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Which Resort: Families
The world offers an almost endless choice of places to ski, but how do you pick the right holiday from the 75 skiing countries and their 6,000 resorts? Felice Hardy, co-author of The Great Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2006, offers a guiding hand. You'll find flight and hotel deals in the Fact Box. Also in Resort Finder: Intro | Advanced | Intermediate | Beginners | Non-skiers |
Skiing as a family is one of the most satisfying experiences, and almost nothing beats the sensation of seeing your children make their first turns down the mountain. However, success is dependent upon careful planning.
First, you need to choose a resort and suitable accommodation.
Austria
Austria is the traditional family choice, with its attractive villages, gentle pistes and family-run hotels.
Italy
In Italy, three generations of the same family tend to holiday together with the consequence that crèche facilities in most resorts are poor to non-existent. Selva (Innsbruck/Verona airports) and Courmayeur (Geneva/Turin) are the notable exceptions. Granvara Sport & Wellness hotel is in a quiet position on the edge of the piste at Selva. The owner runs the 2000 ski school.
North America
North America is a great place to take kids, with outstanding daycare and friendly teaching. Whistler (near Vancouver) is on the cutting edge of all that is new in skiing and snowboarding, and is just as cool for kids. Vail and neighbouring Beaver Creek (both Denver) have good ski schools and are very family-friendly. Inn at Beaver Creek is conveniently slope-side for the skiing.
Ski deals in Whistler
Ski deals in Vail |
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Credit:OT la Plagne/B.Chauveau
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Switzerland
Switzerland has higher prices, but staff efficiency may outweigh the extra costs. Villars and Saas Fee (both Geneva) offer some friendly skiing, along with Wengen (Zurich) – although at the latter ski classes are in the mornings only. In Saas Fee, teenagers will love Unique Hotel Dom with its state-of-the-art Sony sound system in every room. Most convenient hotel in Wengen is the Sunstar, containing family duplexes and a swimming pool. Hotel Ecureuil in Villars is child-friendly.
Norway
Norway is fast becoming the most child-oriented of all European ski nations. The ski schools are well organised, with fluent English-speaking instructors. The resorts have friendly kindergartens for children of three months and above. Geilo (near Oslo) is a particularly good choice, with Park Inn Highland Hotel recommended for families.
See also
Intro | Advanced | Intermediate | Beginners | Non-skiers
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France
France offers some of the best equipped crèches in the Alps, with modern nurseries and fenced-off outdoor play areas. The top family resorts include Les Arcs, Courchevel, and La Tania (all Geneva, Lyon, Chambery). However, it is worth remembering that the Gallic approach to childcare is by no means as sympathetic as ours. Attitude can offset a kindergarten’s good points and it is not unusual to see weary parents guiltily trying to deposit their tearful and unwilling offspring at the start of the skiing day.
Ski deals in Courchevel
Credit: OT Les Saises / P. Jacques
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