don't do a lot of Apres Ski and Ski Famille were happy to arrange for babysitters if we were. I doubt we'll leave the hotel in the evenings once junior's in bed...

It takes us 3 hours to get out of the house at home, I cannot imagine what this would be like on a skiing holiday.

I'd need a big bag of beta blockers.

Two nannies for the 3 kids (although I think that was a bit of an anomoly because they were quiet)

Maybe not, depends on the age of the kids as there are rules about carers per child ratios that vary by age. I think for kids below 1 the its 2:1 and that stands even if the other child is older.

Completely 100% agree with jfletch. I was going to be the first responder to this thread and say "Don't take young kids who will not be having ski lessons, i.e. less than 3 on a ski holiday, unfair for all". But I bit my tongue.

I would add unless you are with a multiple family group with others the same age then it can work.

Meh.. our little one has enjoyed the holidays we've taken her on and is looking forward to this one. We go in a group. She spends the day with one parent and they go play while the other parent skis, then they join us for apres.

Not sure why it is "unfair"?

We are going next week with our 10 month old as part of a group of friends. Will be splitting the child care between the 2 of us and making use of night sking to get more time on the slopes each. Resort we are going to has walking trails up the mountain and from the valley so will still be able to meet the skiers up the mountain for lunch.

Mark Warner has in-house childcare. They'll ship the older kids off to ski school for you, and look after the little ones in the in-house nursery.

Not sure why it is "unfair"?

I don't agree that it is "unfair" either. It just depends on your outlook.

For me the downsides of 1 parent with the child(ren) while the other skis has too many compromises. Its a very expensive way to get 3 days skiing each, the parents never get to spend any time with each other or as a whole family, a lot of ski resorts are devoid of non action sports activites etc. But every family is different and it obviously works for you so carry on.

We are going next week with our 10 month old as part of a group of friends. Will be splitting the child care between the 2 of us and making use of night sking to get more time on the slopes each. Resort we are going to has walking trails up the mountain and from the valley so will still be able to meet the skiers up the mountain for lunch.

Be very prepared to have a "different" holiday to what you are used to if you are they only one avec child. Arranging a place to meet on the mountain for lunch prior to everyone leaving is like hurding cats, walking about with a 10 month old in the cold, to mountain restaurants etc is not easy, wathcing the rest of the party leave for the day can be very lonely, having to leave apres to give the nipper his tea, challets full of pissed people are very noisy places etc.

We had a great holiday when we did exactly this with our 9 month old but it was different to a mates holiday with no kids or loads of families going together so it helps to be prepared. We were fortunate most of the party were up for challet piss ups rather than apres piss ups and our daughter slept through the noise!

Fortunately at least one of our group definitely can't ski due to injury so the day of person will have company (other than the monster). Agree with herding cats though, shall see how that goes! Neither of us are huge drinkers any more and the bar we go to isn't open super late so should still get some apres (going to take turns at later nights each as well). Expecting it will be different, should still be fun though.

we will be going to st anton with a 2 year old in March.

it'll be our first skiing holiday with the boy in tow. We've booked a nursery to look after him for the week, cost £289.

Mark Warner has in-house childcare. They'll ship the older kids off to ski school for you, and look after the little ones in the in-house nursery.

That is certainly a good way of getting the kids out of the way while you have a holiday 😈

jfletch - Member
Maybe not, depends on the age of the kids as there are rules about carers per child ratios that vary by age. I think for kids below 1 the its 2:1 and that stands even if the other child is older.

Its France, they are probably allowed to leave 10 kids with one carer. In my experience the french are a little slack when it comes to rules about safety etc.

GrahamS - Member
Meh.. our little one has enjoyed the holidays we've taken her on and is looking forward to this one. We go in a group. She spends the day with one parent and they go play while the other parent skis, then they join us for apres.

Couldn't agree more mine both loved it, last year we did sledging etc in the afternoon this year they are coming up the mountain. In fact my youngest woke up in the middle of the night in the summer screaming, she was beside herself. When I finally got her to tell me what was wrong she said that she just wanted to go skiing again.

n fact my youngest woke up in the middle of the night in the summer screaming, she was beside herself. When I finally got her to tell me what was wrong she said that she just wanted to go skiing again.

Yeah I have nights like that! 😆

Mmm, interesting one this. I am dying to get back on the slopes, but have taken the view that its a bit harsh to shove the kids in Nursery on holiday and at home, so at best I will grab a weekend with a mate later in the winter.

Its France, they are probably allowed to leave 10 kids with one carer. In my experience the french are a little slack when it comes to rules about safety etc.

Quite the opposite, the French love a good regulation, and love nothing more than enforcing the rules on foreigners. Obviously they never follow the rules themselves but that isn’t the point.

I quite like their attitude to this actually!

We went with esprit with 3 year old and 1 year old last year. Accommodation and food a bit below par, childcare excellent (which is the way round we would prefer it!) and the whole thing was very relaxing. you have to pay for the under 3s to be in full time childcare or nothing though, but we just bit the bullet, did that and then accepted that we would take them out and do stuff with them and that we had paid for childcare that we weren't using.

It was, most definitely, a way to ship them out and get a holiday if you wanted it to be. And I don't feel guilty about it - we did take our eldest skiing when he was just 1 and did it ourselves. This time we paid a nanny for a day, used friends to go out for a bit and otherwise swapped over. It was NOT relaxing and I hated it (I was early pregnant and knackered though so may be biased) The ship it out to childcare holiday with Esprit actually felt like a holiday and the chalet hotel had kids everywhere and so you weren't so worried about them causing chaos, etc (as it was kind of chaos), there were toys around for them, etc. I would recommend it when they are little as it makes it easy. (Or the alternative of not bringing them and leaving with grandparent, maybe for a long weekend, bringing a grandparent, or just going on your own)

Oh and yeah my eldest is constantly whinging that "We don't get to go skiing very often, when can I go skiing"? Makes him sound a right spoilt brat!

I didn't say it was unfair, I said I was going to say it was unfair...
(I work in a consultancy so used to get out clauses;))

I do think it can be a little unfair to all at times though, in terms of a compromise for all. Maybe I didn't mean 'unfair', but a compromise.

That said we had 3 days at les saisies form the 25th Dec, with our children (mini and micro) and our extended french family including one other micro.

micro= less than 3. mini= nearly 5, so only micro didn't ski. She won't even sledge so 'snow time' was a bit limited for her.

Most of our skiing time is day trips from home, and previous experience has taught us that the best option is for either me or mrs mugsy goes and the other plays with the children at home, evn of for a 1/2 day rather than all going and both trying to ski 1/2 a day each. So we're lucky, we don't really do the standard 'ski holiday' because we don't need to.

As for french childcare, well in our experience (as in living there) french childcare is so much more friendly and accessible and laid back than in the litigation mad UK: our friends nursery in UK as standard makes them all wear helmets for playing indoors........ Our experience is that the french certainly do not skimp on safety, but are realist and appreciate that the odd bump or graze will happen and we agree with that. However it could be a diff kettle of fish in a resort creche with all nationalities and probably overworked carers.

Bring the grandparents. Works very well for us 8) We even trained them to pick the youngest up from ski school last year.

our friends nursery in UK as standard makes them all wear helmets for playing indoors

You either have a weird sense of humour and its gone over my head or your UK friends are winding you up!

I do have a weird sense of humour...but I swear it's true, the parents can opt out, but it's the nursery's default stance. It's a worthy thread topic but OT here.

it'll be our first skiing holiday with the boy in tow. We've booked a nursery to look after him for the week, cost £289.

So if he is going to be a nursery all week...why are you taking him!? Not much of a holiday for your child .

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So if he is going to be a nursery all week...why are you taking him!? Not much of a holiday for your child .

Because he cant reach the door handles if we left him at home on his own while we went skiing, so wouldnt be able to get out of hisroom.

Everydays a holiday for a 2 year old, home,away in nursery, doesnt matter

Took our oldest skiing when he was almost 1. That's the last skiing holiday we had as a family (I've been on my own or with other friends a few times since). However that was XC skiing - we spent most of the time skiing as a family, here's a picture of me and mini-aracer:

[IMG] [/IMG]

Been twice when sproglet was 6 and 18 mths, not going this year as 2nd is due early may and holiday is end feb.

We always go as a group of friends and it worked well 2nd time round. 1st time we didn't get involved enough in selection of hotel and resort and we ended up in a really quiet bit of La Plagne with very little to do during the day including very few places to eat. Didn't help he was teething but still was a good break and my wife loved the company having been on maternity for a while.

2nd time round we stayed centrally in Meribel in a family friendly hotel which worked really well.

Yes you only get 3 days ( or 3.5 if you have a great wife) but that is better than none. Usually Debs had company as 1 of the other girls would take a day off. Not surprisingly all the boys were out the door waving us goodbye but that was fine. Went swimming (after buying regulation budgie smugglers for municipal pool), used the hotel sledges, took the bus to the heliport and generally messed about.

We stayed in hotel most nights but could have used babysitters. Sproglet spends enough time in nursery we didn't want to put him in for that time. He loved all the adult attention in the evening 2 nd time round.

Looked at Esprit and VIP ski but too expensive for the group as we were the only parents.

Do what suits you. It won't be the same as going before kids but I am really looking forward to taking him and mini sproglet when they are old enough. Even prepared to go back to skis to make it easier to pick them up.

In essence it is doable but won't be the same, you may not enjoy it due to the compromises involved and feel it is a bloody expensive waste of holiday but we didn't

Mine skied at about 2.5yrs. Used green run in Alp D'Huez. Worked really well. He enjoyed. They used to do a time limited pass, so I would go and get some skiing in and then go back.
Wife (mostly) taught/played with him. snowblades are really useful in that situation.