Esprit Ski
Esprit operates in most of the big-name resorts in France, but also has
chalets in Austria, Switzerland and Italy. It has its own childcare
facilities in every resort. The staff-child ratios for young children are
high: 1:2 for babies less than 12 months old and 1:4 for toddlers up to 3.
Last winter I stayed in the chalet Alisea in St Anton with my three-year-old
daughter and son of ten months. Our three-year-old was unnerved to find a
man running her Spritelets (half-day ski/half play) class since she was used
to female childcare at her nursery at home, but by the end of the week she
was comfortable with the change in her routine.
High tea was healthy and generally well received by all the kids in the
chalet. It also gave the parents a chance to grab a beer from the honesty
bar and share their day’s exploits with other parents.
Seven nights’ chalet board at the Alisea starts at £519pp, including flights
and transfers. Children are charged from full adult price (for teens during
peak weeks) to nothing (for toddlers in off-peak weeks). Infants are charged
a flat fee of £95. Details: Esprit Ski, 01252 618300, www.esprit-holidays.co.uk.
The Family Ski Company
This firm specialises in the big ski areas, but instead of going for the
big-name resorts opts for smaller, lesser-known villages that are less
expensive and more family friendly.
In the Three Valleys, it has chalets in the hamlet of Reberty, below Val
Thorens. In the Portes du Soleil it has properties in Ardent, while in the
Paradiski network it is in Les Coches.
Most of the firm’s chalets are ski-in, ski-out and close to the ski schools –
invaluable when you are trying to move tired children.
Prices for adults start at £319, rising to £899 in peak weeks (children £287
to £740). Infants £215, not including flights or transfers. Childcare £210
per child per week. Details: Family Ski Company, 01684 540333, www.familyski.co.uk.
Skiworld
One of the biggest attractions of Skiworld for families is its discounts –
half-price places for children aged between 2 and 11 in many top resorts at
Christmas, New Year, half term and Easter and discounts of at least 5 per
cent in all chalets all season.
One potential downside is that the company does not run its own crèches,
relying instead on locally run childcare facilities. This does not
necessarily mean a worse experience since recruiting and retaining
well-qualified child carers is a difficult challenge for all ski firms.
Not all of its properties are suitable for children, but I found Les Trois
Coeurs in Méribel a good choice. All five rooms are en suite and there is a
cosy snug off the lounge, a perfect place for youngsters to hang out and
watch television while the adults eat.
Seven nights’ chalet board at Les Trois Coeurs starts at £549pp, including
flights and transfers. Child discounts range from 5 per cent to 50 per cent
of the adult price. Infants pay from £39 (Europe) to £149 (North America). Details:
Skiworld, 0870 2416723, www.skiworld.ltd.uk.
Ventureski
A little-known firm that operates in the resort of Sainte-Foy, just above the
main road that runs from Moûtiers through to popular Val d’Isère and Tignes.
It is an ideal resort for families – quiet, with a good ski school and some
excellent nursery runs in the centre of the village.
Ventureski has several traditionally built chalets in a small development a
short walk from the resort centre. The largest, Les Sapins, sleeps 24, has
two en suite family rooms and its own well-equipped crèche.
The food was easily the best of the four companies reviewed here. Aaron
Bailey, of the well-known Porthminster Café in St Ives, was in charge all
last winter and will train the firm’s chefs for this winter.
The firm also offers flexibility on arrival and departure dates, which means
you aren’t tied in to a Saturday-to-Saturday holiday.
Seven nights’ chalet board at Les Sapins starts at £660pp (or £120pp a night),
excluding flights and transfers. Children under 13 get 25 per cent off this
adult price. Infants stay free of charge. Childcare costs £235 per child per
week. Ventureski, 0870 2424881, www.ventureski.co.uk
.
New for families this winter
Esprit Ski (01252 618300, www.esprit-holidays.co.uk)
has recognised the different needs of teenagers compared with the rest of
its young clientele with the launch of Esprit Teen Team. This is aimed at 13
to 16-year-olds who have more than four weeks’ skiing or boarding experience
on previous holidays.
A dedicated instructor will take groups of between five and eight teens and
will teach technique and safety both on and off-piste. The service, which
costs £299pp a week, including lunch, is provided in peak holiday times in
Tignes, Val d’Isère, Belle Plagne, Les Arcs and St Anton.
The luxury ski chalet firm VIP (0844 557 3119, www.vip-chalets.com)
is introducing flexible hours for its private nannies. The firm’s nannies
work five and a half days a week, but parents can now choose which eight
consecutive hours they would like their nanny to work between 8.30am and
7.30pm. On the half day, parents can choose whether their time off will be
in the morning or afternoon. A private nanny costs between £450 and £660 per
child per week, depending on the date and the number of children.
Mark Warner (0870 224 0086, www.markwarner.co.uk)
has added Canada to its brochure for the first time. The firm is offering
holidays at the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa and the chance to do
heli-skiing in the resort of Revelstoke.
Seven nights’ B&B start at £1,049 adults, £719 teens and £629
children, including flights and transfers. Childcare costs from £150 to £286
per child per week. The company has also produced a dedicated childcare
brochure for the first time this winter.
The Family Ski Company (01684 540333, www.familyski.co.uk)
has a new childcare club called Huskies for active children over 8. This
includes six mornings of ski lessons and six afternoons of activities, such
as skating and snowshoeing. It costs £275 per child per week.
We have just come back from Val D'isere with Ski Esprit, our seventh holiday with them. Unfortunately, the organisation of the children getting them to ski school sorting out all the skis and then finding that our child was in a group of 12 children which is not supposed to happen, meant that a lower ski badge was given than the one achieved last April!
Not very impressed at all the staff seem more interested in partying than anything else! We are taking up our case with them!!
J Powell, Amersham, England