Good locations for first-time skiers and snowboarding?

First time I went it was to Andorra, not sure they get enough snow nowadays.

Given the warm dry Winters we've being having recently I suggest going high. Val Thorens, Tignes... .

Loved Sainte Foy. Only half a dozen lifts but plenty of runs including quiet cruisey blues for beginners. Plenty to play on just past the pisted areas which is good if you're with beginners. Great off-piste off the other side of the top lift. Only a short drive down to Tignes or Les Arcs for days out to a big busy resort if you fancy that.

I thought Serfaus-Fis-Ladis had a lot to offer all levels of skiers/ snowboarders. Was a while ago I was there but I can remember there being a few lovely long wide blue pistes with cable car lift back to the top. I was in Maxyrhofen a few weeks ago which has a lot to offer beginner skiers with lots of narrow flat pistes traversing the steeper red pistes that would be a bit challenging for snowboarders but there seemed to be a lot of Brits on the piste there.

Zell am see / kaprun in Austria, generally cheaper than France three ski areas offer lots of variety including a 3000m glacier making it relatively snow sure.

First time I went it was to Andorra, not sure they get enough snow nowadays.

Ooh they still get plenty - https://www.grandvalira.com/en/live-webcams-grandvalira

Morillon in the Grand massif is a great beginner area, linked well to the rest of the Grand massif as they progress over the week. Although I love Samoens and think is the nicest village in the Grand Massif I don't think it's great for beginners, Morillon, Flaine and Carroz are good for beginners though.

More down in the Pyrenees, Ax 3 Domaines is nice as well, but you're more likely to get English speaking instructors in the Alpes and Andorra. It was about 8 or 9 years ago but the instructers in Ax for our kids didn't speak any English. Alpes always fine and Andorra seemed to be all Spanish or Irish instructors!!

Austria is brilliant for beginners, it's less busy than France and the prices are lower. Very good instruction too.

I LOVE Obergurgl/Hochgurgl. Lots of blue and easy red runs, some ski in/ski out and a reliable bus service for those places that aren't. It's also to easy to navigate the resort as well. It's high as well, and about as snow sure as you can get now.

Good après too!

I've only been snowboarding once (would like to go more often, but my Wife hated it).

We went to the Stubai glacier region in Austria and stayed in Neustift.
It had a good range of slopes. The people we were there with were much more experienced snowboarders and found plenty to keep them occupied.

Hemel Hemstead.

Given the warm dry Winters we’ve being having recently I suggest going high. Val Thorens, Tignes…

Would agree, and Val Thorens great for beginners.

Obergurgl is amazing but can be very exposed if the weather is crap.
I will agree with TiReD though, get reasonably competent indoors and it makes the transition to outside so much easier and you are not stuck in lessons all the time

I think it's wise to suggest that you pick a priority as the leader in your selection process, eg put the beginners first which means being certain that they'll have a great time and compromise elsewhere.
Then look at budget; can you afford the sky high prices for a family going to snowsure Tignes/Val (they're not that great for beginners anyway), La Plagne/Les Arcs..? That might then suggest La Rosiere instead.
For snow reliability, I'd avoid Morzine, Las Clusaz and anything up that way except perhaps Flaine.
In the Pyrenees, there's plenty to be positive about, generally good snow, lessons, language, food are all pluses, as are prices compared to the mega resorts of the Alps. Downsides? Look carefully at accommodation, it can be quite basic or poorly positioned so pick with care and beware of the party centres.
Then maybe think about language, scenery, apres..? Do you love Italy? Then maybe Courmayeur, as it's fab for beginners, the scenery is stunning and food is grand. The stronger folk can then have a day out in La Thuile or Chamonix.
Serre Chevalier is a good strong contender for a mixed group, with good snow reliability for its altitude.
While the Otztal resorts of Solden & the Gurgls are high and sure, I'd be a little wary of the many lower Austrian resorts, as while this has been a good snow year, it's out of pattern lately.
Prices in the Dolomites can be quite a bit more reasonable than France and are much lower than Switzerland, which is way beyond my budget these days.
Based on your original brief, I'd suggest Courmayeur would be my first pick to consider.

Andorra was great for learning. Lessons were incredibly cheap compared to the alpine resorts

I think it’s wise to suggest that you pick a priority as the leader in your selection process, eg put the beginners first which means being certain that they’ll have a great time and compromise elsewhere.

Absolutely - that's what I was trying to say in my OP - we want somewhere with good beginners stuff as my wife (the only one of us that is very good) will just do whatever.

I wouldn't say Courmayeur for learners. I love it but from memory, the next step away from nursery slopes are pretty full on blues with cambers all over the place so limited scope for exploring the hill. Soldeu is perfect if snow is good.

Sainte Foy is indeed excellent as is le tour at the end of the Chamonix valley. Might not be enough snow to make boarding fun though but when it does snow it is a top choice. Le tour is very short of places to eat out.  Sainte Foy i can't remember as we stayed in a catered chalet that time

Bookmarking this as I keep threatening to go on my first ever ski holiday "next year", then I get confused and intimidated about every possible aspect of a skiing holiday, and another year slips by...

Yeah, not Courmayeur for total beginners. One small drag at the top and then straight on to narrow blues with lanes. I re-learnt to ski there after 25 years off but had a solid snowboarding base to go on so could read the slopes (something a lot of beginners struggle with). I’d be looking for somewhere like Avoriaz, La Plagne in France or one of the Austrian options (Lech is super depending on budget). Also depends what time of year you’re thinking.

First time I went it was to Andorra, not sure they get enough snow nowadays.

We went over new year and had snow whilst the Alps was all green. Took our 13, 15 and 17yr old kids for their first ski trip, it was great. Not sure if I would bother with ski school again, I think I would put the money towards private lesson instead. Overall though I thought Andorra was great and everything a beginner needed was there.

It's strange to see negative comments about Courmayeur for beginners as it's really very popular with Interski, a UK schools trip provider who base themselves there, La Thuile, Pila etc every winter. They get really good feedback from their teenage beginner guests. They've now managed to negotiate for some UK instructors to go back out there again this year for the first time since Brexit; one of my regular biking buddies teaches there most winters and rates it highly for the first timer, energetic teenagers.
Anyway, we all have opinions, preferences and biases.

as while this has been a good snow year, it’s out of pattern lately.

It has????? There's enough to get by at the moment but early season was a lottery and it's been warm and raining again over the last week lower down. (unless you're in the States where the snow is good).

Depends on what you want in beginner skiing really, I would say. and when you are going. Or how spontaneous you can be with your booking.

If you want short transfer times and easy access - Stubai, Solden and Obergurgl have all been mentioned. They're all glacier resorts though, so there's few trees and little contrast when the weather is bleak.

Ischgl is nice with a lot to do in the town and also a load of decent blues. But the ski school is at the top of the gondola and if there's queues to get on the mountain, people have been known to miss their group!

in France we always used to go to Alp D'Huez.

If you happen to be in Southern Germany, Feldberg is lovely for beginners but I think you are likely to find better options over the swiss or austrian borders.

I'm sure some people will be along to say it's not a beginner resort - but my wife and son both learnt to ski in St Anton. The blues there can be more like a french red though!

I'm not sure Obergurgl is great for a mixed ability group. If the beginners are in ski school in the morning and you want to ski in Obergurgl and Hochgurgl the 20 min ride back across from Hoch to Ober eats in to your skiing time if you want to meet up for lunch.

Beginners would find the red run down to the gondola that goes between Obergurgl and Hochgurgl a bit daunting as it's pretty steep.

There's a bit of tree skiing on the Obergurgl side if the winds are up but the best of the cruisey blues are high up on the Hochgurgl side. If the higher lifts are closed it does get busy in these areas and will be bumpy by lunch.

Apres is really only the Nederhutte these days now the umberella bar at the bottom has been stolen by one of the posh hotels for more outside dining. I've found most people have a couple of drinks and head back to their hotels of an evening. I think there's a couple of bars that get a bit busier later on like the Josslkeller but whenever I've been in around 6-7ish they've been quiet. Not many places outside of hotels to eat if you go B&B / SC.

Courch 1650 has good beginners area and plenty of interest for the intermediates whilst the beginners are in ski school. Easy to get across to 1850 and plenty of buses back if you miss last lifts. Much quieter than 1850 but not much choice for lunch unless you dump skis in a locker and head back into town.

Alternatively Le Praz could work if you're ok with coming down in the bubble from 1850 at the end of the day as the red run home is a bit testing. Quick access up to 1850 for ski school and a pretty village with a few good places to go for a drink.

Or La Tania, not as pretty as Le Praz but easy access into 1850 and Meribel and skiable home on a nice long green. Not much Apres in La Tania though. The Bouc Blanc Restaurant is handy for a vin chaud on the way home though.

Maria - Alm near Salzburg in Austria. Not so much snow this year but they managed it well.

Also if 2 x Teenagers then maybe consider private lessons. Ski school only good until 6/7. Any older then somehow
too much waiting around.

1 'bitter' lesson I learned this year if you book flights too early they can cost more than booking closer too the time.
'Jet2 !!'

Puy St Vincent is a small place. Mostly French people - I think the only British company to go there is Snowbizz.

Apparently "The obvious choice for the mixed ability ski family with something for everyone."

Went with the kids once (I think their second time). They very much enjoyed it. But it's not a party site, so 14 years may hanker for more apres ski action

Obergurgl is not a bad place to start IMO, although the better skiers in the group might become bored pretty quickly. Lech has good blues which are still skiable in poor conditions and the advanced skiers have a large and challenging ski area to tackle

Montgenevre, up the pass towards the Italian border from Serre Chevalier. 6000ft so generally good snow. Mainly french folk there ( a few Italians but it is close to Sestriere so presume loads go there?)

A few good choices above. Courmayeur was the place where I enjoyed my second ever week skiing. Ski instructors were excellent, the resort and slopes are very attractive, food was superb. Recently been to both La Plagne and Les Arcs which both have lots of wide and easy blues which would be ideal for beginners. Montgenevre is another good shout - remember skiing over to Italy for lunch - and a more traditional resort.

Some good suggestions above, bear in mind that bigger places like courchevel charge more for lift passes that beginners are not likely to use. You may be and to get s limited area pass for them though?

I'll add Passo Tonale into the mix. Most places have beginner slopes at the very top or very bottom, with steep slopes between: set as it is in a mountain pass, Tonale offers very good progression with beginners getting successively harder lifts and slopes

@trek77

I have a place there ( https://www.apartmentamade.com/), get in touch if you ever want to go back.

It is a good place for mixed groups, and great for boarders as there are no mandatory drag lifts and virtually no flat parts.

For beginners then Finland is good, guaranteed snow, short repeatable runs, really good schools and pricing tends to be more sensible. There's loads of other activities but it's not the best for experienced skiers.

Saalbach if you want a bit of fun. Courchevel 1650 if you have the budget. La Plagne also a good place to learn but it’s a big quiet.

Personally I’d go to Austria as it tends to be good value and well organised.

I’d pick a ski school and go there as the lessons are more important than anything with beginners.

Courmayeur has plenty of good beginner terrain but you’ll be downloading probably all week. It also has some wilder stuff but it was very suitable for my almost beginner gf.

I wouldn’t recommend Samoens as the beginner lifts are always breaking down although there is a nice progression from one to the next.

My first trips were to Andorra. I've since been to lots of French ski resorts, a bit of Italy, a couple of trips to Whistler and once to Colorada.

But if I had to recommend a place to begin, it would be Levi in Finland. Its a short drive along the valley from the airport, the snow is ppowdery, the log cabins are a cool place to stay, the instructors are lovely, the slopes are mostly easy, there are teepees at the side of the slopes with fires to cook sausages on, reindeer rides, dog sledding, skiddoos, fatbikes and frozen lakes, ice hotels, a big spa/swimming pool and possibly the northern lights.

Tatra mountains in Slovakia.
Gentle slopes quiet and cheap.

But if I had to recommend a place to begin, it would be Levi in Finland

Tempted by Finland. Daughter is a good skier but very risk averse so prefers easier wide slopes and her boyfriend hasnt skiied before so may be a good resort for him to learn. Son is quite good so will find some off piste stuff I suppose.

If learning is the absolute priority I'd really consider something further afield.

West Coat US has great slopes, great climate and amazing instructors.

The enthusiasm and quality of US instructors takes some beating IMHO. They really do GAS and it's all about the love of the sport, not the technique.

I've taken various people skiing for the first time and too often it's been a pretty tedious experience for them in Europe, especially for older learners who lack confidence and suppleness. For kids, it matters whole loads less.

Canada is great, BUT the Rockies can be pretty cold and exposed, particularly for beginners. Whistler is a great bet. However, I still reckon somewhere like Mammoth or Heavenly in California edge it out for learning and sheer joy.

I'd really struggle to recommend Obergurgl because if the weather is at all windy or cold, it's very exposed on the beginner slopes. La Plagne is pretty good mind, but then you're at the lottery of the ESF (the Frech ski school).

All that said, if you can find a renowned instructor, I'd just go where they are. Bulgaria, Andorra or Japan!

My experience is that good instructors are pretty much universal in the States, but much, much rarer in Europe.

The other benefit of the US West Coast is that you can tag a bit of a summer holiday onto a few days skiing too.

North American resorts more likely to require a bus trip to / from the lifts and one week is not really enough for such a distance and jet lag impact which messes with school holiday coordination.

I’d look at Zell-am-See, pretty town, good lift infrastructure, nice range of runs including some big rinse-repeat blues midway up the mountain where the conditions are better, not silly expensive.

I’d also get any beginners in the snow dome for a few hours first.

Good places in Europe I’ve been to for beginners:

Soll - Austria
St Johann - Austria (next to Kitzbul) - I learned here on a school trip and had a great time with lots of wide easy slopes.

Les Arcs - France

Places I’d probably avoid:

St Anton - Austria - I found nearly everything seemed to have some kind of bumps on it and apart from the very crowded family run back to the resort there wasn’t an easy way back. Bloody brilliant place for intermediate and up skiers though - plus the apres ski is banging

Zermatt - Switzerland - I’d say this is geared more towards better skiers for the most part - although I think they’ve improved their ski school in recent years

I’ve also been to Grindelwald but have no recollection whatsoever in terms of what the skiing was like!

For atmosphere I prefer Austria to anywhere else I’ve been skiing for some reason. Just find it a more friendly place than Switzerland in particular. Maybe just more laid back or something.

They really do GAS and it’s all about the love of the sport, not the technique.

You mean they haven't got a clue and just blag. 🙂 But seriously if you actaully want to learn to ski well as opposed be shown around pistes you are already capable of skiing I suggest employng an instructor who can analyse what you are doing and help you improve your technique which will improve your enjoyment of the sport.

La Plagne is pretty good mind, but then you’re at the lottery of the ESF (the Frech ski school).

Junior was coached by ESF instructors for years (I know good value and professionalism when I see it) and now he's an ESF instructor himself. Far from being a lottery they're a well qualified, enthusiastic and competant bunch.

Six years of training for his diplôme d'état. Along with the Austrian and Italian qualifications it's recognised as the best in the world.

Meanwhile my UK nephew who is a distinctly average skier did a two-week course and then went off to instruct in Japan.

My experience is that good instructors are pretty much universal in the States, but much, much rarer in Europe.

I wonder what the European instructors thought of you ? See your sailing thread for how you feel about having to employ a skipper and having to mix with a stranger. Some Brits have an attitude to Europeans that dismays me, thankfully there are very few on STW.

Six years of training for his diplôme d’état.

Sort of makes the point.

Learning to ski is about making people feel confident and happy on the slopes. The Americans do that. Once you have the confidence the technique can follow. But six years of formal training doesn't necessarily make you a great teacher, as I'm sure most of us can remember from school.

As for the skipper stuff, care to link or quote as I'm pretty sure you are confusing me with someone else. I rather like Europeans as it happens, but you crack on with your aspersions.

I wonder what the European instructors thought of you ?

I learnt in Europe as a kid and loved it (Austria). My recent experience is through taking others to ski in various places and seeing them failing to enjoy themselves when in Europe, but having a fantastic time in the States. What the Europeans think of ME is besides the point.

But six years of formal training doesn’t necessarily make you a great teacher, as I’m sure most of us can remember from school.

Teacher hater too - it only took me a few months to get a PGCE. Don't take any notice of him guys and girls. European instructors will do a great job with you and your kids. They're even willing to just show you around the resort if that's what you want, and share their passion doing it. Even if you can't ski - junior last week with tetraplegic client.

We skied Zermat last season and it’s excellent. We stayed in Cervinia and skied over asthere is a very noticeable price difference

Samoens, grand massif

Cervinia is a reasonable call. The main beginner area is big and there are cruisey blues to graduate onto.
There's more challenging terrain for the more experienced and the whole Swiss side for adventure.
Being high it's relatively snow sure, but the upper slopes and the Zermatt link can get closed because of wind.

but the upper slopes and the Zermatt link can get closed because of wind.

We were there for a week in January, the link was only open one afternoon, the wind was brutal the rest of the week.