If you are planning a ski holiday for the whole family there are a few thing to consider that will ensure everyone has a great time on the slopes. Every family will have different needs but there’s no reason that a skiing holiday even with very young children can’t be fun for all. To help keep your mind at ease when travelling with young children then check out some of these tips. Sometimes the thought of packing for the whole family can be daunting too so consider organising everything with individual packing cubes for each family member.
Childcare Facilities
If you have babies or toddlers you would be best to consider going to a resort that has easy access to child minding facilities of some description. You may not want to use them all the time but it’s always good to have options. How much you use them will depend on funds available but you can at least enjoy some hours on the slopes every day. The alternative is to choose a place that has nannies available for all day.
When it comes to places offering professional childcare services look for those employing qualified nannies, teachers or nurses that have up to date emergency care qualifications. Sometimes these will take over the responsibility of getting children to ski lessons, group meeting points, etc leaving you to enjoy a full day on the slopes.
Child Friendly Accommodation
It’s not so easy if you have to take different transport systems just to make it onto the slopes. You might do well to consider resorts where you stay on the resort itself where you can ski in, ski out. Then one adult can look after the children in the apartment or chalet and you can take turns throughout the day. Then during the day you will have somewhere private to relax rather than having to make the most of restaurant facilities or public shelters.
Ski and Play
For those children who are old enough to learn to ski choose a resort where they can spend time on skis but also where they can just play on the snow. Kids learn best while playing so look for ski schools that have ski instructors who have special interests in teaching and working with children. Check other activities are on offer like tobogganing or building snowmen. If the weather is cold they also need to be able to access warm areas easily. A good family resort will offer great family ski deals possibly including ski lessons with lift passes for beginner levels. Children need quite different facilities to access learners’ lopes easily so consider what sorts of ski lifts are available.
Les Gets, France
Les Gets is a well established ski area in the French Alps well suited to family skiing holidays. It has captivating charm and character as well as great skiing for all the family.
La Plagne, France
Another popular family ski resort in the French Alps La Plagne 1800 has a fantastic atmosphere for family fun. La Plagne 1800 sits in a forest edged bowl and there is easy access to other Paradiski areas close by. A shuttle bus links the main resorts. There are runs for experts but the majority of runs are intermediate of varying slopes. You would be hard pressed to ski them all on one holiday. There are many intermediate runs so a skiing family can enjoy many hours on the slopes together. It is easy to find chalets to rent that are close to the slopes, ski school and lifts.
Mayrhofen, Austria
Mayrhofen is considered one of the premier ski resorts in Austria because of the varied terrain, the local Austrian authentic charm and the entertaining après ski life. It attracts all kinds of skiers from expert individuals to large family groups. The village itself is authentic Austrian village dating from the 16th century with traditional architecture and ambiance. However all the mod cons are on offer as well to keep guests warm and cosy.
Ylläs’, Finland
This Finnish resort, pronounced “U-las”, has welcomed skiers to Lapland since the 1930’s. Ylläs is the largest ski area in Finland, with 3km Jättipitkä being the longest run in the country. The ski fields are quite different from European Alpine resorts. Even though the actual altitude of Ylläs’ peak is quite low at about 700m, the northern latitudes mean skiing seasons are long with guaranteed good snow cover.
You have a choice of two authentic villages for accommodation Äkäslompolo in the north and Ylläsjärvi in the south which are genuine and charming villages to base your holiday. Many log cabins are surrounded by pristine native forest. There are more reindeer than humans in the area. The kids will love the chance to visit Santa in his hometown. Seek him out in a backwoods log cabin working away with his elves and reindeer sleigh parked outside. Lapland is also a great spot to view the Northern Lights.
Cairngorm Mountain, Scotland
If you live in the United Kingdom you shouldn’t overlook one of the best family resorts on Cairngorm in the Scottish Highlands. Aviemore area is very popular all year round but winter offers special snowy delights. The altitudes are nowhere as high as the European Alps but Cairngorm offers relatively reliable winter snow cover. February can be very busy so the best time to go is probably March.
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