Ski Operator Kids Clubs
Virtual tours of Andorran ski resorts
If you are a family looking to take to the ski slopes this winter, you need to be sure that you have booked with an operator offering the right Kids Club facilities for your trip. To help parents select the right ski holiday, we have put together the table below comparing the various childcare age groups, staff qualifications, babysitting services, daytime activities and safety information of five of the UK’s leading tour operators; Mark Warner, Thomson Ski, Club Med, Crystal Holidays and Neilson.
| Mark Warner | Club Med | Crystal Holidays | Thomson Ski | Neilson* | |
| Child Age Groups | Baby Club: 4 - 11 months (costs £180 per child, per week for half days or £360 per child, per week for full day care) Toddler Club: 1 - 2 years (costs £180 per child, per week for half days or £360 per child, per week for full day care) For children over 2 years half-day childcare is included. Mini Club: 3 - 5 years Junior Club: 6 - 9 years Kidz Club: 10 - 13 years Indy Club: 14 - 17 years |
Baby Club Med: 4 - 23 months (cost £210 per child, per week) Petit Club Med: 2 -3 years (costs £190 per child, per week) Mini Club Med: 4 - 10 years Junior Club Med: 11 - 17 years |
Pepi Penguin Créche: 6 months - 4 years. Costs from £110 for six mornings or afternoons. Whizz Kids Club: 4 - 11 years (in Austria from 3 years). Costs from £95 for six mornings or afternoons. |
Pepi Penguin Créche: 6 months - 4 years. Costs from £110 for six mornings or afternoons. Whizz Kids Club: 4 - 11 years (in Austria from 3 years). Costs from £95 for six mornings or afternoons. |
Snowangels Club: 4 - 23 months. Costs £220 low season, £250 high season. Snowman Club: 2- 5 years. Costs £180 in low season, £225 in high season. Snowbusters Club: 5 - 11 years. Costs £150 in low season, £175 in high season. |
| Staff Qualifications | DCE, NNEB, NVQ or an equivalent qualification. | In France, staff have a BAFA or an early childhood diploma to work with small children. | NNEB, BTEC, NVQ3 or equivalent. | NNEB, BTEC, NVQ3 or equivalent. | NNEB, BTEC, NVQ3 or equivalent. |
| Ratio of Staff to Kids | Baby Club: one nanny for two babies Toddler Club: one nanny to every three children Mini Club: there is a high ratio of nannies to children ensuring plenty of interaction. Junior Club: full day supervision from staff. Kidz Club: full day supervision from staff. Indy Club: full day supervision from staff. |
Baby Club Med: one nanny to four babies. Petit Club Med: one nanny for every six children. Mini Club includes supervision. Juniors' Club Med: supervision is divided into two age groups: 11 - 13 years and 14 - 17 years. |
Pepi Penguin Créche: one nanny to three children under 2 years, and one nanny per four children if all children are aged 2 - 4 years. Whizz Kids Club includes supervision. |
Minimum ratio of one nanny per three children under 2 years old and one nanny per four children if all children are aged 2-4 years (please be aware there may not always be two staff present, at all times, but Thomson will always ensure correct adult/child ratios are adhered to). | Snowangels Club: one nanny to every three children. Snowman Club: one nanny to every four children. Snowbusters Club: one or two nannies to every eight children. |
| Babysitting Service | Extra babysitting can be arranged in the resort though the Childcare manager. Allow 24hrs notice for this service. | No extra babysitting service is provided. | Babysitting is available locally at approx £7 per hour (subject to availability) with the childcare team and is a private arrangement. | Babysitting is available locally at approx £7 per hour (subject to availability) with the childcare team and is a private arrangement. | This can vary depending on the hotel & the resort. |
| Evening Childcare | For children & teenagers aged 6 - 17 years, there is a fully supervised entertainment programme until 10.30pm Evening créche service: In all the resorts there is a free evening créche service for children (4 months - 5 years). This operates from 7.30pm until 11.30pm and allows you to drop off the children at the créche where they will be entertained with films & games, or they can sleep in a designated quiet area. |
Pyjama Club: for children aged 0 - 10 years. This runs from 9pm - 12pm. Only some hotels clubs offer this service. | Snuggle Club: runs six evenings a week. For children aged 6 months - 4 years (on the chef's evening off this will be extended to 10pm). Pyjama Club: runs six evenings a week. For children aged 4 - 11 years, (on the chef's evening off this will be extended to 10pm). |
If you are staying in the property where the childcare is located, and full day childcare has been pre-booked then you will receive 1 night's babysitting (if staying in a chalet) which takes place on your chalet hosts evening off. | Snowangels Sleep Club happens two evenings a week from 7pm - 10pm. Costs £20 per evening per child. Snowman Sleep Club: happens two evenings a week from 7pm - 10pm. Costs £20 per evening per child. Snowbusters Evening Entertainment happens two evenings a week. |
| Daytime Activities | Daily programme of water sports & land-based activities with free tuition. | All groups offer games, sports and creative activities. | Half-day or full-day club activities for non-skiing children Outside snow play & games, snowman building, treasure hunts, sledging & cable car rides, all make up part of the fun had in Whizz Kids! (weather & parental consent permitting) |
Main play area is equipped with a range of toys, games, puzzles, books and art/craft materials. Outdoor play & activities (weather and parental consent permitting). |
Supervised indoor & outdoor activities such as tobogganing, board games, arts & crafts, group activities, snowman building & more. |
| Opening times | Children's Clubs: 9am - 12:30pm and 2:30pm to 5:30pm. Evening Créche: 7:30pm - 11.30pm. |
Baby Club Med: 9am - 5.30pm and 7.30pm until 9pm 6 days a week. Mini Club Med: 9am - 9pm 6 days a week. |
Pepi Penguin Créche: 08:30 - 5.00pm 6 days a week Whizz Kid Club: 08:30 - 5pm, 6 days a week. |
Pepi Penguin Créche: 08:30 - 5.00pm 6 days a week Whizz Kid Club: 08:30 - 5pm, 6 days a week. |
Snowangels Club: 9am - 4.30pm. Half days are an alternative option. Snowman Club: 9am - 4.30pm. Half days are an alternative option. Snowbusters Club: 9am - 4.30pm. Half days are an alternative option. |
| Meals Available | Children's buffet dinner every evening from 5:30 - 6:30p.m. For the Kidz Club & Indy Club there is a dinner sitting from 7:30pm onwards. |
There are specially prepared meals for infants and children. | Lunch: If your child is booked into either Pepi Penguin créche or Whizz Kids club then lunch will be taken with the childcare staff (as long as it had been pre-booked). Early supper: is normally served between 5.30pm - 6.00pm. Parents are responsible for their child's supervision during this time. |
Children are given lunch. | Children having full day childcare will receive lunch, drinks and snacks. Children having half-day childcare will receive drinks and snacks. |
| Child Health Form | Parents will be given a form at the resort. | A medical certificate that proves the child is healthy and includes vaccination updates is required. This should be issued by a GP prior to departure. | Forms need to be completed once in the resort (not prior to travel). | Parents will be given a form at the resort. | Parents will be given a form at the resort. |
| Safety Standards | Parents will be informed of all the health and safety standards at the clubs upon arrival. | Strict safety rules: a contact diary is used to keep parents informed (account of the day, time of child's arrival and departure). | Strict health and safety rules are maintained throughout the clubs. | Parents will be informed of all the health and safety standards at the clubs upon arrival. | Parents have to sign their child in and out of childcare. Strict health and safety rules are maintained throughout the clubs. |
| Booking | Childcare and Indy club places should be reserved at the time of booking as there are limited spaces. | The kids clubs are an optional extra. To be booked and paid for when purchasing a holiday. | Secure your child a place at the kids club at the time of booking your holiday. Créches and clubs are subject to availability. | Childcare should be reserved at the time of booking a holiday. | Childcare should be reserved at the time of booking a holiday as there is limited availability. |
* The Neilson childcare information is based on the children's clubs at the Hotel Aalborg in Les Deux Alpes, France
Research provided by Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)