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Family ski vacations

tips by skiers for skiers

Family ski vacations do take more planning than a regular holiday. They might not fit most people's idea of a quiet, relaxing holiday, that's true.

At times, you'll feel you're on a 'quest' to get out on the ski slopes with everyone and everything at the right place and the right time.

There's quite a bit of preparation to get to the point when you're setting off down the first run of your holiday.

If you're already keen skiers, then you've probably got a fair idea of what's involved if you're thinking of taking family ski holidays.

But what if you’re first-time skiers, or maybe you can ski but have non-skiing children?

Then you’ve most likely got loads of questions about planning a family ski holiday.

The good news is that you'll easily get up to speed with what you do - and don't - need. So, sit back, and let skiers who take regular ski trips with kids help.

family ski vacations skiing with children

Common questions and tips

I can ski but this is my children's first time - what should I expect?

Be realistic. For the best family ski vacation, you'll have to strike a balance between the skiing you did before and the pace you'll take with your kids. It's enormously rewarding to go skiing with children but you'll need a good dose of patience.

What ski resort should I choose?

If there are beginners in your family you won't need a huge inter-linked ski resort. It makes sense to choose a smaller, quieter resort to get your kids started. Check out some simple steps for choosing a family ski resort plus some ideas for best family ski resorts.

Where can I find all-inclusive holiday deals?

If you're looking good family friendly vacations, take a look at UK-based tour operators who sell family ski holiday packages. These are a good option if you need English-speaking childcare in Europe.

If you're heading over to the USA or Canada, you can book kids programs along with hotels and lift tickets direct from many resorts. You can find brief summaries of the types of programs available on our individual resort pages.

How quickly will my child learn to ski?

That really depends on his age and how often he practices, and how interested he is in doing it in the first place. Lessons with resort instructors are the best way to learn to ski, and he'll gain confidence quickly if you take him out to practice too.

How fit do I need to be?

You certainly don't need to be super-fit, but it'll help if you're all 'ski-fit'. If you're worried, some pre-holiday ski fitness exercises to strengthen your leg and abdominal muscles will really help.

Should I buy my kids ski gear for a first-time ski trip?

No it isn't necessary to buy all the gear as you can hire most things. For some things, it's far more cost-effective to hire. You can get good ski equipment deals for hiring the equipment you'll need.

You could also hire your children's ski clothes if don't wish to buy them first time. Having said that, you can buy non-branded ski wear at reasonable prices.

Top tip: keep a close eye on your children to make sure they don't become too cold, or too hot - yes, that's right, too hot. That'll prevent an awful lot of potential whinging on your family ski vacations - and that has to be a good thing.