Are you planning a family ski holiday with the little ones this year? Whether you have babies, toddlers or older children, it’s definitely possible to have a fantastic ski holiday without breaking the bank. The key is to do your research and plan ahead. Many ski resorts nowadays are focusing on anticipating the needs of families with children of all ages. In this article, we’ll discuss good ski resorts for families, ski areas with free ski passes for children, choosing a ski school or a nursery and how to save money on your family ski holiday. Good luck preparing the perfect family ski holiday!
It’s crucial to plan ahead when organising your family ski holiday, especially if your children are very young. In fact, most families start planning in October for ski holidays in February or March. That’s 4 or 5 months early! But it’s worth it, if only for the wider range of accommodation choices. If your kids don’t have winter clothing yet, hunt around for second-hand items or ask friends if you can borrow some pieces. Children have a way of growing out of clothing really fast so it’s not worth spending very much money!
When you’re going on a ski holiday with young children, you don’t need to pick a ski resort with endless slopes or a crazy après-ski scene. Look for ski resorts that offer family-friendly services such as nurseries and activities for children. You should also look for pedestrianized ski-in, ski-out resort towns, which will make it that much easier to get the whole gang safely up the hill in the morning. If you want some inspiration, check out Snowplaza’s list of the best family-friendly ski resorts.
There is no shortage of ski areas that offer discounted ski passes for children under 12 and free ski passes for children under 5. You’ll find further deals in March and April, so why not go on a bit of a later holiday and enjoy some spring skiing? There is often fresh snow right through the Easter holidays!
While it is mandatory for children under the age of 15 to wear a helmet in Austria and Spain, other countries such as France have no such law. However, we strongly recommend the use of a helmet for children and adults alike. Plus, helmet rental is often included when you rent a snowboard or skis. Don’t ruin your ski holiday for the sake of a preventable incident!
Children as young as 3 years old can already start learning how to ski! These lessons take place under the supervision of qualified instructors in separated beginners’ areas that are specially designed for young children. Kids can explore the magic carpets, friendly characters and cool activities. By learning how to ski in such a fun, no-pressure area, your kids will learn to love the snow and grow into confident skiers and snowboarders!
You might want to look into companies that provide organised holidays for families. Companies such as the UK-based Family Ski help you plan accommodation, childcare and so on. Many hotels will offer games rooms, special kids’ meals, nurseries, etc. This makes your life easier and ensures that your children will have a great holiday!
It’s rare to find a ski resort nowadays that doesn’t offer activities for rainy days or simply tired children! From horse-drawn sledge rides to snowshoeing, from petting zoos to swimming pools to cultural activities, your children will be delighted to explore the village after a hard day on the slopes!
Your family ski holiday will be one of the most rewarding experiences you could imagine. Parents, have you already gone on a ski holiday with the family? Leave us your advice in the comment section below!
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
