Family ski vacation packages

where do you find them and what do they include?

1. Ski resort vacation packages

These range from a reduced rate for buying a family lift pass ticket through to good deals that include accommodation and lift passes when you book direct through the resort’s website.

These deals will suit you if you’re comfortable with booking direct and are able to get to your resort under your own steam. But what if you don’t want to deal with the booking arrangements directly? No problem that’s where the second type of package comes in.

2. Specialist family travel companies and large tour operators

Why? Well, you'll most likely want everything to run smoothly, so it makes sense to buy family ski packages that include the main things you'll need. Travel, accommodation, lift passes, ski equipment hire and childcare can be arranged for you – the decisions you have to make will be what resort and where to stay.

Even if you’re a seasoned skier, these companies take the stress out of planning a family ski vacation, and many skiers take family ski vacations with the same company season after season because they do such a good job.

Here in the UK there are travel operators of different sizes to choose from. But how do you find the right one for you?

Specialist ski holiday companies

Specialist companies choose resorts where the facilities are particularly family orientated and are a great place to start when deciding on family ski vacation packages. Each of the following have in-house childcare, be that a nursery/creche or nannies. They're aimed at UK skiers, so it's no surprise they based in Europe. Package ski vacation favourites are mostly in France - that's simply due to the ease of getting there. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Family specialists only

• Snowbizz - offers apartments in Puy Saint Vincent, France


• Family Ski Company - offers chalets in Ardent (Portes du Soleil), Les Coches (Paradiski) and Reberty (Les Trois Vallees) in France; and Saas Fee in Switzerland


• Ski Famille - offers chalets in Les Gets (Portes du Soleil) and Reberty in France


• 360 Sun and Ski - offers a chalet in Les Carroz d'Araches (Grand Massif) in France


• Ski Hillwood - offers hotels in Zauchensee, Austria


• Esprit Ski - offers chalets and hotels in Selva Val Gardena, Italy; Saas Fee, Switzerland plus St Anton and Obergurgl in Austria. They also have a programme of French ski areas such as Alpe d'Huez, Paradiski, La Rosiere, Les Gets, Espace Killy and Les Trois Vallees.

Companies with family ski vacation packages and facilities as part of a wider programme

• Le Ski - offers chalets in France with childcare available in La Tania (Les Trois Vallees).


• Mark Warner - offers chalethotels in a programme that includes Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France. They have children's facilities in St Anton in Austria and Val d'Isere, Les Deux Alpes, La Plagne, Courchevel and Meribel in France.


• Ski Peak - offers hotel, chalets and apartments in Vaujany, Alpe d'Huez in France.


• Ski Beat - offers chalets in France with childcare available in La Plagne, Les Arcs, La Tania and La Rosiere.


• Ski Blanc - chalets in Les Allues, Meribel (Les Trois Vallees, France).


• Meriski - chalets in Meribel, France


• Alpine Elements - chalets mostly in France with childcare available in Les Arcs, Courchevel and Meribel.

Mainstream tour operators

Their size and market dominance means that they have a huge choice of resorts and countries – but- you have to look through their resorts carefully to find those with in-house childcare. Generally travel to resort is included in the package, although you can usually make your own travel arrangments, for example if you want to drive to resort.

Remember: the popular weeks of New Year and February half-term get booked up quickly - sometimes more than a year in advance. So it makes sense to get ahead with your planning if you want family ski vacation packages in peak weeks.

Return from family ski vacation packages to the family ski vacations home page.