Anyone booked with esprit at kaprun in the sonnenalp chalet week beginning 8 March?

[psychologist]

Just wondered if any mumsnet families would be staying in this chalet the same week as us? We're taking our 4 year old son for the first time and have never gone with esprit before. If you are, don't worry about my nickname, on holiday I am definately off duty!

[braveandcrazy]

No - but we've just booked into Chalet Mara the same week with Esprit too - today! In fact I thought my DH had posted your message (and got the chalet wrong). We have 4 yr dd. Never done family skiing and never skied in Austria before but v. excited!

[pralinegirl]

Guess they'll meet in snow club and spritelets then if you are doing that with her. Will you be having lessons too or are you very good? I got some good stuff in TKMax for DS. Are you on the same horrible early flight from gatwick that we are? So early I insisted we stay at the hotel overnight, coming from norwich. I hope I remember how to ski! I hope the food is good - have never stayed in a chalet before, always hotels. Austria is very friendly and the resort looks so pretty.The snow there now is great so lets hope it stays. I just need to get fit first though.

[braveandcrazy]

Pralinegirl are you the same person as psychologist?
Anyway to answer your questions yes my dd is booked in to spritelets in the afternoons and yes we are on the early Gatwick flight! I'm not too serious about skiing really so won't be having lessons just looking forward to the fresh air and scenery - and can't wait to see dd on skis! I'm trying to take everything written on mn about Esprit with a pinch of salt but will be very upset if I don't get cakes at tea time! Same for me about getting fit - I swim reasonable regularly but I think I may have to take up the exercise bikes and stuff to be up for skiing! Do you think it will be easy to spot other mumsnetters on hols?!

[pralinegirl]

Yes, same person but I ditched the nickname, it might seem intimidating!And I'm not a child psychologist, which some people might wonder and be put off. Just an average mum!

Totally agree about the importance of cakes. I do hope theres enough food - my DH when in France skiing one year had to keep buying baby camembert and eating before dinner! I've read lots of good stuff on here too about ski esprit.
As for other mumsnetters, I don't know, thats why I posted the thread. I think most folks with esprit will be british, all with kids, so there should be some, maybe any others will post when they see ours. dO YOU HAVE FAR TO DRIVE TO gATWICK - THE FLIGHT SEEMS TO KEEP GETTING EARLIER!wE ARE BOOKED INTO THE HOTEL ON THE TERMINAL, ITS NOT TOO BAD WHEN WE FACTOR IN THE COST OF PARKING. I have just been off exercise due to this awful cold bug and its taking its time to get better. Exercise bike is really good for skiing though, especially if you do intervals with the resistance high or hills.

What do you think of the rule about no kids at our dinner time at 8? - half of me is thinking what a luxury to eat meals with grown-ups and half of me is hoping he will eat enough at kids' tea!

[braveandcrazy]

We have booked the 'meet and greet' at Gatwick. You drive up to the terminal and someone takes your keys and parks your car which will save so much time. We are only about 45 mins - 1 hr away - well, at that time of night / morning anyway! According to dh it's only about £40 which I think is a bargain!

I am dreading the early start as I am useless at being all packed and prepared the night before I always have stuff I need to do in the morning. I know I will be grateful when we are at the resort by sometime around lunchtime (hopefully!) what have you been told about the transfer, by the way? I am hoping it will be an opportunity to catch up on lost sleep for us all! Not expecting an excited 4yr old to sleep on the plane.

As for tea/dinner time, dd is used to teatime then and I am expecting her to be knackered and ready for bed. These types of things are always a bit of a risk but you have to try them don't you? The alternative is self catering which means cooking, earlyish tea, bath and then probably bed at 9.30pm! I am looking forward to a bit of grown up company at the Mara.

[frontallobes]

We are booked there that very week! And our son's first time too.

[pralinegirl]

Hi braveandcrazy (and anyone else off to kaprun with esprit this weekend!) - its snowing! And more is forecast this week. Haven't packed yet but am making list! Reminds me of packing hospital bag! Hope the mara is great all round and you have a great time. Our DS is excited so am hoping the reality of cold and a missing mummy and daddy during the day won't be too much. Not looking forward to the check in on saturday morning before dawn - am really glad have had my eyes done, don't need lenses anymore and can sleep on the plane! Our DS is Chris, if they end up in the same group....
Bring on the fondue and sachertorte!

[braveandcrazy]

Hi to you too pralinegirl. Not long now. So far my packing has involved not putting the ironing away this week - - it solves the problem of deciding what to take - it's whatever has been ironed so far!

Ever wondered how to spot another mnetter in an airport? I'm looking forward to that game on Saturday it will take my mind off the early start!