Help needed we are beginners :-)

[Mrsmorrison13]

Hi everyone

Myself, DH and two DSS would like to go on our first ski holiday next Easter 2015.

Eldest will be 9 when we go and is currently taking snowboarding lessons at our local snow factor centre along with DH. Youngest will be skiing with me , we are also taking lessons.

We will be going from 4th April for a week where do you guys recommend that will still be ok for snow then ?

[Mrsmorrison13]

Youngest will be 5

[Paddlinglikehell]

You sound very organised. My advice is to keep skiing throughout the summer, including the little ones, it gives them a huge advantage.

Because it is so late - like this year, you will need to pick a resort that is high up. I am presuming you mean Europe?

Places in the Alps like Courcheval, Tignes and Sainte Foy are good, check which way the slopes are facing, as that will make a difference to the snow, some in Sainte Foy are North and there is a glacier near Tignes, so doesn't matter if the snow is rubbish, just go there, it isn't the prettiest of place though.

Val Thorens is also a good resort for late snow.

Austria may be cheaper and we prefer the ski schools, but can be poor snow. Obergurgul and Zell am Zee are good, again there is a glacier nearby if all else fails.

That said, all the resorts can make snow, the only problem being by lunchtime it is often slushy and hard to ski on, although if you haven't been before, you may be ready for a rest then anyway. Probably a good idea to pick somewhere with a swimming pool, or little town, so there is something else to do.

Talk to everyone about what they prefer, there are so many options, DIY, hotel, chalets, sites like Snowheads are useful for reviews and to post questions.

[Mrsmorrison13]

Hi thank you for your reply and that info it's great, the glacier sounds scary ! Lol we are lucky to live 10 mins from an indoor ski centre which had real snow not dry x

[LottieTee]

You need to go to a high resort - as Paddling mentioned, Tignes is a good option because of the glacier. I like to ski around that time of year and have had good weeks in Val D'Isere. March and early April are good for kids to learn as it's often bright and sunny.

[stringbean]

We went to Tignes in the first week of April last year. Fabulous snow and the resort was actually very quiet. It's not ordinarily a place I'd recommend for beginners, as even the beginners' slopes are fairly steep (the slopes in Le Lac are better for beginners than the slopes in Val Claret in this respect, so may be a better option re: accommodation) but sounds as though you'll be ok given the lessons you're having. And, to be honest, if that's your first experience, you won't know any different!

Don't be alarmed at the prospect of the glacier - the slopes are all clearly marked and wide, although I recall that the only runs up there are reds and blacks (I think they save the blue runs for summer skiing). There is an abundance of blue runs below the glacier though; for much of last year we had them pretty much to ourselves. You also have the option of skiing over to the Val d'Isere side, provided you have a full access lift-pass.

The downside is that the lift-pass is expensive and, as beginners, you won't make full use of it. Smaller, less well-known resorts are probably more suitable for you as beginners and have correspondingly cheaper liftpasses, but then you won't get the guaranteed snow. If you're prepared to wait until last minute to book, you could check out snow conditions and probably choose somewhere lower and cheaper but, if you're booking this year, you'll really have to go for somewhere that's high to be sure of the snow that late.

[toomuchcoffeetoomuchwine]

Cervinia / Zermatt / Val Thorens are all high.