Family skiing holiday tips
A family skiing holiday differs in many ways from a pre-family skiing holiday. There's a lot to think about and you'll need to prepare carefully to ensure it's a successful one. Yet, if you choose the holiday that's got the right level of support for your family then skiing holidays can rival any other kind of family break.
The most important considerations include whether and to what extent to opt for some kind of childcare, whether to use an agency and/or operator to help organise the holiday...and, if so, which one(s), what type of accommodation and resort to choose and what to take:
Childcare can take many forms including formal programmes and bringing a nanny, au pair or 'non-skier' friend or relative. Even if you're not a 'fan' of holidays with childcare you may find your holiday compromised for all concerned unless your kids are looked after to a degree. Important considerations include language skills of carers, timing and flexibility of care, ratios of carers to kids and reputation of the company providing care. Note that 'care' is often provided by a ski school which is generally independently run from the operator making your arrangements.
If you're bringing your own care in the form of a nanny, au pair or relative then make sure you can find things to do - resorts with pools and other activities, ideally within walking distance of where you're staying, are important considerations. And work out in advance what your mutual expectations of each other are so there are no unfortunate surprises.
Agencies and/or operators - you'd be very brave to make all arrangements completely independently for your first family ski trip, especially since a ski holiday is more complicated than other types of holiday. If you know a resort well and visit frequently you may find it more cost effective to make your own arrangements. Remember, though, that operators negotiate discounts for buying rooms, ski passes etc. in bulk and will generally pass on some of that saving. They'll also employ one or more reps at the resort whose job is to ensure your holiday runs smoothly.
Agencies can help you choose the right operator. Since they earn a commission from the operator you won't normally pay more for seeking their assistance. But make sure you opt for an agency with knowledgable staff who invest the time and energy to really understand your requirements.
Numerous tour operators offer ski programmes, ranging from the larger mainstream companies like Thomson's to smaller ski specialists. Operators who are highly regarded for their focus on families include Mark Warner, Esprit, Powder Byrne, Club Med, Meriski, Scott Dunn, Ski Famille and Simply Ski. Still others will focus on specific regions and may be a highly suitable option for your family.
Type of accommodation - take a look at our section on hotels versus self-catering. Hotels can be more expensive, but offer service and, usually, more facilities than self-catering choices. Apartments offer the benefit of a kitchen and living room for the evenings, but you're even less likely to want to cook and clean after a day's skiing then a day on the beach.
Another option for skiing is a chalet. Chalets vary substantially in size and quality though, generally, they'll accommodate 8-16 people (i.e. 2-4 families) and offer catering in the form of breakfast, dinner and 'afternoon' tea. Since you're not guaranteed to get on brilliantly with your fellow guests an option worth considering is to travel with friends and 'fill up' the whole chalet. Some chalets will offer childcare based at the chalet for younger kids and they may be equipped with toys and games.
Choice of resort - considerations here include transfer times from the airport (a long transfer can get a ski holiday off to an awful start), activities on offer in the resort like swimming pools, reputation of the resort's ski school and suitability of the slopes for the differing ability ranges of your family members. Check out our destination map for our recomended skiing resorts.
What to take - see our What to Take guide for a check-list. Unlike a beach holiday where you can manage with minimal clothing and equipment, it's absolutely essential to get it right with a ski holiday.
Other tips - if you live near a dry ski slope it's worth paying a visit. If nothing else, your child(ren) will become familiar with the equipment they'll be using and get a feel for skiing. Take it easy on the trip - you're unlikely to be able to spend a full day skiing under any circumstances, so expect less and, hopefully, be pleasantly suprised. Get in shape!
Check out reviews of Whistler in British Columbia, Canada, Kaprun, St. Johann in Tirol and St. Anton in Austria, Saas Fee in Switzerland, and Chamonix, Courchevel, Les Gets, Meribel, St. Foy and Tignes in France.
Finally, don't be put off by the fact that there's a lot to think about. As long as you take the time to prepare properly your family can enjoy an amzing ski holiday.
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