Where to go as total Beginners?

I would reccomend Maria Alm

It is beautiful the Instructors are English speaking and good fun. Everything is central and it is very cheap.

There is plenty to do there and I would say that it is very much geared up for beginners

http://www.hochkoenig.at/cms.php/4041/1/0

Have a look at this site.

Also if you want somewhere cheap with exceptional service send me a private message and I'll give you details

cheers

max

Hi Hedges 59. As someone who was in a very similar situation to you a few years ago let me give you my two penneth if I may. I can add that I have no allegience to any country or resort so can give you a neutral opinion. First may i say as a parent that the most important thing is your little girl. If she is not happy - you won't be - simple as that quite honestly especially when you are also beginners. If you were experienced and could take turns to ski and look after the little one if she didn't take to it that would be OK but when all three are beginners it is a different ball game. Our first trip was a bit of a nightmare mostly due to our own naivety so I hope you find this useful. My first bit of advice is to go to France. The main reason for this is that the lessons are only half a day. Trust me this will be enough for your ten year old at this early stage. We first skied in Obergurgl a few years back now and found that due to the fact that the Austrian Lessons are am and pm. It was a nightmare getting back to our little one for lunch when we were on a different part of the mountain. (Unless you book lunch time supervision of course but they get a bit lonely all day when it's their first time) We got back late for lunch one day and found our little girl in tears as we were the last to pick her up. When we told the Instructor we had to be back to get her, he was very unsympathetic. I'd also add that once they have had lunch, they get a bit tired and just want to build snow men or at least ski with you. In France you can all have your morning lesson and then choose to take some easy runs together in the afternoon to practice or go off and have some fun. This doesn't work in Austria because if you take the afternoon off you fall behind your group and they don't like it. Trust me if your little girl doesn't enjoy the first time it will put her off for la long time. You honestly mustn't force them to ski - it's important they have some fun in the snow aswell and the French set up allows you to do this. Secondly I can't state enough the importance of going to one of the big french purpose builts. When it's first time for all of you - you need it to be as easy as possible to allow you to focus on skiing and learning. A 10 minute walk to the nearest lift may not sound much, but with boots on, skis on your shoulder and a ten year old in tow - this aint easy trust me. One of the guys above mentioned Flaine - I totally agree, this is a massively under rated resort in my honest opinion. We took our second holiday there and completely transformed our little girls first ski trip nightmare to a wonderful ski holiday. yes it's ugly and yes it's purpose built but the snow is fabulous and the beginners areas are wonderful, you will all be skiing from the top of the mountain after 3 - 4 days. We are off to La Plagne next week for the same reasons - snow and convenience. If you ask me, when you have young children that is all that matters. Austira is beautiful and I do not doubt the quality of skiing, the people there or the scenery but ther are few resorts that can match france's snow and convenience for Families. The French still have a massive majority share in family ski holidays. This is not just luck, this is for a reason and you can't beat it in my opinion. So my reccommendations in order- Flaine, La Plagne, Les Deux Alpes, Alpe Duez, Val Thorens, Tignes, La Rosier. Start with them and you won't go far wrong and make the mistakes that we made.

Just come back from Les Gets in France - there are some fantastic easy greens and blues along with a further variety for the more experienced skier - We went with Esprit holidays who do childcare as well they use ESF for their lessons -and the benefit of using esprit rather than esf directly is that all the kids in their class will be english the instructors are chosen for their english speaking and to be honest the class sizes are very small - my little girl had 3 others in her class - some classes had only 2 kids in the class - excellent. The chalet - La Chaumiere was lovely albit a bit of a trek from the slopes (610-15 mins) but the resort is lovely their is lots to do apres ski - ice skating and shopping and lovely restaurants and not too expensive as well. We ski'd last yr in Scheffau Austria the instructor was great and had us from total beginners to blue slopes within the week but not much esle their for entertainment. We are probably going to La Rosiere nxt yr as well if that helps. One reccomendation is if you can have a few dry ski lessons before you go - they do help even though skiing on snow is different - (actually easier)

Thanks for all the advice. Thought I would just let you know that we decided on Andorra in the end with the recommendation of some work colleagues. We had a great time, and although I have just about mastered the turns etc, and my husband the snowplough - my daughter excelled at skiing. Anyway we are now hooked,and I will take on all your ideas for next years trip

Cheers everyone

Another family hooked! :mrgreen: