Where do you start with planning a family ski vacation?

Planning a family ski vacation will probably require a little more forethought than perhaps a regular family holiday. There’s the resort to choose, the gear to find, getting there…just a moment, let’s take a deep breath and start at the beginning!

Ready, set, go
You’ve made the decision to go skiing. How on earth do you turn the dream of skiing with the whole family into a reality? You can picture you all going down a perfectly groomed run on a crisp morning when there’s not a cloud in sight. Or maybe you can imagine the fun you’ll have making your way down tree-lined slopes with the largest snowflakes possible tickling your nose. However you picture the scene, let’s get you there.

Set a realistic budget – and stick to it
Reign in that excitement about the prospect of whooshing down that perfect slope with your child eagerly following in your tracks. There’s no denying the skiing isn’t exactly the cheapest activity. But with some careful forethought and regular saving, we were pleasantly surprised at how the cost of the family ski holiday can be manageably spread throughout the year.

When to go?
Now you’ve got a budget to work with, the next thing to decide when planning a family ski vacation is when to go during the season. You’ll find that the length of the season varies from country to country, even from resort to resort. So in the northern hemisphere, you’ll find that between December and April you’ll have a wide choice of destinations.

If your children are under school-age, think about January. The prices are lower, the runs less crowded and you’re not restricted to school term dates. The New Year and February half term holidays are popular choices with families trying to fit in with school terms.

Which resort?
There’s so much choice out there – you should see our list of places we’d love to visit some day! Let’s back up a little, and get back on track with planning a family ski vacation. A resort offering plenty of facilities for families will be your best bet. Take a look at family ski resorts for more ideas.

Decide on the type of accommodation
Now you’ve got a budget in place, you can look accommodation types and costs. Catered or non-catered? Think about which will suit your family best.

How to get there?
For us, deciding how to get to out chosen resort is the one we feel is most practical for the whole family. Travelling from the UK we have recently opted for French ski resorts, and with young children we find the self-drive option suits everyone just fine. There's no waiting at airports and we have the convenience of a car. You might relish the challenge and independence of making your own arrangements, or like us might you find it less stressful to book your holiday via a specialist family ski operator.

On the countdown to departure
So you know where you’re going, booked where you’re staying and know how you’re getting there. Keep that picture in mind of that perfect ski run. Planning a family ski vacation does have some tedious tasks too. Have you arranged your insurances? Are your travel documents up to date?

When to start planning a family ski vacation?
If you’re certain of your destination and where you want to stay, and if you aim to visit during one of the peak weeks (New Year and February half term in particular), then you may have to plan as much as a year ahead! It isn’t unusual for popular accommodation in popular resorts to be already booked during this season for next year.

Whew. You’re on your way to the reality of that perfect ski run with the family. With careful planning, a family ski vacation will be closer than you think.

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