Family skiing holidays

Given the opportunity, most kids love skiing. So with careful planning family skiing holidays really can last a lifetime. Resorts are ever more child-friendly, and there are a growing number of alternatives to choose from when selecting a holiday - from booking with family skiing specialists through to do-it-yourself trips, from the North American West Coast to the long standing family favourites in France and Austria, from scheduled or charter flights to the Eurostar. Two French resorts were selected for our Best Ever Awards, dozens of others across Europe, Canda and the United States deserve consideration depending on your family's specific needs and preferences.

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Our favourites

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1) Best skiing resorts for families with children 7 and under
Our favourite skiing resorts for families with children 7 and under More about Best skiing resorts for families with children 7 and under
2) Best skiing resorts for families with children 8 and over
Our favourite skiing resorts for families with children 8 and over More about Best skiing resorts for families with children 8 and over
3) Best winter active holidays to see Santa
Our favourite winter active holidays to see Santa More about Best winter active holidays to see Santa
4) Best winter sports holidays for families with teens
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Tips

Take kids to a dry ski-slope such as Chill Factor to become familiar with the equipment or for skiing and snowboarding lessons or to find out if younger children are ready for lessons – if not, choose a resort with good kids’ clubs and activities.

Investigate the childcare offered – unless your kids are looked after to some degree, as a beginner you won’t be able to learn, or as an experienced skier you’ll be frustrated. If you need different facilities for different ages, check from what age skiing and snowboarding tuition is available, and that there’s clubs or crèches for younger kids. Alternatively, bring a nanny, au-pair or relative– but make sure there’s plenty to occupy kids in-resort.

Consider a holiday village combining self-catering apartments with hotel-style facilities such as a pool, restaurants and a launderette. Catered chalets with professional childcare, generally accommodating 8–16, can be great for extended families or families holidaying together.

Rent children’s helmets, skis, boots and poles – they quickly grow out of them. Rent or borrow ski jackets and salopettes in the UK. Bring thick socks, gloves, hats, sunblock, ski goggles/sunglasses, and vests and thermal pants.

Buy suitable insurance.

See our guides to skiing in Europe, Scandinavia, North America and the Far East, our features Skiing on a Family-sized Budget, Credit Crunch Skiing, North American Ski Holidays on a Budget, and Ski Famille’s Top Tips, and our Best Ever Family Ski Resort Awards.