Simply Ski

Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Skiing Skiing Operators Simply Ski 

	Simply Ski
King's Place, Wood Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 1SG			MAP
tel: (020) 8541 2209

Attractive traditional chalet accommodation plus a Simply Ski creche in Courchevel Le Praz, and a private nanny service in Meribel, Courchevel 1850, Zermatt, Verbier and St Anton for parties booking a whole chalet. Cordon Bleu cooks.

No-smoking chalets or rooms

Yes and no smoking in public areas with agreement of majority.

Location of Childcare

In same chalet or hotel, mainly in Verbier.

British-qualified staff

Yes with CACHE (NNEB), RGN, BTEC or equivalent qualifications.

Staff to child ratio

Up to two children under 2, 1:5; all under 2, 1:3; over 2 years, 1:6. Overall the ratio is 1:3.

Ages to qualify

6 months to 8 years.

Childcare

Creches For 6 months to 4 years 8.30am to 5pm, except Sats. Activities include puzzles, construction, craft material, play outside, a hot lunch, quiet period with story and tea. Cots available for sleeping.
Children's Clubs 4-8 years, similar hours, for children old enough to attend Ski School and run in conjunction with this.
Private nanny Available for parties booking a whole chalet, can look after a maximum of three children between 6 months and 8 years though this ratio may be altered if there are several children under 15 months. The nanny works 8.30am to 5pm six days a week and they come with a box of toys and games and organises lunch and snacks, included in the price.
Club six days ?175 per child 4-5 or £125 per child 6-8; creche six days ?250 per child. Private nannies £500 per nanny.

Exclusive child ski lessons in English

Yes with instructors from the Magic in Motion ski school in Courchevel who specialise in teaching children and run the dedicated Simply Ski Children's Club with a mix of half and full days' tuition with maximum class size of six.
Lessons for children 6-9 years are of four hours a day for four days and two full days when lunch is included. Maximum class size is 8. Ski lessons for younger children £160 per week, for older children £260 per week. Nannies take and collect children from lessons and look after them until the end of Children's Club at 5pm.

Babysitting

Free to midnight on staff day off, plus other nights for fee, subject to staff availability.

Other

Cots and high chairs free if booked in advance. Clubs keep sterilisers and baby listening devices.
All Courchevel 1300 chalets have sterilisers and microwaves and all chalets have a selection of children's videos.
Toddler packs are available at £20 per infant consisting of jars of savoury and dessert food, baby cereal and juice.
Prior to departure parents are sent a questionnaire on children's preferences and children's level of skiing experience.
There is high tea for the kids on the staff day off.

Adult guide price

For a week in Courchevel Le Praz in February peak season £790 per adult.

Child offers

All infants (under 2 years on the date of return), are £100. For children sharing a room with parents there is a reduction of 50% or in their own bedroom 15% for up to two children with two full paying adults. Under 2s are insured free and children 2-17 get free insurance for every single adult insurance purchased.

Reader Report

Mary Tyler reports that she is glad her family skied with Simply Ski. She felt they offered outstanding childcare, highlighting the fact than nannies stay with the groups of six skiing children and their instructor. Child ratios she reports therefore compare well with Ski Esprit whose instructors handle 12 children on their own. The Simply Ski chalets she felt were not of a standard she would have expected from a UK ski company (pink plastic table cloths) but were functional and comfortable and the chalet girls pleasant.