A Week in the Alps: A Family Ski Week Review

What. A. Week. 

24 children, 39 adults, 3 Archie’s Leaders. One unforgettable week on the slopes with the sublime Mont Blanc as our backdrop.

The sun has, quite literally, dawned on another fantastic Family Ski Week in Courmayeur - and what a superb time it was. Wonderfully, we were blessed with gloriously sunny weather, fabulous company, and were looked after superbly by the wonderful staff at Hotel Pavillion. Both parent and child alike had a superb week, sampling some of the finest slopes, snow and cuisine that Italy’s premier ski resort had to offer.

From perfect powder days to laughter-filled lunches and some surprisingly competitive ski racing, the week brought together our team and their families for a much-needed winter escape. Here's a quick look back at all we got up to in Courmayeur, with a sprinkling of some of the highlights from our alpine adventure:

Lunchtimes; refuelling with a view:

Each lunchtime, fresh off the back of an intense 3 hour ski lesson, the Archie’s team would meet the exhausted, and ravenous children before heading across to the wonderful Christiania’s Restaurant & Bar. Each day we were looked after superbly by the team there, ensuring children and adults alike were refuelled and ready for an afternoon at MiniClub, or on the slopes. With food options rangings from traditional Italian cuisine, to superb pizzas, and a whole array of child friendly choices - everyone at Team Archie’s left lunch 

Superb Ski School:

Once more, we continued our blossoming partnership with Ski School Monte Bianco who were utterly superb in ensuring all of the children developed and refined their skiing skills, whilst, most importantly ensuring each child had a superb morning on the slopes. The 24 children were split into eight different groups, across almost every ski level imaginable (from the yellow ‘beginner’ group, to the Level 5, borderline expert group) and their needs were cared for superbly. Each morning, the instructors, with beaming smiles on their faces, greeted the children left in their charge, before embarking on adventures across different parts of the piste map, with pockets full of sweets and Italian choccy, ready to coax even the most hesitant skier down any slope. 

Ski Racing Shenanigans… “Up ze Cupz!”

On day four of the expedition, the ski school groups, all of whom, were by some stretch, experts in their fields, were taken to a specially prepared downhill track, to race against each other - with the victor claiming bragging rights for the year ahead. The track was complete with gates, an announcer, and a band of committed ‘ultras’ (the parents) as they roared on their offspring to ski racing success. Another hugely successful outing, which was followed on Friday by a wonderfully presented ‘prize giving’ by all at the ski school, in front of a remarkably similar band of familial ‘ultras’... “Up Ze Cupz!”

Ho(tel)me Comforts:

As aforementioned, we were wonderfully cared for by the team at Hotel Pavillion. Each day was bookended with a banquet of sorts… each morning started with a  wonderfully traditional European breakfast spread, complete with every cheese and pastry imaginable, before each evening a stellar four course set menu was rolled out, combining local cuisine with some traditional Italian favourites. 

Arguably the best part of life in the hotel, was the sense of family life that protruded from every nook and cranny. Walking into the bar-come-foyer area each evening one was greeted with groups of children playing a variety of games (from Monopoly deal, to Harry Potter dobble) and similarly eclectic groups of parents washing down the day's slope-based antics with a glass or two of Italian beer, or any tipple of choice!

Speaking personally, this encapsulated the real highlight of the trip; the amalgamation of groups of parents and children from all over the UK! Many of the group had never met each other before the trip, and it truly was a joy to see such a warm, welcoming and fun atmosphere at the eve of each day. 

Film Night Fun

Twice during the week, on Tuesday and Thursday, the Archie’s Leaders hosted a children’s food and film night. Again, hosted wonderfully by Hotel Pavillion, before heading downstairs to gain an education in film brilliance. The children were treated to two classics this year; High School Musical & Shrek, and judging by the number of parents stealing a glance at the end of the movie - clearly popular choices! Whilst the children were engrossed in Basketball-come-musical showstopper, the parents and guardians managed to venture into the town of Courmayeur, and its wonderful high street; Via Roma. With a plethora of secluded, but lovely, bars, stellar restaurants, and some of the finest high street shopping that Europe has to offer, the evenings were hugely appreciated by the parents!

Free Ski Saturday

After the week of intensive lessons, Saturday was the day for what all parents dream of… a stress-free morning on the slopes, with each child’s competence and confidence on skis. With Courmayeur’s south facing slopes bathed in glorious fifteen-degree-sun, the resort was hosting its end of season closing party, and the slopes were filled with 80s inspired outfits and monoskiers, as various restaurants and bars hosted events. Families were able to enjoy all that the resort had to offer, whether it was the clear, open slopes, the monoskiing slalom race, or even witnessing the Archie’s Leaders successfully ski across water! It was the perfect way to wrap up the week - here’s to the 2026 season!

Plans are already in motion for Archie’s Family Ski Week for a Pre Christmas trip and Easter trip - we’d love to see you there!

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