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Depends where you live I guess.
We take everything, skis & boots for all of us, no hire costs, cheap used kit for the kids of eBay/Snowheads, a few prepared meals, shop in the valley on the way up, if you self catered and bought everything in resort or ate out every night that would be expensive. We book with Peakretreats which comes with flexi plus Euro tunnel. We also added an extra day on this week which is great. It works for us.
We’ve driven to Morzine in the summer a few times so the drive isn’t a massive turn-off and paying for the tolls the following month through a TAG does help with costs.
Hadn’t really thought about self-catering as it’s not what I’ve ever done on a ski holiday but it’s food for thought.
I’m completely out of the loop about which resorts are good. We’d only need 1 medium size location as the kids are beginners and we haven’t been for so long. A bit of variety is nice but we probably wouldn’t need access to huge areas.
I guess a small apartment in an 80s concrete block is the cheapest option.
100% self drive. It costs a little more in time, but gives you other options. We drive out from Scotland, so likelihood is your drive will be shorter.
We have to make it back to home in 36 hours next sat/sun to be back at work on Monday...
First up, think when you want to go. It is cheaper outwith school holidays, but this might not be an issue. It is for is as we are both teachers.
Before we had kids we would drive out and visit a different resort every day, which means we have skied at most resorts across the French Alps.
My advice would be to pick a smaller resort if using Ski School. They will start and finish at a set place, usually for a morning (pick this if you have a choice) or an afternoon. This means that you simply cannot cover the ground of a Mega Resort, and will not get value from the lift pass. A Paradiski liftpass for a week costs 345 euro!
Next week we are in Val Cenis in the Haute Maurienne. We bought our skipasses for this year last April the day after the season ended, netting a 60% discount. 89 euro for an Adult and 74 euro for a Child. You still get 125km of ski runs, and up to 2800m of altitude. As an added bonus you get a day at 4 other resorts in the same valley. Even if you ski school in the morning, you can jump in the car (self drive bonus!) and scoot 30mins to La Norma, Bonneval sur Arc, Valfrejus or Aussois.
Aussois is a wee nugget of a resort. It only has 4 chairlifts, and is south facing, but we picked it from all the places we had skied for our first family ski trips when my boys were 7 and 4. Cheap, slopeside accommodation, where we could open the door and get to ski school easily.
DO NOT choose a resort where you HAVE to get a bus from where you stay to the skiing. This is a joy-killer.
My target for a week skiing, door to door, self drive, with lessons for the kids, for a family of 4 used ro be £2000. We don't need to hire gear though.
I think you could easily beat that by booking last-minute with Sunweb. They have a deal currently for 4 people, self catering in St Francois de Longchamp for £99 per person and that includes the liftpass! Insane.
Last year we got a week for the 4 of us for £536 in Valfrejus, self catering, including the liftpasses!
Lessons will likely be in the region of £150 per person for 6 mornings.
Self cater to keep down costs. Either scooter back to your apartment for a baguette based lunch, or take a sarnie with you. Eating out will gobble your budget...
We have used Sunweb a few times, and tend to book about 6 weeks before we travel, as I reckon this is the sweet spot for lowest price/ availability.
Thanks wrestler of trouts, you have given us much to think about (and hope!).
I may have more questions when I’ve processed this bottle of wine I’ve just drunk 😂
I reckon on around £180 per person per ski day, all in (airport parking, eating out, eating in, kit hire, transfers, the works) based on three years analysis of Austria at Feb half term.
If you are interested in a 2bedroom apartment sleeping 6, ski in/out in a very family friendly resort (Morillon/Samoens) then PM me.
Happy to apply a STW discount and if you snowboard can sort you/kids out with some to save on rentals.
Wow, that’s very kind! It’s early days but we might get in touch. Thank you.
Looks as though there's more snow on the way. Enjoy.
Funny season! Plenty for those out there this week, in La Plagne and nearby for sure.
Left at 6 this morning Back home now. Never had a smoother journey. No traffic, Straight through border without any delay, only 3 cars in front of us! Train left as soon as we got on. Looking at next year now!🤣
Just booked a last gasp long weekend in Val D’Isere going out on 21 April. Conditions look like holding out well so should have few days spring skiing. Never been to Val though did Tignes a long time back and biked there a few times in the summer. Can’t wait as thought I’d done my time on snow this season in January.
Nice. Take good sunscreen!👍🤣
First day hasn’t disappointed. Conditions this morning on Solaise were just perfect, no one there, snow just soft enough to take an edge and the sun came out.
This afternoon was hard work as didn’t really stop from 9am to 2pm but headed over to Tignes but the pistes were soft and choppy and the snow was too warm and grabby so called it a day at about 4pm. Still, almost May so I’ll take it.
I was in that spot last Easter for the first time in many years. It’s shocking how much less glacier there is now compared to then. ☹️
I was in Chamonix last year for the 1st time since 1998 and the demise of the glacier since then was very sad to see
Yes, much longer walk from the bottom to the train station than it was the first time I was there. They gave up on the ice caves, not sure when that was…
No mountains for me this season but had one of those wonderful not concentrating heel edge crashes on the board at the snowdome today.
Damn my neck aches
Last runs of the season in the bag. Collected about 16km of vert over three days which for a snowboarder on skis I’m happy with.
Conditions today were like mid-winter at times, very cold wind chill and the odd blizzard blowing through. But when the sun came out you could tell it was almost May.
I need to replace my old Black Diamond gloves
Has anyone seen any good deals on EU size 10 gloves, leather for durability? I'm not fussed about waterproof membrane as I'll proof them
https://www.snowshepherd.co.uk/store/Snowshepherd-Gauntlet-Gloves-Tan-and-Black-p524258314
SNOW25 gets you 25% off the headline price too
@nbt - thanks but their size XL is size 10-12. That's very roomy for my hands.
sizing is generous, you should be ok with a large. I should have gone for a medium to be honest
I keep looking at the Hestra Lobsters, as I love the warmth of the mitts, but I just wish there was a wee bit more articulation. Not cheap though.
I have some of the lower spec Hestra Gauntlet 3-finger for really cold weather - they're good but the build quality is nowhere near as good as their posher gloves in the Alpine Pro range e.g. Army Heli Ski
I use a pair of these for skiing and boarding and they’ve lasted really well. Warm enough for most of the season (and that’s from someone with terrible circulation), just a thin liner underneath if it’s really cold.
https://bananafingers.co.uk/black-diamond-dirt-bag-glove
In fact bought a spare pair for when the current pair give up they’re that good.