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Ski Esprit |
Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Skiing Skiing Operators Ski Esprit
Founded in 1981, the company is expanding its services for families which is what it caters to exclusively with what it reports as the biggest choice of child care services in skiing. Accommodation is in chalets, chalet hotels or chalet apartments (with starter pack of essentials), to 15 resorts in France, Italy and Austria. The brochure rates resorts on suitability for different grades of skier, snowboarding, families, and powder potential. Two thirds of rooms offer en suite facilities and at one self-catering property dining with others is available if booked in advance. Non-smoking chalets or roomsYes plus aircraft and transfer coaches. Care in same chalet or hotelDedicated fully equipped nurseries in specific chalets or in some resorts in a dedicated room in local property, though guests staying in other chalets always have access, subject to availability. The number of smaller chalets with care has been cut in order to improve the carer to child ratio and therefore safety. British-qualified staffYes NNEB/CACHE, RGN, BTEC or equivalent only and checked with childcare authorities before employment. Staff to child ratioUnder 1 year, 1:2; 1-2 years, 1:3; 2-3 years, 1:4; 3 years-plus 1:8. Ages to qualify4 months to 12 years. ChildcareNurseries are for 4 months to 3 year in chalets or hotels in dedicated nurseries six days a week 8.30am to 5pm with some local and seasonal variations to accommodate ski school programmes. Lunch is included and outdoor activities organised depending on ages and weather conditions. £170 per week per child. Exclusive child ski lessons in EnglishYes, with a maximum of eight children per class or six for 3-4-year-olds (Spritelets).There are four further levels of classes including snowboarding and lasting two or two and a half hours six mornings a week. Children are accompanied to and from the lessons by Espirt staff (not necessarily nannies). Charge is from £130 per child per week for the youngest up to £260 for five full days' of lesson. BabysittingFree on staff's evening off. OtherCot bedding included in price. Baby baths are available on request and steam sterilisers in all chalets. Adult guide priceIn a chalet for 10 around £799 for a peak week in February. Child offersChild reductions vary with the resort and the dates. They range from under 1s staying free at some times of year to discounts of just 10% for 11-17 years at peak dates at some resort. Percentage discounts also apply to children staying in their own separate bedroom. If a group fills any chalet of 12 beds or more full child discounts apply even to children not sharing with parents. For single parents there are discounts at some properties for children sharing a room with one adult. Free insurance is available for under 18s. There are a number of free lift pass for children offers and other resort-based deals for families. Reader Reports“We have twice gone skiing, once when the eldest child (then the only one) was 14 months old, and again this year when the girls were 3 years and 11 months. Both times we travelled with Ski Esprit and on both occasions chalet and resort staff excelled themselves, using initiative and catering for the demands of a fussy eater without losing their sense of humour. |
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