Andy Gardner, Worthing
A A week’s skiing in peak season for a family of six need not be a slippery slope to financial ruin. Avoid the expensive resorts of France, Switzerland and Austria and look instead to the good value, family-oriented resorts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. I have selected two competitively priced options for you to consider.
.fa_inline_results, .fa_inline_results.left {
margin-right: 20px;
margin-top: 0;
width: 220px;
clear: left;
}
.fa_inline_results.right {
margin-left: 20px;
margin-right: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results h4 {
margin: 0;
font-size: 8pt;
line-height: 12px;
padding-bottom: 4px;
border-bottom: 1px dotted #c3d2dc;
}
.fa_inline_results ul {
list-style-type: disc;
list-style-position: inside;
color: #3769DD;
margin: 0 0 15px;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.title {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
font-weight: bold;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.articles {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
}
.fa_inline_results, .fa_inline_results.left {
margin-right: 20px;
margin-top: 0;
width: 220px;
clear: left;
}
.fa_inline_results.right {
margin-left: 20px;
margin-right: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results h4 {
margin: 0;
font-size: 8pt;
line-height: 12px;
padding-bottom: 4px;
border-bottom: 1px dotted #c3d2dc;
}
.fa_inline_results ul {
list-style-type: disc;
list-style-position: inside;
color: #3769DD;
margin: 0 0 15px;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.title {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
font-weight: bold;
}
.fa_inline_results ul li.articles {
color: #333;
list-style-type: none;
}
First, Bulgaria. Whereas a decade ago the low prices reflected the service and sophistication of its resorts, skiers are now getting more for their money in this former socialist republic. Resorts also tend to be both beginner and family-oriented. One such resort is Pamporovo (www.pamporovo.net) in the Rhodope Mountains, 85km south of Plovdiv. It is renowned for being the sunniest of Bulgarian resorts with good snow throughout the season (mid- December to mid-April). The 25km of well maintained, rounded slopes and good ski schools with English spoken throughout make it an excellent choice for first-time skiers of all ages. Thomson Ski (0870 888 0254; www.thomsonski.co.uk) offers seven nights in Pamporovo at the Perelik Hotel from for 2,598 (two adults and four children). This price includes return flights from Gatwick to Plovdiv departing on 22 December, transfers and seven nights’ half board in two rooms.
A six-day learn-to-ski course costs 98 per adult and 78 for children aged eight to 12. Your two youngest children can attend the six-day Ski Kindergarten, which must be booked on arrival and includes day care, lunch, ski equipment and two hours of tuition daily. The Kindergarten costs 117 per child for the week. Lift passes cost 73 per adult per week and 53 for eight- to 12-year- olds. Equipment hire is 61 per adult and 42 per child. This would bring the cost of your holiday to 3,642.
A good introduction to skiing can also be found at Levi (00 358 16 63 93 300; www.levi.fi) in Finnish Lapland. This family-oriented resort has a long, snow-sure season and suits beginner and intermediate skiers; the terrain also permits a host of non-skiing activities such as toboganning and reindeer sleigh rides in pine forests. Bear in mind that Levi is above the Arctic Circle so there is virtually no sunlight now until January (although both the pistes and the town are artificially lit). Therefore a February departure would be preferable, with at least some natural light.
Packages to Levi are offered by Inghams (020-8780 4433; www.inghams.co.uk), and cost from 2,874 for all six of you for one week during February half-term. The price includes return flights from Gatwick to Kittila (departing 10 February 2008), transfers and seven nights’ self-catering in a three-bedroom Levilehto Chalet.
The reputable Learn to Ski school, including seven days’ equipment hire, lift pass and five days’ tuition (one and a half- hours per day) costs 185 per adult and 152 for children aged seven- 11. Children aged five to 11 attend ski school at a cost of 60 for three days and 81 for five days.
Off the pistes there are numerous diversions, all of which are free for under-fours and under-12s if you pre-book. A two-hour reindeer safari costs 22 for adults and 15 for children, whilst a husky safari costs 27 for adults and 16 for children.
