When to skiand when not to skiRemember when deciding when to ski was simple? Before there were things like school holidays to think about, there were just two deciding factors: was there plenty of snow, and were you free from work commitments.The good news is that there are still plenty of times that fit with the UK school calendar and have good snow. Here in Europe the ski season is generally mid-December to mid-April depending on a resort’s altitude, so there's plenty of time for ski holidays in Europe during the year. I'm keen to get out at the start of the seasonTaking 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.January has a reputation for being cold, but taking family ski vacations this month is actually an excellent idea. Yes, of course it's colder than later than the season, but it's so cold that you wouldn't want to ski! The middle two weeks in January are excellent. Prices and crowds are low – a great combination, especially for beginners just starting out. You can often find some great value cheap ski vacation deals direct from travel companies - including family specialists - for these weeks. What about February - isn't that the best time to go?February is high season again, and it really is worth avoiding the UK half-term holiday which is usually the second or 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?There are great family ski vacations to be had during the end of March and beginning of April.The daylight hours are longer, the temperature is warmer, and the prices are cheaper. Even the Easter weekend is generally not as expensive 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?If you're taking Europe ski vacations, try skiing between midday and two o’clock in the afternoon if you can. Europeans love their long leisurely lunches, so it makes sense to take advantage of this. The slopes will be at their best, and you can have fabulous family skiing on quiet runs – and then enjoy a late lunch.Return from when to ski to the family ski vacations home page. |
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Thanks for the great website - very handy. We are planning our first ski trip for us and our 5 kids!Chrisna
Skiing tips for families. Written by an English couple who love to ski and play in the snow with their children.
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