1 beginner (aged 8), 1 snowplough queen and 2 rusty old intermediate parents - Jan12

Andorra has good English speaking ski schools. Soldeu/El tartar would be a good option. The later is quieter at night but if you've got young children then you probably won't want much more than a hotel bar at night.

LGB a nice family resort

Or two more: Valmorel (the most family-orientated resort I've been to) or La Thuile in Italy.

LOTA wrote:Or two more: Valmorel (the most family-orientated resort I've been to) or La Thuile in Italy.

Yep agree with that one .... easy slopes in Valmorel harder in La Thuile but both family friendly.

thanks, all. Some great suggestions. Alpe D'Huez currently up there, I think.

More information which may help:

not fussed about being with lots of Brits (nice to have a few around).
don't mind if a resort is soulless as long as the skiing is good and the kids are happy
we live in Cardiff so bristol and birmingham are favourite departures (gatwick is not....)
Mrs and I would like lots of long blues and some reds, but not so fussed. She skis with lots of grace and finesse - never falls over. I ski with the strength of a bull and with the same sense of balance. But I bounce back (most of the time)
Little one is a bit of a wuss, bless her, so nice, gentle ski school would be nice (so not ESF - or that may just have been bad luck last time...she was only 5)
Mrs and I definitely want a couple of lessons from decent instructor. I think that there may be some decent technique hidden in amongst my bad habits, but I have yet to find it.
Reasonable schoolboy French but no German.
Transfer should be sub three hours
Not fussed about whether we go hotel/chalet/SC.

went to L2A three years ago. I quite liked it, but a lot of the nice blues are right at the top of the hill (mind you, the blue at the top is a lovely way to stretch the legs first thing in the morning). There's also a horrible little green path with a v steep drop to one side which goes to one of the gondolas - Mrs. Dobby didn't like - images of small children tumbling down the drop. Also, full of French teenage nutters who had a deathwish.

Cheers

Dobby

I would highly recommend Alpe D'Huez. To my mind it has some the best and most extensive, easy skiing of any resort I have been to (as well as plenty of more demanding skiing for the parents). It also has a lovely big public outdoor heated swimming pool and a skating rink - both great attractions for the kids.

For top end (but somewhat more expensive) lessons, you could try: http://www.masterclass.f9.co.uk/

Friends had a lesson with Stuart a few years ago and found him great.

Les Gets has had quite a few recommendations. We may be having to leave the hols till late Jan on account of school entrance exams. Send her to the local comp, that's what I say (but don't tell the Mrs) Bah!

hotel Rila in Borovets,Bulgaria offers doorstep skiing and reasonable prices and good selection of runs,I have been several times before and have never been disappointed