.... it's not as easy as it sounds!
Despite having run Ski Famille for seven years I have not yet been on a proper Ski Famille holiday. Generally speaking things are too busy over the winter months for me to free up a whole week (yes, I am a control freak...) and until two years ago I didn't qualify, due to lack of children.
This year I have a two and a half year old in tow and she has kindly invited two friends who, just to add to the full on Ski Famille experience, each have a sibling under one. I have waved good bye to the sneaky boy's trip and said hello to the family holiday.
Having arranged holidays for thousands of families over the years I thought it must be a pretty straightforward exercise. I was wrong. There have already been many unexpected obstacles:
Daughter freaking out when away from home - This is a tricky one. Eva has decided that she doesn't like staying away from home. In the last few months we have had more than one unplanned late night return home with a screaming child along with a clutch of disturbed dinner parties as howls of "I WANT TO GO HOME NOW" echo down the stairs. To be fair she does usually say "PLEASE" at the end, which I think is rather impressive. Not too reassuring for a week away though ...
You have to start form scratch with ski kit and it'll get used once - As an adult I have collected my scruffy selection of ski kit over many years. None of it is very flash, I can't remember what any of it cost and I know it'll last a good few years yet. I now have a small travelling companion who needs kitting out top to toe, and will need kitting out top to toe every year until she stops being small. Cost is one thing but then you have to find all the stuff. I inevitably left things late and then discovered that many ski wear suppliers had sold most of their stock when we had the cold snap in the UK. Fortunately friends of Ski Famille born2becool.com came to the rescue with all the bits we needed and a handy discount (available to all of our guests).
Cot vs Bed - The is a bridge that has now been crossed but an impending holiday was a consideration throughout the process. We now have Eva happily sleeping in a bed (albeit one that is very close to the ground) and fingers crossed we won't have too many things that go bump in the night. Thank you to Caroline at purple daisies for supplying a nice comfy bed guard to help the process. These foam guards are now in our Les Gets chalets so that bit of familiarity may even reduce the freak out factor ... maybe.
Flights booked with BA .... ooops - This is an issue in embryo at the moment. However, a strike looks likely in March, alternative easyJet flights get more expensive every day and the prospect of driving to the Alps with a toddler who struggles to keep her cool on the two hour drive to see Grandma is not appealing. Updates to follow!
OK, maybe it's a bit cold and a bit dangerous, but ... : Eva is not the problem here.... . Few couples have an equal love of the mountains and we are no exception. Persuading Mrs T that a good holiday involves cold weather and sliding around with planks strapped to one's feet has always been a challenge (my argument is not helped by managing to crack ribs and break my hip last winter). For the moment the promise of no cooking or domestic chores, plenty of mulled wine and a hot-tub is keeping things on track.
Sheila knows best - If you are a Ski Famille guest you will have had plenty of contact with Sheila, the one person that actually knows what is going on. However, my friends have the impression that as I run the company I'll know how everything works and what to do about ski hire, lift passes, lessons etc etc etc. I have consequently given them all kinds of conflicting info and now need Sheila to pick up the pieces. I really shouldn't have got involved in the first place....
I am really looking forward to my holiday, but it has already thrown up a lot of issues. I am sure these will in turn give rise to additional web pages and brochure copy to help other families planning a ski trip for the first time!
Wish me luck.
Chris
www.skifamille.co.uk
1 comments:
Chris,
I understand your concerns, we went out to Les Gets , at Petite Mouflon for Christmas. We were a party of 3 adults and 5 children, also booked on BA,so feel for you, the thought of the drive or last minute change to Easyjet was a real possibilty. We also had the snow to contend with, so had to stay at Gatwick the night before to make sure we could get to the airport. Luckily my younger child could use clothes previously worn once by the elder child, but still a real world expense. All I can say is , Skifamille will look after you, and all should be well. We were looked after very well.
We had complications with my 2 year old getting pneumonia, and spending the week in the hospital at Thonlon, but the high quality child care meant we were not worried about our 4 year old, she had a great time. Skifamille did every thing in their powers to help us in a horrible situation.We will be using them again.
Daniel
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