With Extra Childcare

Specialist Reports Just For Families With Specialist Childcare With Extra Childcare Crystal Active 

	Crystal Active
tel: (0870) 888 0266; brochures (01235) 824 324

A new programme for 2004, with activities including mountain-biking, windsurfing, scuba diving, paragliding, white water rafting, climbing, horse riding, summer skiing and ore. The resorts are aimed at all ages and abilities, from novice to practising enthusiast.
Crystal works with Future Forests encouraging clients to pay an extra £5 per person (£10- to north America and south Africa) to compensate for the carbon dioxide emissions from the holiday flight and pay for planting trees in UK woodland and invest in a renewable energy project on the Continent.

Location

Eight countries in Europe, north and south America, and Africa. Crystal childcare is available at Alpe d'Huez in France. Specific hotels in Flachau and Auchensee in Austria are recommended as suitable for families with children of 4-plus, as the resorts feature activities, included in the Crystal package, suitable for younger children.

Dates

May to September. (including the childcare at Alpe d'Huez).

Activities

None of the sports activities are specifically arranged for children and no child-sized bikes are provided, though bikes are available for children large enough to use one of the adult ones, which come in a range of sizes.

Ages

Minimum age for participating in the activities is generally 12 years.

Accommodation

Crystal Club Active properties are exclusively for Crystal guests, run by Crystal staff, and with a Crystal Active bike and hiking guide in every hotel who organises a daily programme of events. Specialised bikes are kept in each hotel for the use of the guests. Crystal Active hotels are based in resorts with a range of activity options and mountain bike hire is included in the holiday price. However, the hotels are not exclusive to the Crystal Active programme so suit those who prefer a quieter holiday or want to mix activity with sightseeing.

Childcare

Magic Marmottes Children's Club operates in Alpe d'Huez in France for 5-10 year-olds at the Hotel Vallee Blanche. The care is free and operates for three hours in the morning and afternoon four days a week on a drop in basis. Run by a qualified childcare leader, it is in a dedicated room with indoor games, books, paints and crayons, plus supervised outdoor activities including mini-golf, ice skating, table tennis, treasure hunts and picnics.

Extras

The Hotel Vallee Blanche can provide cots and high chairs plus children's meals. Babysitting could be arranged locally with the Crystal staff.

Prices

For a week in high season at Vallee Blanche £520 per adult full board. There is a 50% reduction on brochure prices for children 2-12.