When to ski – and when not to ski

Remember when deciding when to ski was simple? Before there were things like school holidays to think about, there were just two deciding factors in our minds: was there plenty of snow, and where we free from work commitments.

The good news is that there are still plenty of times that fit with the school calendar and have good snow. These when to ski recommendations are all based on our experience of ski holidays during the northern hemisphere winter. Here in Europe the ski season is generally mid-December to mid-April depending on a resort’s altitude.

I'm keen to get out at the start of the season
Taking family ski holidays before Christmas is tempting because it fits with term time, is low season and uncrowded. The downside is that you can’t always rely on there being good snow. By Christmas and New Year there’s usually decent snow, but New Year in particular is very popular, and you’ll pay high season prices. During our last December family ski holiday, the children especially enjoyed ‘night skiing’ down floodlit runs – and it was only five o’clock in the afternoon.

January has a reputation for being cold, but given the choice we’d choose the middle two weeks in January time and again. Prices and crowds are low – a great combination.

What about February - isn't that the best time to go?
February is high season again. We avoid the UK half-term holiday which is usually the third week of the month. Why? Well, lift pass and accommodation prices are at their peak and in popular resorts the slopes can get hideously crowded. If your children are pre-school age, best wait until March when the slopes will be much quieter.

What about the end of the season?
We’ve had great ski vacations during the end of March and beginning of April. The daylight hours are longer, the temperature is warmer, and the prices more favourable. Even the Easter weekend is generally not at all as pricey as half-term. In April the slopes can be hard in the morning and slushy by the afternoon and you soon become adept at leading the family to runs with the best conditions at various times of day.

When to ski each day - is there a best time?
Try between midday and two o’clock in the afternoon. The slopes will be at their best, most people will be having lunch and you can have fabulous family skiing on quiet runs – and then enjoy a late lunch.

Where would you like to go now?

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