Dobby - reading some of what you have said in previous posts, I think you'd find Niederau both too limiting for you and your wife as its a ridiculously small ski area, and then nightlife not to your taste either.
I think you should therefore consider Les Arcs with a huge range for all abilities, Serre Chevalier with a wide and varied ski area with some great greens for beginners mixed in amongst the mountain, Alpe d'Huez with again a wide range and mix of slopes plus some cracking ski in ski out chalets, or Sauze d'Oulx in Italy, with some lovely cruises on reds for you 2, bars and life off the piste, and good learners slopes for the little ones.
I'd really think Niederau is only good for either a short break of a couple of days max, for total beginners who want to learn to ski from scratch, or for a base to explore a wider area if you have your own transport.
I've been to Sauze, Alpe d'Huez and Serre Che so I can recommend them from experience. I have also been to all 3 resorts with beginners, intermediates and advanced skiers, and they all had something to satisfy everyone. Sauze is quieter on the slopes, but the downside is the snow record. But mid Jan ought to be fine.
ADH has tons of snow usually, its high and extensive, and sunny too, and Serre Che also offers high altitude skiing but compared to many French resorts has a more unique and rustic charm to it, with Villeneuve and Monetier in particular as 2 of the bases I would recommend.
I have not been to Les Arcs, but knowing what it has to offer, I think it would also be perfect. Friends of mine went there as total novices and loved the place, but said I would love it too as there was so much to go at. I am yet to be convinced personally that it is the right place for me to however!
Let me know if this helps at all.
Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner
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I totally agree... skiing with young children is always a compromise & their needs are very different from adult beginner needs. Adults in Les Gets are only allowed to ski in the Grand Cry area if accompanied by a child, which is great for building confidence in nervous little ones.
A huge varied ski area with lively apres ski certainly wouldn't be my main priorities if my needs were the same as Dobby's. Find somewhere where the children will be happy & the parents should be happy too )
The only thing I would mention regarding La Thuile is the runs back to resort can be a tad difficult for beginners, you have a couple of options a very steep black/red and I mean steep, or a snow covered what is a mountain road which is I think is blue but very narrow and can get congested, the other option a run back to the village via petit st bernard which is very flat and requires an awful lot of poling.
But at the top there is some loverly beginner and intermediate skiing to be had and the option to return on the gondola.
I know about the home runs at La Thuile - the road ends up being a half pipe and the black was rather steep, icy and full of lunatic French teenagers (one of whom forgot to turn right at the bottom and ended up being caught in the netting)...
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Started by Dobby in Beginning Skiing 10-Nov-2010 - 20 Replies
Tony_H
reply to 'Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner' posted Nov-2010
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Dorset Boy
reply to 'Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner' posted Nov-2010
I'd consider Flaine too - the bowl is great for the kids, and the GM area easy to get round for yourselves. We're back there on 22/01 for our third trip with our 6 year old.
One hour from GVA, excellent snow record (if catches the precipitation started by Mt Blanc.
Plenty of accom slopeside to head back to for lunch if you want to save the pennies.
One hour from GVA, excellent snow record (if catches the precipitation started by Mt Blanc.
Plenty of accom slopeside to head back to for lunch if you want to save the pennies.
Dave Mac
reply to 'Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner' posted Nov-2010
Given that the OP has young children, it is advantageous to be in a small resort. You are never more than 15 minutes away from meeting up with the young ones, either at the end of class, or should the instructor call you in.
The advantage of being in a 200km resort with two young ones escapes me. My own boys learned the basics in Niederau, they are now both terrific skiers, certainly a lot better than one or two people I have skied with.
As for better skiers, if the place is good enough for International teams to work there, it is good enough for many of the rest of us, although perhaps not for some elite skiers.....
The advantage of being in a 200km resort with two young ones escapes me. My own boys learned the basics in Niederau, they are now both terrific skiers, certainly a lot better than one or two people I have skied with.
As for better skiers, if the place is good enough for International teams to work there, it is good enough for many of the rest of us, although perhaps not for some elite skiers.....
Edited 1 time. Last update at 11-Nov-2010
Salski
reply to 'Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner' posted Nov-2010
Dave Mac wrote:Given that the OP has young children, it is advantageous to be in a small resort. You are never more than 15 minutes away from meeting up with the young ones, either at the end of class, or should the instructor call you in.
I totally agree... skiing with young children is always a compromise & their needs are very different from adult beginner needs. Adults in Les Gets are only allowed to ski in the Grand Cry area if accompanied by a child, which is great for building confidence in nervous little ones.
A huge varied ski area with lively apres ski certainly wouldn't be my main priorities if my needs were the same as Dobby's. Find somewhere where the children will be happy & the parents should be happy too )
The plan is.... there's no plan!
Kateshaw
reply to 'Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner' posted Nov-2010
+1 for Les Gets - we're off back there in February
Dobby
reply to 'Resort mid-Jan for mixed ability family, one of whom is beginner' posted Nov-2010
The only thing I would mention regarding La Thuile is the runs back to resort can be a tad difficult for beginners, you have a couple of options a very steep black/red and I mean steep, or a snow covered what is a mountain road which is I think is blue but very narrow and can get congested, the other option a run back to the village via petit st bernard which is very flat and requires an awful lot of poling.
But at the top there is some loverly beginner and intermediate skiing to be had and the option to return on the gondola.
I know about the home runs at La Thuile - the road ends up being a half pipe and the black was rather steep, icy and full of lunatic French teenagers (one of whom forgot to turn right at the bottom and ended up being caught in the netting)...