Ultimate Guide To Family Ski Holidays

Skiing when you have children takes on a different vibe compared to ski holidays as a couple or with friends. Getting out of the chalet with all the right equipment and clothing makes leaving for the school run look like a breeze. But don’t be put off, a family ski holiday IS worth it. The thrill of skiing down a slope and watching your children share your passion is hard to beat. In fact, a ski holidays with kids can be hugely rewarding.

So, how can you ski with kids? What helps to make family ski holidays run smoothly? We have taken our children skiing from the age of three. These are my tips on skiing with children and some hacks from other family travel bloggers for a successful family ski holiday.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link.

1. Practice skiing at a snow centre

Getting lessons at one of the many real snow centres in the UK – before you head to the mountains – gives beginners a huge advantage. They learn the basics such as snow plough and getting on and off the magic carpet travelator as well as getting used to all the equipment and clothing they have to wear. It is also a good guide to assessing how much they are going to enjoy the skiing experience. We took our daughter for lessons at the real Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead when she was four. It was a great help. Check out our video of her kids ski lesson at an indoor snow centre.

Susanna from A Modern Mother advocates going too: “Get some snow time in before you go! There are several ‘real snow’ centres in the UK. Every evening the centre makes snow by pumping water out of 10 snow guns. It takes 6 hours for the snow to set before it can be skied on again. Lessons are available for all ages, and it’s great to get some basics in (like how to get on and off a ski lift) before you hit the slopes.

When to go skiing?

Peak seasons for skiing are during the Christmas and New Year holidays, February half term and the Easter break. Rates are higher so book in advance and shop around for the best deals.

Easter is a good time for families as the temperatures are higher and the resorts are less busy than the other holidays. At the very end of the season, resorts offer discount ski passes. The snow conditions vary season to season but as the season comes to a close, snow gets slushy lower down which can be heavy on legs.

Snow at the beginning – and end – of the season cannot always be guaranteed. We have visited the French Alps over the New Year when the snow was very poor but the resort still managed to keep parts open, particularly the nursery slopes.

If you are going with preschool children book outside of the school holidays to get better rates and quieter slopes.

Where to ski as a family?

If you are taking younger children, it’s a good idea to choose a resort that is lower in altitude. It means higher temperatures and makes it easier for babies, who may struggle with altitude. Choose a resort which doesn’t have a long transfer time from the airport and has plenty of beginner slopes. Those with a magic carpet travelator to help children up the slope is preferable.

What age can children learn to ski?

Most ski schools will take children from the age of 2 and half to three years old. It is a personal choice in regards to your child’s individual development. Skiing is a physical sport which is tiring and being on the slopes can be very cold. Judge it on your child. In our experience it was only when my daughter was 5/6 years old that she really started to progress and be able to stay on the mountain for longer.

Our daughter’s first skiing experience was at three and a half years old. My husband, who has skied from a young age, taught her the basics. After one hour of learning to snow plough, she was exhausted. It can be a slow process but we were conscious that we didn’t want to push her too quickly and put her off.

I wouldn’t sign them up for a week of ski lessons until they were a bit older (5+) and keen to do it with some experience either on a real slope or at a snow centre.

What type of ski lessons to book?

Group ski school

Booking your child into a group ski school is a popular option and lower in cost. Half days are usually two hours while a full day will be two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. Some may include lunch. If you are looking to book your children into ski school, do so well in advance, especially during peak holiday times.

There are a number of schools throughout Europe which have BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) qualified ski and snowboard instructors. This has a language advantage if you are English-Speaking. France’s ESF schools also have some English speaking instructors and many others in Europe as well. Do your research. You can often look at the instructor’s profiles online to get an idea of whether you – or your child will connect with them. Choosing a ski school close to your accommodation is advantageous to cut down on extra skiing or travel.

Private Ski Lessons

Emma from Bavarian Sojourn preferred getting private lessons rather than group ones, advising to “consider private lessons for children”.

She said: “Having lived close to the mountains, I always found that our children progressed much faster when it was just the two of them and an instructor, rather than hanging around getting cold whilst waiting for fellow group members. Obviously this is the pricier option, but if you are only on a trip for a week it’s a good investment.”

Family ski lessons

Kirsty Pelling from Family Adventure project found family ski lessons a great way to learn.

She said: “Ski lessons are always a good idea whatever your age but did you know you can have a lesson as a family? If you hire a guide on your first morning, they will give you a tour of the resort and loads of inside info about the best bars and runs, as well as assessing your skills and doing some coaching.

“We’ve booked a private guide a few times and I’m always amazed at how quickly they spot our weaknesses and home in on sorting them out. Being a mixed group of ages and abilities is fine too, as they pick you off one at a time! If you are in France contact ESF for more information. You may find it’s cheaper than sending everyone to ski school for a week.”

Childcare options on a ski resort

Lets face it, skiing can be tiring, even more so when you are a child – and a beginner. Having childcare options in place will help you enjoy time on the piste when your children are fed up. We have used nannies and creches at ski resorts which have given us flexibility to ski and keep younger children entertained. Going with grandparents or other families can always work out well. Some hotels and chalets will provide childcare. If you are going with a tour operator, it will usually offer childcare options. Book before you go to avoid disappointment.

Booking accommodation for a family ski holidays

Self-catering or catered chalets are a good family skiing accommodation option. Going self-catered gives flexibility on eating options, meaning you can get an early tea at a restaurant or decide to eat in or order a takeaway (most resorts have a pizzeria). You can also pay for chefs to come into your chalet and cook for you. Again, book in advance. S

With catered chalets, you have set meals cooked for you and often wine thrown in as well. They will often provide afternoon tea so you will have something prepared for when you return from skiing. Catered chalets tend to be more popular with families. Without  thinking about preparing food or booking restaurants, you can relax and enjoy your time away. Shop around for discounts and offers and weigh up the best option for your family.

If you are going with a hotel option, choose one with plenty of facilities. If there are bad snow days, you will want some entertainment. Many family-friendly hotels also provide child care.

Nell from Pigeon Pair and Me stayed at a hotel which had a kids club and highly recommends it. She found it hugely beneficial when she visited the Italian resort Passo Tonale with her two children.

“Signing up to a decent kids’ club can make an enormous difference when the children are young. We recently went on a holiday with Crystal Ski. Its Whizz Kids club runs for children aged 4-11.

“The clubhouse was on the ground floor of our hotel and we just dropped our two children off each morning at 8am, in their thermals and ski socks. The lovely staff did all the hard work of kitting them out in salopettes, boots, helmets and skis. They took them to ski school in the morning, then it was back to the clubhouse for a hot lunch.

“It was very flexible: we could sign the children out of Whizz Kids in the afternoon if we wanted to ski together as a family. Afternoons in the club were loads of fun though, with arts and crafts, soft play, snowball fights, gondolas and bumboarding. Our kids LOVED it – and it meant we had the freedom to go off for the whole day if we liked, on a grown-up ski expedition.”

Take regular breaks on the ski slopes

If you are skiing as a family, be mindful of everyone’s abilities and avoid planning an epic route covering lots of ground.

Take regular breaks and try not to do too much. It can be exhausting, especially learners (that includes the adults!).

My daughter liked nothing more than working hard doing some runs then having a hot chocolate and a snack before doing a bit more! Rewarding a hard morning’s ski with a crêpe for lunch also worked wonders and really assisted with her enjoyment of the whole experience.

If you are skiing with older children, make sure you stay connected and discuss a meeting place in the unlikely event you get separated.

Wear appropriate clothing and accessories

It can get extremely cold on the mountains. Make sure you purchase good quality clothing which are fully waterproof. Thick ski socks, thermals, base layers, ski gloves and a good jacket are all required in winter months. There is nothing worse than freezing hands and feet on the mountain either so we use hand warmers on very cold days. My daughter loves this accessory and it also added an element of excitement when she become cold and tired.

Remember sun cream and sunglasses

Although you are going on a winter ski holiday, it is still very important to take sunglasses and sun cream with you. The sun reflects off the snow making it easier to burn and can be very blinding on the eyes.

You want to avoid getting ‘panda eyes’ where skin has burnt around goggles (not a good look). We used Toddle’s sun and wind balm which has a high sun factor with mineral protection (so no chemicals). Suitable for adults and children and good at weathering the elements.

If you have little children or babies, take wrap around sunglasses. As babies, my daughters weren’t brilliant at keeping them on but good to have with you as can be very bright for their eyes. Pack peaked caps too and make sure the pram and buggy has a good shade hood.

Baby equipment to take on a ski holiday

It can be advantageous to take a buggy which fits snow wheels or having a city jogger type pushchair which is designed for rough terrain. Having a baby carrier is the best way to get around with a baby. Get a warm snowsuit for babies. Make sure you have shoes with good grips and snow boots for children too.

Hiring ski equipment

If you are going skiing at a busy time, pre-book your ski equipment and ski passes online. If you are travelling with a tour operator they will usually be included. For equipment hire, you simply enter measurement details online and then the requested items will be ready to collect. If any adjustments need to be made on the sizes, it can be done on the day. It is a good time saver.

I recommend hiring helmets, skis, boots and poles (when old enough to use them). Save time queuing by buying ski passes online (if they haven’t been included in your ski package).

Get organised for your ski day

To ensure a good start to the day, sort out what will be worn the day before. Lay out hats, gloves, googles and outfits so they are ready to go and nothing is forgotten. You don’t want to get to the top of the mountain and discover you’ve forgotten gloves! Make sure you also pack a back-up of snacks to take on the piste. Skiing is hungry work and this will help keep them motivated.

Plan a skiing route

Getting a tour guide can be very useful but if that’s out of your budget, there are plenty of apps you can use to track your route and a good old fashioned paper piste map.

Its a good idea to go to a resort you’ve been before so you have knowledge of the piste which you can pass onto your family. Plan a skiing route for the day so you don’t find yourself on harder runs unsuitable for you and your family’s level.

Enjoy the experience

Use these tips on skiing with kids to enhance and plan a relatively stress-free ski holiday. Enjoy time in the mountains and sharing your passion for skiing with your family, inspiring a new generation of skiers.