Skiing in Sierra Nevada at Easter

by Rachael
(Marbella)

We have just returned from a long Easter weekend in the Sierra Nevada skiing, hard to believe as we left Elviria it was+ 23 degrees and we arrived to + 4 in a little over 2 hours !
The car was packed to the max, amazing how much stuff you need to take for 3 days of skiing, although having stayed in most of the accommodation in the Sierra Nevada I prefer to self cater and take half off Mercadona up with me, keeps the costs down and ensures the kids don't just eat chips with every meal.

We stayed in Inside Plaza apartments again, one of my favourites, 2 min walk to the ski lifts, comfortable and all have wifi/tv/DVD etc so can just chill in the evenings if not going out. There are small kitchens where it's easy enough to knock up a pasta dish and sandwiches to take up the slopes but anything more might be a push! There is also a new noodle bar opposite and pizza take away if you can't be bothered and a small supermarket underneath to grab a bottle of wine.

Day one was a tad stressful and an early start as I was solo with 5 and 8 year old kids who did not want to carry their skis, so I became the Sherpa and managed thanks to the help of the lovely telecabina staff to get all of us to to the top to meet the ski instructor Nathan from the British ski school (excellent staff, all very child friendly as most instructors are parents and therefore are more than use to the tears and tantrums that come with skiing)
Childfree, I skied some beautiful red runs in brilliant sunshine and even treated myself to an early vino caliente, obviously to get over the stress of the mornings "mum No more sunscreen, mum I have lost a glove, mum I need the toilet, mum my boots hurt, mum etc etc
Met the kids at midday feeling relaxed, they had a ball and were keen to show me there new turns, after a quick lunch on the slopes we met some friends and had a few hours skiing together before retiring to the crescendo bar (family favourite games for the kids, good food, fire and more importantly a great G&T, situated at the bottom of Rio next to Borreguiles telecabina) for some apres ski !

Dad was meant to be picked up at Granada airport at 18.00, sadly by this point I had rather enjoyed my post ski drinks so he had to get a taxi up, but actually it was not that bad considering the distance €70 !!

Day 2 we had a fantastic family day skiing, we were on the slopes by 09.00 and they were deserted (well until 10.30) and then it became quite busy, we stuck to the blue and green slopes and had a great lunch at the veuve cliquot bar on the Rio piste, amazing food, great service, sadly only drank a couple/ a few of small beers and not the champagne but really well priced, family of 4 main course and drinks approx €70.
It was a really hot day on the slopes, people were in t shirts in the afternoon as a result it all got a bit slushy so we finished up early 14.30 and took the kids to Mirlo Blanco, there is a railed toboggan, large tyres to slide down the slopes on and snow scooter / bikes although we did not try them they looked fun !

We went out for dinner to Tito Luigi, basically the Da Bruno of Sierra Nevada, it's all ok and you know the kids will eat, always busy, can't help but feel some of the staff are doing you a favour type place, but it works !

Day Three another perfect day, bright blue sky, cold a.m, a little too warm afternoon but that's Spring skiing anywhere, we skied, skied a bit more , had a long lunch and apres ski was at various bars in the square where lots of the kids all play together ! Dad then post a beer or three, wanted to go sledging, obviously all ended in tears with snow in places that you never knew existed but such fun !

We had a great time, not the cheapest weekend lift passes, ski lessons, eating out , accommodation all add up but as a family of skiers a great value option on your doorstep !

We quite often do a day trip up, but my best advice is get up there early, park, get your lifts passes then breakfast and get one of the first lifts up ! If you need ski lessons and to rent equipment I would use Sierra essence and speak to Kristal, she will even get your lift passes and then you only have to lug the ski's a few metres to the lift !

Amazingly the resort is open until the 1st of May, I am yet to see if you can ski In the morning and beach in the afternoon but I might try it this year !!

So all in all I have got the best sun tan on my face ever , albeit with huge goggle marks , but to see your kids whizz down a slope, with a beaming smile, lugging the skis, some tears, some falls, and the best family photos make it so worth it :)

Do I Recommend. Yes 😀
Kids rating apart from lots of sunscreen yes !! ( and the Easter bunny appeared )😀

Price :( skiing never cheap !) if you are on a budget and don't have ski stuff try and borrow some or rent, skis and boots are reasonable are to rent in the resort, it's the gloves / layers /salopettes / coats etc that add up ( although you can rent these too ) 🤑

Accommodation in Sierra Nevada budget to luxury, personally I would give up luxury to be near to the lift especially with kids ! 😊

Driving, really easy 2 hours from Marbella approx depending on traffic and weather (in the winter you sometimes need snow chains if you do not have a 4x4 to get up to the resort although they can be rented at the petrol station at the bottom ) 😀