The decision to take young children on their first skiing holiday is not one to be taken lightly. Not least when both parents are keen skiers and want to make the most of it.
Top of the list of concerns is who will look after the children. Other questions include what to do if they don’t like skiing, will they find something they like to eat, and will I have to go to bed early?
Expectations of a skiing holiday are high at the best of times; when you bring a family along you don’t want it to be any less enjoyable than your previous experiences. On our first ski holiday with children – aged two and five – we chose Crystal over a dedicated family specialist such as Esprit Ski.
The Club Hotel La Brunerie in Les Deux Alpes proved a good choice. Childcare is on site, and Crystal runs a ski school drop-off and pick-up service. Lunch and afternoon care can be included as well, which means children are entertained all day and when it’s not ski school, it’s games, videos, air hockey and other activities.
Children’s tea is served early and isn’t overly elaborate – pasta, omelettes and the like. In the evenings there is pyjama club so adults can eat in peace while kids watch films and play games.
For children too young to ski, part-time or all-day nursery is available and any guilt we felt about leaving our youngest all day was eased by the activities she took part in: model making, face painting, sledging and trips round the resort on the local bus.
The childcare team was friendly, professional and helpful when it came to things such as borrowing books for bedtime. There was enough within the hotel to keep most people occupied in the late afternoons and evenings, from the indoor swimming pool to afternoon tea, happy hours in the bar, dinners with wine and pub quizzes.
Crystal is not the only operator in the family ski sector and other specialists feel a package is the best solution.
Club Med head of UK sales Steve O’Loughlin said: “When you tell people what is included it removes all the hassle.”
Similarly, Esprit Ski head of marketing Moira Clarke advises agents to investigate what is really on offer for their customers.
“Many operators offer some sort of childcare element but with ours it is an integral part of our programme and we have a huge amount of experience and knowledge of taking care of children and families.”
Choosing the right package is down to identifying needs. Use our checklist and your clients will book ski with you for winters to come.
Family ski holiday checklist
- Find out about childcare. Is it on site? Are staff qualified? What is the staff-to-child ratio? Are staff local or employed by the tour operator?
- How close is the ski school? Does the operator have a drop-off and pick-up service?
- Is there post-ski school entertainment/care for children?
- Are the ski lessons exclusive to the tour operator or organised locally? Kids sometimes end up with others they don’t recognise and who speak a different language.
- What is included in the package – flight, hotel, transfer, meals, lift pass, ski hire, childcare?
- What can be pre-booked from home to save time on arrival?
- Is there an evening club, babysitting or baby listening service so parents don’t have to turn in at the same time as their kids?
- What about mealtimes? Is lunch for children included? Does the operator have an early tea for kids to give parents a bit of peace?
- What is the skiing ability of the family members? Does the resort match their requirements?
- What about transfers? Operators often put families in the same hotel and transfer bus. It also means kids settle in and make friends quickly.
Sample product
Esprit Ski offers seven nights’ half- board at Chalet Chez Robert in La Rosiere, France from £4,419 this February half term (from February 10 2008), based on a family of four with two children aged two to five. Price includes flights from Stansted, transfers, ski hire, lift passes, tuition and childcare.
Club Med offers seven nights’ full- board at its Avoriaz village, France from £3,168 this Easter (from March 22 2008), based on a family of four. Price includes flights from Gatwick, transfers, ski school, childcare in the afternoons and entertainment.
Crystal Ski offers seven nights’ half-board at the Crystal Club Hotel La Brunerie in Les Deux Alpes, France this February half term from £1,988, based on a family of four with two children aged two to 12. Price includes return flights from Gatwick and transfers. Full-day childcare in the nursery including lunch costs an additional £220; ski school drop-off and pick-up, kids’ club including lunch and afternoon care costs £150. Ski hire, lift passes and tuition are not included.
