school holidays

Hi everyone

I was looking for some advice about booking a ski holiday. Unfortunately I'm a teacher and can only go in school holidays - New Year, Feb Half term or Easter. Last year i went for the first time to Morzine at Easter and loved it, not too busy, not big queues and great for beginners, but a bit disappointed at no snow in the village, and rapidly melting slope! Would love to book something for next year, with lots of snow, good for beginners, not crowded (don't like the idea of half hour wait for each lift!)oh and something that won't cost me thousands!
Does such a place exist????
No children, just me and my other half.
Any ideas or help would be appreciated

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I would say go high at Easter. February half-term is the most crowded week (or two) of the season and best avoided if you can. Early in the Easter holiday is usually good for snow and generally not too crowded, and you have the added bonus - usually - of good, sunny weather.

Les Deux Alpes? The main beginner's slopes are high on the mountain, so the snow is always good, and you can return to the resort in the gondola.

It's big enough to have a wide range of accommodation, and is generally better value than the other French mega resorts .

I feel your pain-I too am a teacher and have to subject my poor other half to the over priced school holidays!
If you can I would consider going at christmas time since it is actually not much more expensive.
I went to La Plagne last easter-last week and got lucky with the snow but still wasnt high enough-maybe would go to les arcs instead.
Have you thought about Obergurgl in Austria? never been but heard its good and snow-sure.
2 years ago I got a late deal to Morzine because I knew the snow was good but apart from that Id go high as admin said-Tignes would be my soundest advice-been there at easter and its like jan skiing on the glacier!

I hate the overinflated prices at half terms, so work hard at beating the holiday companies at their own game!
Next half term we are off the the Dolomites, via BA and Bologna (same travel time as from Milan, but not a known gateway so Sat flights are still £130ish), car hire for a week at £200 (travelsupermarket - a Golf rather than squeezing into the tiniest Fiat!), and a garni in Ortesei (somewhere like this one - although we are staying elsewhere in the village now - http://www.garnirives.it/eng.htm who quoted me €38 pp per night B&B with free entry to local sweimming pool). Need to get dinner in local restaurants, but allow €25 pd and for a family of four thats the half term week for about £550 p.h. Admittedly out of half term thats still expensive, but its a lot better than the silly brochure prices!

You could always look for another career, you might not be able to have the same amount of holiday but your be able to ski outside of the busy times, leave it with you, just a thought :D

Thanks everyone for your advice. Ian, changing careers is something i have considered!! But figured 12 set weeks of holiday is better than 5 you can choose!
I like the idea of beating them at their own game to find something cheaper at half term, but as a scaredy cat beginner, think a busy slope will put me off for life!
Looks like Easter, Les Deux Alpes has been recommended by a few people, so will have a look at that.
Til then will have to do with practising at home as they have just opened a brand new sonw centre in hemel, walking distance from our house!
Thanks again
Rachel :-)

Hi Serendipity

We go Feb half Term week because we have kids.
We have booked DIY for the last 5 years as it works out cheaper then the TO's.
If you go to the smaller villages which are linked to the major well known resorts it works out alot cheaper and less busy.
We avoid ski school start times and finish times and never had to wait for a lift.

Les deux alpes as a beginner would work well. There's loads of skiing in the village with greens running right up to the glacier as well.