Family ski holidays and how to choose the perfect family ski resort

Have a look at our new Family Ski Guide here for winter 2008.

If you have never skied before the idea of taking the family on a ski holiday may be a bit daunting. If on the other hand you have skied before you may also be wondering how to cope with childcare, what age can your child learn to ski and what ski equipment to look at for your family. fear not as we have prepared guides here on everything we think you will need to know from choosing the perfect family resort to what age to ski and childcare options. 

A family ski holiday is a fantastic family friendly action packed holiday for adults and children alike. The whole family gets  fresh air, learns something new in stunning and breathtaking surroundings and in good family friendly ski resorts there are a range of activities to do in the village outside of skiing.

It is however an expensive holiday and one that takes quite a lot of preparation to get right. When it does work and go well there is nothing like it. There is an art to choosing the perfect family ski resort and getting the right level of support for your family from childcare to ski school.

Besides downhill skiing, many resorts offer a huge range of adventure sports including sledging, snowboarding, skating, sleigh riding, snowmobiles and dog mushing. Cross country trails and snow shoeing can also be a less costly alternative to downhill skiing and great for less comfortable or less adventurous skiers. Mixed activity family holidays are on the increase and companies such as France Outdoors have a good range of options for families.

Make sure you have the appropriate winter sports family travel insurance and this covers all members of the family including the children. Getting equipment right is important as well so check our kids ski equipment and packing guide.

Family friendly ski accommodation

You have a number of options when booking your family ski accommodation. Hotels can be expensive but usually offer more facilities than self-catering choices. Apartments can offer the benefit of the kitchen and living room in the evenings and extra space although they are notoriously small as space is always at a premium in ski resorts. Consider also that you are less likely to want to cook and clean after a busy day on the slopes. You can make a considerable saving however if you do book self catering accommodation but check carefully the quality and location of the property and for example if there is parking available if you are organising your own transfer. Parking can be an expensive item in ski resorts.

Chalets can be a great option and usually offer catering in the form of breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea. They vary substantially in size and quality though, and you do pay for what you get. It is worth considering travelling with friends who have children to fill up a whole chalet as they generally accommodate two to three families although if you are booking with an operator it may be an idea to check who else is booked in. Some chalets have childcare based in house for younger children which can be great as you do not have to wrap up the children early in the morning to the first fresh snow and can be equipped with toys and books.

Booking Information

Operators include slightly different elements in their holidays and you should compare prices accordingly and carefully. Packages can in some cases include free childcare and tuition and online discount for booking over the Internet. Some companies offer discounts for bringing your own nanny or grandparents. Children aged between two and twelve are eligible for a range of discounts depending on the accommodation arrangement.

Consider the DIY holiday also as considerable savings can be made on self catering and if you are confident with your navigation of a ski resort. Family friendly hotel and self catering options are available through booking.com and mrandmrssmith.com.

What is the right age to bring children on a ski holiday?

Childcare on ski holidays

Childcare can take many forms including formal programmes and bringing your own nanny such as the holiday nanny service offered by our partner Holiday Nanny. Alternatively you can take a non-skier friend or relative. If you are bringing your own care in the form of a relative or a nanny ensure that there are things to do in the resort and other activities to occupy kids and work out the mutual expectations of each other so that there are no unfortunate surprises.

Many family package operators often offer ski classes of their own and provide their own nursery and childcare facilities for the youngest family members supervised by qualified staff. Babysitting can also be arranged. You can alternatively book independently as the best family friendly resorts have independent childcare services also provided and the local tourist office can provide you with this information. In either case, check the competence of those providing the care and their level of qualification.

What age can children learn to ski?

In many resorts, you will see children as young as three bombing down the runs past you. However, these are local children with a long exposure to ski and snow culture. You have to remember that ski boots are heavy and uncomfortable and as a beginner children will fall a lot of the time. They do seem to take to skiing easier than adult novices. However, we would suggest that four is the youngest age a child should be enrolled at ski school.

Children learning to ski will need plenty of encouragement and praise. They can find skiing the first time a frustrating experience (who wouldn’t!). Walking in ski boots can be difficult and certainly with very young children you will end up carrying their boots and equipment as well as your own.

Most ski resorts have half and full-day skiing programmes for children aged between three and twelve which usually includes instructions, equipments, lift passes, food and supervision. You should enquire about whether the staff has been trained to work with children and their competence in english. Consider also whether your child would be happy being left with a stranger and perhaps doing half days or shifts between you.

Top tips for choosing the perfect family ski resort

When choosing a resort, consider travelling time which can range from one to three hours and it can be difficult with small children. Be sure you look into child seats as well. A small coach or bus transfer may be a good option. Have a look at some of our rates for transfers if you do not want to have to wait at the airport for others.

Question whether the resort meets everyone's needs. You may have a baby that needs crèche facilities or teenagers who might be bored and you have to consider everyone's requirements.

Make sure it is a resort that offers easy access to the slopes for all skiing abilities. Consider whether the resort has access to ski lifts and a wide range of runs from infant novices to adults. Expect your children to have difficulty walking in boots and perhaps where possible try to store your equipments near the lifts.

Consider whether the resort has ski classes for children of different ages and abilities and whether the instructors speak English.

Are there other activities in the resort such as ice skating, an indoor swimming pool if the weather is bad or if your child does not like skiing and activities such as snowmobiling and husky mushing.

Consider the altitude of the resort and the time of year you are going. Christmas and half term can be crowded and expensive and get booked up quickly. Early March is a great time particularly if you are going to a high-altitude resort as you can get some great sunny warm weather.

Investigate the accommodation options available. Consider also the options for dining out if you are staying in self-catering accommodation and whether there are suitable child friendly restaurants in the area.

You will find lots of family friendly travel tips and advice in our research and advice section to help you book the right family holiday. Check out also the experiences of other parents and travellers in our parents forum and add your own experiences as we are a great believer in real parent's experiences as the best measure of whether somewhere will suit you for your family holiday. 

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