Tips for Planning Your Family Ski Holiday

If you’ve never been on a ski holiday before, booking your first one can be a bit overwhelming. With so much to think about it can be easy to forget something important or get something wrong, and the last thing you want is for your holiday to be ruined because of it!

Ski holidays tend to require a bit more planning than a lot of other types of vacation, which may just be a case of booking flights and accommodation. On top of your travel and living arrangements you need to consider whether you need to shire ski equipment, what specific ski passes or lift passes you’ll need, the specific facilities the resort you’re intending to stay at offers, and which ski schools are best for your kids. Below is a more specific look into each factor to help make each step of the planning process a little easier.

Resort

Whilst there are many great skiing locations in the world, the resorts in the French Alps are some of the best. Places such as Les Arcs, La Plagne, Tignes and Val D’Isère are fantastic for both beginner and experienced skiers. These resorts also offer great accommodation and facilities for you to relax and kick back after an exhilarating day on the slopes. Each one is a little different, so be sure to do a bit of research into each before choosing which one takes your fancy.

Val D’Isère, France by Andreas Bjärlestam

Accommodation: Communal or self-catered?

Like with any holiday, finding the best accommodation for the best price is half the battle. With ski holidays, the particular resort you’re planning on staying at may dictate the type of accommodation you can book. However most resorts, particularly in the French Alps, have a variety of accommodation types to choose from. Catered accommodation with communal dining may be a great way to meet other families on holiday, and allows you a break from the everyday cooking for your family you do when you’re at home. However self-catered chalets offer a bit more privacy and you may find this suits you a bit more.

Equipment Hire

If this is your first time booking a ski holiday, you won’t likely have your own set of skis. You may however be a seasoned pro, and are planning your kids’ first outing on the slopes. Either way, you’ll want to consider hiring equipment once you’re at the resort. Be sure to do your research into this prior to setting off on your vacation, as once you’re out there you may panic and hire the first set of skis you can find, opening yourself up to a potentially bad deal. Booking this in advance can save you a lot of trouble and give you peace of mind that you don’t need to worry about it once you arrive.

Ski Passes/Lift Passes

So you’ve chosen the resort you like the look of, booked your chalet and organised the hiring of equipment. But you’re not done yet! Don’t forget that if you’re planning on doing any skiing while you’re at the resort, you’ll need ski and lift passes. Do a bit of research into the resort you’re staying at, and make sure you know which areas your passes give you access to.

French Alps by genevieveromier

Ski Schools

Family ski holidays can be great fun, but if you’re a more experienced skier you might get a little bored hanging around the nursery slopes while the kids learn the basics. Some resorts have a few really good ski schools available for kids, where they will enjoy learning on the easier slopes, and can meet other kids their age. More importantly you get the freedom to spread your wings and try your hand at some of the tougher and more exciting slopes in the resort. Again whilst there are some great ski schools out there, not all of them are top class, so be sure to research them, read reviews etc. before committing.

Author Bio
This post was written on behalf of Rental Republic: a ski and snowboard hire company operating in a number of resorts in the French Alps. Their team of experts deliver the ski and snowboard equipment right to your chalet, and also provide free fitting.

Tags: accommodation, Communal, Equipment Hire, Lift Passes, resort, self-catered, Ski Passes, ski schools

Category: Ski Resorts, Skiing destinations