5 Other Outdoor Activities in Portes du Soleil That You Shouldn't Miss

Reviewed By howesro - London, United Kingdom

We were a little apprehensive leaving our 4 year old here after some more recent negative reviews since we initially booked last year. Thankfully our experience was very positive and an excellent first introduction to skiing for our daughter. It helped that she had a friend of hers in the same class but credit is also due to their teacher Manue who made a huge effort with the kids to learn and also feel comfortable. Class size was great at 5 kids so good focus per child. The setup and facilities are also excellent for beginner ski lessons - the best setup in Avoriaz for that stage of learning that I could see. I do see where the negative reviews come from with kids crying - some were especially upset - but I don't believe this is a reflection of the school but simply normal separation anxiety. This type of setup is not going to suit all children, especially some of the younger ones, and parents need to be prepared for this and to reconsider whether private tuition is a better alternative or frankly whether their child is not yet old/mature enough to be left. Yes some teachers could be more empathetic but this is a tough one to balance as they have a duty to all the children in their care to teach them to ski. Ultimately we were pleased and our daughter loved skiing after her first week making her way onto the slopes by the end of it wanting more. To manage expectations - this was also due to us spending our afternoons with her to practice. Bottom line - as school I think they are well setup and whether your experience is good will vary based on the teacher but also the temperament and maturity of your child.