Snow holiday

[sammyteach]

Hi advice needed please. We are thinking about going for a snowy christmas holiday this year. We live in the UK and dont get much snow at all. We are thinking about Canada as it seems so beautiful, (Cheapish flights from uk). Me and DH have never been skiing and we are not that fit so we might just do some taster sessions. the kids DD10 and DS8 have never skied either but they are fit so we,ll probably enrole them in a ski school for a few days.
Really we are going for the snow, scenery, wildlife and snow fun.

My questions are can anyone offer their advice and experiences of Christmas snow holidays in Canada and what about 10 days as non skiers do you really have to be fit?
Is there likely to be enough things to do?
Can you get snow/ski clothes in not so slim sizes
Will it be Christmassy enough?
Do you Canadians offer the great customer service and friendliness we recieve and love in Florida ?

thanks very much, sorry about the long post

 

[cabmom]

Hi Sammyteach!

We haven't had any snow to speak of at all and they are now laying off the Ski resort people in Ontario.
http://www.bluemountain.ca/
http://www.mslm.on.ca/

Close to Toronto:
http://www.ski-lakeridge.com/skilakeridge/?page_id=3
http://www.skidagmar.com/

Sorry can't give any advice for the west of Canada, or any other province for that matter. I don't ski!!!

We do usually have snow in Feb/March however, this year we'll have to play it by ear.

As far as having great customer service....you won't meet a more friendlier bunch of people than Canadians!

Try these for your flights:
www.canadianaffair.co.uk or .com
www.flyzoom.com

Marilynn

 

[KRIS10420]

I live in BC (Western Canada), I ski and we have lots of snow. BC is very scenic and beautiful. I am also not so fit as well, so 10 days of skiing would be way too much for me, I max out at about 3 days. Here is a link to the ski resorts in BC: http://www.travel.bc.ca/features/ski-resorts/
I live on Vancouver Island and mostly ski our local hill, Mt. Washington. It's a nice family mountain and a good place for beginners to learn. However, for the ultimate ski/snow experience Whistler/Blackcomb is the place to go. I have also skiied SunPeaks in Kamloops and loved it. There are some good ski hills in Alberta as well.

 

[sammyteach]

Thanks this info is great and Ill follow up the links when I get a chance. i can see Ive got lots of planning and research to do

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I just want to mention that skiing is a sport and as a newbie you will in fact get a little sore. It will give you sore thighs. Doing some squats each day should help prepare you but I thought I should mention this as you did ask. I hate to put you off as a nice soak in a hot tub which many of the resorts boast will help put you at ease after a long day at the slopes. And yes, ski outfits come in a variety of sizes!!! Besides you will go home with stronger and more muscular thighs to show off.

 

[c&m]

Hi there. I also posted on the Dis Family board, where I first noticed your thread...then noticed it here too...so I copied my response here...

We have a home in Whistler, so we go there often--this weekend in fact. The snow season this year has been awesome thus far. Pure powder this week and -13C temps.

There are many things you can do at Whistler:

1. Skiing
2. Snowboarding
3. Cross-country skiing
4. Snow tubing
5. Spa

The new Symphony chairlift just opened and also new runs have been added. We like skiing at Whistler Creekside. Less people, no line-ups at the gondola, less people on the ski runs. There's a ski school there that goes from 9am to 3pm (includes lunch). Put the kids in lessons, and you can ski or do your own thing during that time. A great family condo to stay at Creekside that's right next to the gondola is Legends at Whistler Creekside. Just roll out of bed, grab your skis and hop into the gondola.

Just let me know if you have any specific questions.

 

[sammyteach]

thanks again to everyone. We know skiing is a sport but me and DH will probably just have little taster sessions and are going more for the relaxation and scenery.