#lamongie

There are many things it’s important to consider when booking a family ski holiday.  Ski-in, ski out accommodation, short transfer time and on-site childcare for the littlest ones are perhaps some of the main aspects which can make a ski holiday with kids run more smoothly.

However, there is more to a ski resort than just the slopes. It’s worth looking at what other activities are on offer when you’re planning a holiday, especially if you have very small children or reluctant skiers who may not want to ski all the time.

Even if you don’t want to splash out on accommodation with an indoor pool, many resorts have their own, reasonably-priced public pools. Courchevel has a brand-new aquatic centrewith an indoor surf centre and La Plagne has a year-round outdoor pool.

I know this as I spent a lot of time in it on my second-ever ski holiday when I injured my knee on the second day! Other typical activities common to many resorts include dedicated sledging slopes and ice rinks.

I recently visited La Mongie in the Pyrenees with my kids and, while we all enjoyed the skiing, I think it will be the other things we did while we were there which will really stick in their minds. The resort has a specially-converted piste-basher which now has seats in the back. Once the lifts have closed, you can take a ride up the slopes to Col de Tourmalet to watch the sunset with a glass of wine (or Oasis and some biscuits for the kids.) The real stand-out event for them, though, was driving their own snowmobiles around the lower slopes as the sun dipped behind the mountains. Toby and Olivia were delighted that, aged 11 and 13, they were deemed big enough to drive the full-sized machines, but there are also mini-versions for kids as young as six.

On a bad-weather day we popped down to the nearby thermal baths Aquensis (many Pyrenean resorts have thermal baths on-site or nearby, for example Le Bains du Rocher in Cauterets). Next time maybe we’ll take a husky sleigh ride. We didn’t have time this time but the kids enjoyed playing with and petting the gentle, patient huskies which were often around the resort in the late afternoon and early evening.

It’s worth also looking out for “added extras” on the slopes. In Les Gets, for example, kids can record themselves messing about, singing dancing or whatever they want to do at theVideototem and then find it on a site later to share to social media. They can also film and time themselves doing a slalom course at the Videopark – both activities are free of charge. For younger kids, Milka run regular complimentary events on the slopes with games and photo opportunities with the Milka cow, plus hot chocolate and cakes for all.

Don’t forget to pack accordingly – we’ve certainly forgotten snow boots before, meaning that someone’s had to clomp about in their ski boots while sledging. It’s also always worth taking swimming costumes just in case as they take up almost no room in your luggage.

Catherine Cooper 

Mars just arrived few days ago in our Grand Tourmalet bringing us an alternation between snowy and sunny spell days. The big game now is to find THE day of the week to go up and enjoy these pretty cool spring ski conditions The continual climate change leads to excesses pushing us to more flexibily to catch the best moments. It is in these instances that born the best things in life: last minute adventures!

Last week we spent with Alice some cool times exploring the quintessence of what La Mongie, Barèges, Pic du Midi and Payolle can offer Take a second breath at the top of the Pic du Midi, enjoy a sunny lunch and stroll between pine trees in Payolle and skiing in the meantime on the slopes… all was about like travelling across different planets! Even for me who is used to enjoy those stunning spots regularly, it is the first time ever I experienced completely different atmosphere in such fleeting period, just crazy!! Personnally I really think that Grand Tourmalet is definitely the only resort here in the french Pyrenees which offers this variety of possibilities! Thats my goal I really want to be able to explore a mad place every single day!

Few sunny weather windows are expected for this week I am not gonna miss them anyway! Cool event to put on your schedule: the Derby du Pic du Midi next saturday with pretty perfect snow conditions, can not wait to be back into our Milky Way…

Chilinmaster - Florent Gay

chillinmaster.com/wander-into-the-milky-way

If I had to mention one point on wich I improved myself in 2015 I would say the word ‘patience’. Actually I guess this comes with the experience, patience is not the fact to waiting for something but it more how you act during this space of time. After a long long wait winter finally came to say hello in my home resort at Grand Tourmalet ! Spent one perfect week in real winter conditions with cold and some fresh snow almost everyday, so good to feel this again! To sum up I made a lot of new discoveries around the domain and had some pretty fun runs at Les 4 Thermes, Barèges and the Pic du Midi. Always fun and never bored about this stunning part of the Pyrenees where you can enjoy all the richness of mother nature. Back there in February for a full month of adventures with locals and friends Stay tuned chillin’ guys!

Je me suis sentie privilégiée car cette animation m’a permis de découvrir la station de nuit loin de la foule et des touristes... seuls les renards nous guettaient ...! Prendre des pistes de ski… mais à l’envers... dans une dameuse… l’effet de surprise commence là ! Faites le, c'est génial ! Le parcours que nous avons réalisé est plein de suspens : il débute à Barèges pour gagner le col du Tourmalet où bosses, virages et pentes n’arrêtent même pas notre ascension… le paysage défile, la neige glisse sous la chenille et les fous rires s’enchaînent… 

De la bonne humeur, de l’excitation mais peut-être aussi que l’altitude nous rendaient euphorique ! 

Après 45 minutes de balade, plus un bruit, plus un mouvement, la machine s’arrête ! Nikolaï nous aurait-il fait le coup de la panne… ? Non c’est une pause dégustation… Qui n’a pas rêvé de lever son verre, la nuit, en plein cœur des montagnes ?.… Chose faite avec un petit Pacherin doux et fruité qui nous fait encore plus apprécier les Pyrénées. Un vrai moment de bonheur ! Seul le couché de soleil manque à l’appel… Le rendez-vous est pris pour mars, où il sera là ! Après toutes ses émotions, Nikolaï nous invite à rejoindre notre place et attaquer ainsi notre descente. De retour à Barèges, nous continuons la soirée dans la même gaieté, devant un feu de bois et une bonne garbure. Expérience à vivre et à refaire !