Thinking of an easter ski trip with a family of (almost) novice skiiers, would you recommend Mark Warner?

[rosybud]

Have looked at MW site and they still have some availability in chalethotels.

Are these good/suitable for families? DCs are 8 and 5.

Would you recommend Mark Warner or any other child friendly companies?
TIA

[PestoMonster]

I've been with Mark Warner (pre-dds) to chalets in Courmayeur and Verbier. The one in Courmayeur was absolutely brilliant for children and babies and there were a lot staying at the time. They were really well-geared up with nannies and early tea-times and things like that. I haven't taken my dds skiing yet, but at the time I thought what a good company they would be to go with, when I did have children.
I expect someone who has been with them with their children will be able to help you a bit more, but I hope that this helps a bit.

[rosybud]

Hi Pesto, thanks for your reply. What age will you take your dds do you think?
I know my 8yr old will love it but can imagine dd (5) will have a lot to complain about, cold/wet/tired/heavy skis etc
Don't know whether to wait til next year.

[PestoMonster]

Well tbh, I would take them now (dds are 10 and 8) because I think they are old enough to be able to cope with ski-school etc.

However, because dh prefers hot holidays and I've just had a new car, we're sort of prioritising with the hot hols and skiing has been put on the back burner... Again!! (grrr!!)

I personally think that it is never to early to start. And I soooo wish we had taken ours when they were younger. However, I would take into account your own children's potential for whinging & whining. I know that mine wouldn't have made for a very happy holiday if we had taken them earlier, because dd2 still has quite a penchant for moaning & groaning!! And I think skiing holidays has quite a lot of scope for that too, tbh, what with the cold, the ski-suits, the boots etc etc..

[rosybud]

bump

[MrLSG]

Not done MW hols - but have observed in the past they they are a bit ££££.

We've just booked a cheapie for Easter (after the Xmas and 1/2 term trips it needs to be a cheapie!) to Samoens. Okay, it's self-catering, but Samoens in a real French village, and the childcare options are brilliant - both for those who want to ski and the little ones who are too small.

Obviously the test really comes when we are there, but on previous experience with ds1 in the same area (down the valley in Morillon), we're pretty confident!

[Crunchie]

IU would think they would be OK. We did Eprist at 5 abd 7 ana dthey were greta, Mark Warner ar emore £££ but supposed to be good

[lemonstartree]

MW are great for ski-ing . Really great. fab nannies fab staff and really really well organised.

[rosybud]

lemonstartree - where did you go? Did you go with kids - what age? Thanks.

[lemonstartree]

hi rosy bud. We have been with mw 5 or 6 times from when ds1 was 2 ( he is now 9) and with the other 2 ds who are now 5 and 3. The care for kids is fab. The nannies are all british trained, organised loving and capable. Honestly you can just leave the dc's who are taken to and from ski school, out tobogganing, for bubble car rides, to make snow men etc. and go skiing. It IS pricey but I think its worth it! We have been to courchevel and to tignes and to val d'isere with mw. all great !

[ladyhelen2]

Hi, I got back from a MW hol on Sunday. We went to the Berengere in Les Deux Alpes. Got a late deal so a lot cheaper than brochure price, but it still cost a small fortune to take DS with the childcare. But it was great. The hotel is lovely, the food is fab, the nannies fantastic and its right on a green piste so ideal for kids who are learning. The hotel has an indoor pool too and a salon. The pool is ok although a little cold but not many hotels offer that, so its a bonus really. I would def recommend MW if you are going with kids. Its a long transfer though, but all the kids were pretty well behaved and all dealt with the journey really well.
Hope you find somewhere.

[toratora]

Hi, I'm new to this site, but thought that I would comment. We have 2 DD aged 5 and 2. Have been skiing alot, twice with MW, once to St Anton in Austria, which was fantastic and once to Val d'Isere, which was not so good - it just seemed like a lot of money for a not particularly special service. We have since been with Esprit Ski and they are brilliant and do very good 'deals' for families. The staff seemed a lot friendlier as well and more helpful.
HTH

[oldmotherb]

Don't go to MW alp d'huez or deux alpes. St anton however was a winner. don't expect too much by way of food and comforts think 3* BUT v jolly atmosphere, nice to ski in a group with others, childcare spot on and kids love it ! Costly and some of the flight times were shocking. My bh struggled with social side of it embarassing me by getting to dinner early and glaring at any folk wandering towards us. we also ended up in a hilarious competitive advanced skiers group with a load of single soldiers tutting about us mums turning up to the rendez -vous a minute late after dropping the kids. The guides organised a race and we mums whipped them. i think it ruines their holiday but made ours!oh the wee one visited the farm and went on a cable car he used to cry when we appeared at the creche to take him home.

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

Agree about avoiding Les Deux Alpes, but we had a good holiday with MW in Courmayeur

[andiemustlosehalfastonemore]

have done mark warner and esprit both val d'isere tbh they are much the same except the mark warner nannies think they are posher
we are going with esprit this year
both are well organised and chidcare was very good ds1 loved it

[rosybud]

oldmotherb - we were looking a alp d'huez, what did you not like about it? Dh is keen to go to meribel with MW. Anyone tried it?

[kb101]

meribel was great when i went pre-kids. i would not choose it now as the transfer would be too long with baby and toddler. it had great atmosphere but seemed quite british to me.

we are planning a ski hol this season with an independent chalet owner in morzine (only 75-min transfer) who happens to be a qualified nanny. have asked her for references and security checks etc as there is not the peace of mind you get with the mark warners etc with their vetting process. if no good will do mark warner next year!

friends did esprit in tignes last season and loved it.

[kb101]

meant to say that our trip to meribel was great for our mixed-ability group. i was a near beginner and our ski school was great (new generation i think it was called). there were lots of runs to choose from, though i felt some of the blues could have been reds in other resorts!! i recall lots of kids doing ski school and they seemed very happy.

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

I went to Meribel pre-kids and had a marvellous time - the only negative point is that it was icy in the mornings, so skiing down from the chalet to the lifts could be hairy. For the DC I prefer an easy ski down on sunny slopes - tho' they are now so much better than me its probably just me thats the scaredy-cat

[kb101]

yes, that's a good point about ice in meribel. we went very late march and it was icy in the mornings and then slushy after lunch, with the only ideal skiing conditions being during lunch!! it was not a great time for beginners to go!

[dutchmam]

Would you consider Scandinavia? We had a great holiday in Are-bjornen in Sweden with Neilson. The days are slightly shorter but it's pretty snow sure and much less busy than the Alps. Although we didn't have kids then, we saw loads of families and all the ski instructors spoke English.
And they do wonderful waffles...