Kids learn to ski in just 4 hours

Thanks to a special method developed in Austria, children from the age of three and a half years can learn to negotiate a nursery slope without help in only four hours of one-on-one tuition. Success is guaranteed by Schwarzenberg ski school, one of the region’s many excellent ski schools. With a price tag of only 176 Euros (GBP 123) learning to ski has never been more affordable.

“Skiing is the easiest thing in the world,” said Arlberg-born Hannes Schneider, one of the pioneers of Alpine skiing. He is considered one of the masterminds of the famous Arlberg ski technique, which has been adapted to the needs of children. Several ski schools in the up-and-coming Bregenzerwald region now run these highly popular courses.

Passing on the art of skiing to the next generation – without busting your budget

Vorarlberg’s 1,950 vetted ski instructors are ‘ambassadors’ of contemporary skiing and are setting new standards in instructing children. Vorarlberg’s family-friendliness is renowned: not only does Vorarlberg excel at looking after families on winter holidays, it also does it at an affordable price. Check out this season’s best special offers for families:

Bregenzerwald has two super-saver weeks for families that combine special rates with a programme of activities that kids will love. The dates are January 12 to 19, March 1 to 8 and March 29 to April 5 2008. Children aged 3 to 6 receive free ski passes, can attend a four-day ski course and participate in lantern hikes, farmhouse visits and tobogganing outings free of charge.

From March 8 to 15 and from March 24 to April 6 2008 Montafon offers free accommodation for children born 1996 and later as well as a free ski pass, provided that at least on parent books a stay for the same period and buys a ski pass for the Montafon ski arena of at least 5 days. During this period the ski schools in the Montafon region offer super-saver courses for children.

Vorarlberg lies in the very West of Austria, bordering Switzerland and Germany, between Lake Constance and Arlberg. The nearest air hubs are Friedrichshafen and Zurich from where buses run directly to the ski areas. easyJet flies to Friedrichshafen from London Stansted and Dublin. Some of these ski areas such as Arlberg or the Montafon are famed all over the world, others such as Bregenzerwald and Bludenz are well-kept secrets.

To find out more visit Vorarlberg.travel.