Ski holiday with non-skiing DH and two under-fives

[dogindisguise]

I am an on-off skier (I last went in 2010) but am missing it and would really love to go skiing again. However, I would appreciate some advice on the logistics. I find the thought of a skiing holiday with young children very daunting, and just want to be teleported to the resort with a fixer!

Next winter our children will be four and two. Am I right in thinking you can start ski school at four? And at age four, are lessons mornings-only? In which case, DS could go to ski school, DH could look after DD and I could perhaps have skiing lessons or, if my friend is willing to come with me, ski with her. Then we could do stuff together in the afternoons. I am a sort of intermediate skier but a bit rusty (I did level 2A in ESF ski lessons last time). However, I'm a bit worried that four is quite young to be left in a group in such a strange environment - on one hand DS might love it but on the other I can just see him having a meltdown about not wanting to put all the gear on.

Alternatively, we could wait until both DCs are old enough to do lessons and then start them together. Would ski schools take children of different ages (say six and four or seven and five)?

I'm not that keen on the idea of a creche as I think it would be like settling in at nursery all over again, and we don't have any family willing to come along with us to help with childcare. DH has been on one skiing holiday, and whilst he enjoyed it he said it would take him about six weeks to get to grips with it, so he probably wouldn't ski. I've been looking at family resorts and liked the look of the swimming pool at Morzine.

I also dread the thought of getting there! I couldn't face driving so it would be either a sleeper train or a flight.

[TamerB]

If your DH doesn't want to ski it makes it much easier. I found it wasn't much fun with children until they are about 8yrs and can carry their skis, put them on, cope with lifts etc. it doesn't mean that you can't go but they need a lot of looking after and help.
I would go to somewhere like Morzine, with pool and family things to do, and then you can do some skiing and see how they get on.

[trixymalixy]

DD is 4 and she skied this year. At that age they are usually just in a fenced off snow garden with a magic carpet and they spend the whole time tramping round in skis, up the magic carpet and down the "blue line" which stops their skis from crossing. DD loved it.

[MistyB]

Go away for a long weekend with your friend. Get a two hour lesson when you land and then ski every minute that is left!

[hillyhilly]

I took litties when they were 5&3 and again the following year but the last two years as my husband doesn't ski, I've taken a long weekend Morzine and left all three of them at home together. For the time being this is the best solution for us. This year I went early Friday, skied Friday afternoon, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday and came home late Tuesday evening.
I got four and half days solid skiing and dh got time with the kids.

When I did take them I went with other families and we had nannies for the 3 yr olds and afternoons with the five year old but I have to say that taking kids involves an huge amount of lugging their stuff and logistics of getting them to and from lessons and lunch which means that your own skiing is severely limited.

[cathpip]

My dh and I are both skiers, but I have not been since falling pregnant with dc1 five years ago. Our plan is that when the dc hit 5 they can learn (we live near escape in Leeds) and when they are 6 dh will take them for a few days. Dc2 is three and I'm pregnant with dc3. We decided that a family ski trip is far to expensive when we would have to pay for nursery and the dc would not be able to do a great amount of skiing. I used to nanny for a family who skied regularly and although the children did go to ski school at 4 years old they got tired and cold very easily, also the boots and ski's are very heavy.

[dogindisguise]

Thanks for the replies so far - I agree in some ways it is much easier if DH doesn't want to ski. It is also going to cost us a fortune, particularly when we're restricted to term-time.

I have the option of going on a group trip next winter, but I don't know if I could leave the children for eight days - a long weekend might be something to consider.

[TamerB]

The best solution for me was to go with a group and leave DH at home with the DCs- he doesn't ski.

[TamerB]

Could you go with the group but come back a bit earlier?

[rookiemater]

Personally if I were you I'd try to arrange a short trip with friends instead. You can go outside of term time, so much cheaper and if you can fly locally to Geneva there are quite a few ski resorts within 1-2 hrs transfer so it's well worth going for a long weekend.

[dogindisguise]

Sorry, I meant that after 2015 we'll be restricted to school hols.

I doubt if I could leave the group trip early, but could look into a long weekend with a friend or my sister. It just seems so far to go for less than a week.

[TamerB]

Easier than going with small children. It is such hard work and they don't get a lot out of it.

[rookiemater]

Dogin - I have done it a couple of times with friends and it really isn't too much for a long weekend - travelling is so relaxing without a small child ( or children). You get to read books, enjoy a drink on the plane, siggghhh, all so good.

We book a private car transfer - pricey but saves the stress of hiring a car, or the long time if you are doing shared coach transfer.

We have been Friday to Tuesday, which gives you 3 days clear skiing, we were thinking of doing Friday to Monday next time and skiing on the Friday afternoon.