Meet the Experts/Ask the Experts
There are lots of things which make a holiday with Esprit Ski extra special, especially the stunning vista of the mountains while navigating your way down the piste before tucking into a delicious afternoon tea with the family.
As well as top-notch cuisine and accommodation to look forward to, there’s also a variety of childcare options to explore, catering for children of all ages. Family ski holidays with childcare can be a great way to ensure the whole family gets some quality time on the slopes as well as taking the stress out of organising extra activities to keep the little ones busy and entertained whilst the adults are skiing.
Babies and toddlers can happily play the day away in our wonderful nursery, which incorporates a nanny service. Esprit staff take older children to our partner ski-school, collect them, serve a supervised lunch, and run activities to keep them entertained, before taking them back to their chalets for afternoon tea. Having a seamless service during ski holidays with kids means you can rest assured that everything will be taken care of and your children will be well looked after by our childcare experts.
Meet some of our childcare team
Lewis – La Rosière Resort Childcare Manager
Lewis has been a valued member of the team having worked during the winter and summer seasons with Esprit. He particularly loves working in the mountains and considers the magnificent landscape one of the perks of the job. This season, Lewis will be working in La Rosière as our resort childcare manager.
Q: Why do you love Esprit?
A: Every day is different, full of fun, laughter, excitement and joy for everyone. For some children, an Esprit holiday will be the first time they have seen snow, so it just adds to the excitement of it all. I love being able to make that first experience such a memorable one.
Esprit is different from other childcare operators because it offers the wrap-around childcare. We look after children from 17 weeks to 12 years of age. We tailor the activity programme to each age group and child to make sure they have the best possible time on their holiday. This means the parents know the children are having a great time, which in turn means the parents can have a relaxing holiday.
In the nursery, we have a team of qualified nannies who take the time to get to know each child and their parents, so they can learn the child’s routine and plan the activities around each child’s routine. For our children aged 3-4-years-old (Spritelets) and 5-12-years-old (Sprites), they take part in ski lessons with English speaking instructors and a strict ratio of 1:6 for our Spritelets and 1:8 for our Sprites. This means the children receive better quality lessons with more one on one time.
We also run our Snow Club day care, which gives the children another opportunity to have lots of fun and laughter with their new friends! The activities range from bum-boarding, igloo building, to treasure hunts and so much more.
Q: How would you reassure nervous parents leaving their child for the first time?
A: I understand that this can be the first time that parents have left their child so it can be nerve-racking. I always sit down and talk to the parents, answering any questions and reassuring them that their child will have the best time with us.
I introduce the parents to their child’s childcare staff for the week, where we also fill out an ‘All About Me Form’ so they are made aware of the child’s routine, favourite games and activities. These are all steps in place to make that first morning a bit easier for the child.
We also complete a daily diary for each child. The diary includes any naps they’ve taken, what they’ve eaten, the day’s activities and how they’ve been feeling. Everything is put in their diary so parents know exactly what the children have been up to.
Q: How will adults benefit from an Esprit holiday?
A: Adults love our Esprit Ski Holidays because we offer such flexible childcare. If you want wrap-around childcare all day from after breakfast until after the children have had high tea, we can do just that, but if you want some family time we can do a half-day of childcare – it’s completely up to you.
We even take your children to their ski lessons in the morning, which means you don’t need to worry about carrying all their stuff. We do it for you!
Laura – Esprit Ski Childcare Manager
Laura has worked for Esprit for almost a decade having started her career in 2010 as a Snow Ranger in Méribel. Laura has been risen through the ranks to become our Head Childcare Manager. loves teaching children
Q: What’s the best thing about your job?
A: I’d have to say it’s the fact that no day at work is the same. When I’m in resort, I love meeting different families every week, and sometimes get to see returning children who you see growing up, usually into better skiers than me. Teaching children the famous Esprit Ski song ‘Reese Peanut Butter Cups’ is also a firm favourite.
Q: What advice would you give to parents new to Esprit Ski?
A: Make the most of the children’s ‘Take To’ service, drop the children off at 8.30am and get out on the fresh snow – there is nothing better.
Q: Why would you recommend families travel with Esprit Ski?
A: Esprit offers a great holiday experience for the whole family; our nursery children have great fun getting messy with paint or playing in the snow. The older children receive great tuition from our Snow Rangers and partner instructors with small ratios and are constantly encouraged.
Parents can relax knowing that the children are safe and having a blast, giving them time to enjoy the great ski areas we operate in. As a member of the childcare team, I can honestly say that we really do love our jobs and spending time with the children.
Tommy – Area Childcare Manager: France & Austria
Tommy has enjoyed more than eight seasons working with Esprit having started as a Snow Ranger. He’s no stranger to the great outdoors with experience in teaching children how to kayak and canoe. His love of snow has seen him work in Val d’Isère before taking on the role of area childcare manager in France and Austria.
Q: What advice would you give to parents new to Esprit Ski?
A: Have faith in the staff and the company; everything we say, we do. We are number one for a reason, it’s easy to believe that companies can sugar coat their product to increase sales, but this is not one of them. Have trust in us with your children and you will have the best family ski holiday money can buy.
Q: What’s your favourite Esprit Ski experience?
A: This is a near-impossible question, my entire season in Val d’Isère as a snow ranger would be my favourite experience overall. If I could choose one individual moment it would be this winter just passed when I headed down the hidden valley in Val d’Isère. We were joined by a family from the hotel, so I had a sense of responsibility, as well as the excitement of heading down a crazy valley filled with caves and bridges, rock drops and chicanes. It was intense but worth it – best day ever.
Q: What makes Esprit Ski such a family-friendly company?
A: I have worked for a lot of companies in the industry and I am proud to be a part of this one. Esprit Ski takes pride in their product and train the staff that look after your children excellently. The training instils a natural sense of care that shines through when the staff are with the children and for this, there is no competition.
Explore our flexible Esprit childcare offerings so you can enjoy a leisurely time on the slopes, safe in the knowledge that your children are having the time of their lives making new friends and learning new skills.
