Going on holiday is one of the best things you can do with your family. It’s a time to make memories that will last a lifetime. Some families prefer beaches, others prefer cities, and a very special few prefer skiing. However, we think more families should be open to the idea of a retreat on the slopes. Not only does it offer stunning views but also plenty of time to bond with family.
If you’re ready to try a family ski holiday, here are some tips to make the most out of this exciting trip.
1. Choose the Dream Destination First
We understand it can get a little overwhelming to pick a destination with so many resorts to choose from. That’s why we recommend looking at the country you want to go to first: will it be Italy or France? Are you looking to go further abroad?
After this, start searching for ski resorts or hotels through round-up lists and reviews. This way, you’ll narrow down your list quickly and avoid getting overwhelmed at all the potential resorts worldwide.
Note what facilities are on offer – What is the hotel’s after-ski like, for example? Do they have a swimming pool, restaurant, or sauna? Also, check the weather forecast for the period you plan to go to ensure that the weather will be good enough for skiing. We recommend January-March for the best conditions.
2. Bring the Right Toys
If you are traveling with younger children, bringing the right toys is one of the most important things to think about. Even though you can look forward to exciting adventures on the mountain, there will be plenty of downtime. Your kids may need some entertainment on the chairlift or in the lodge while you rest up.
You can bring your favorite toys from home, or you can buy them in advance online at www.bbtoysth.com and surprise your little one at the resort.
3. Prepare All Your Papers
Preparing all the necessary papers is the easiest way to make planning a trip less stressful, especially when planning for a family. Print off everything you can and arrange them neatly into files with passports included. This means that you can focus on packing and tidying rather than sorting papers on the days before you are traveling.
4. Book The Right Lessons
Even if your family has gone skiing before, it never hurts to enroll in a brush-up lesson. Many parents want their children to learn how to ski as part of a class, but some prefer a private instructor. Most ski resorts will offer both, but you have to enroll early to secure a spot.
However, you’ll want to carefully consider the difficulty level of the lessons you’re enrolling in. There’s nothing worse than being a beginner in a black-diamond level course!
5. Plan For Other Activities
While skiing is the priority activity on the daily agenda, your kids may need other activities to keep them motivated and excited. Plus, your kids might need a break from skiing when you really want to hit the slopes.
That’s why we recommend booking a resort that offers additional activities for children, like:
- Tubing
- Snowman making
- Dance parties and karaoke
- Snowshoeing
- Bobsledding
Many ski resorts offer kids’ clubs that keep children entertained while you ski solo. However, you can also plan to do group family resort activities if you want to stick together.
The Round-Up
After reading this quick guide, you should now feel more confident about how to plan for a ski holiday as a family. The planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Just give yourself plenty of time to book with a destination in mind first.