Family ski holidays

Article updated every 6 months. Last update 14th May 2008
Author: Sean Newsom (Travel expert) Ask me a question.

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On paper, family ski holidays seem like a short cut to a nervous breakdown. If you are going on a skiing holiday with your little ones, just think of all the potential for tantrums, accidents and lost gloves and goggles.

But, the fact is more and more families are trying ski holidays each winter - and coming back year after year for more. They're discovering that - yes - it's a bit of a hassle, but in return for the extra work, you'll have a holiday everyone can talk about for weeks afterwards. What's more, it doesn't have to be the world's most glamorous ski resort. Snow is snow. Children adore it (provided it's not too cold), and they're not remotely bothered which celebs are in town.

Sounds interesting? Here are a few pointers on getting started

Kayte Williams
(Holidays Expert): Thomson Ski - Thomson has a dedicated section on their home page for families explaining all the services they offer from learn to ski to creches and even children with special needs. Groups are catered for under the 'Extras' section

Neilson - Neilson offers free child places at selected resorts plus big discounts at other top ski locations.

Iglu Ski - Iglu Ski are able to recommend resorts and accommodation that is suitable to your family's needs. They have a dedicated Family Skiing Holiday search and on line advice for a range of family types and children's ages.
See more of our recommended companies

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Top 5 tips for family holidays

Any chance of going outside the school holidays? You'll save a bomb if you can.
If you're tied to the holidays, Easter is the cheapest time to ski - although you'll have to go to a high-altitude resort (ideally 1800m or above) to be sure of getting good snow at this late point of the season. The next cheapest week is Christmas, which tour operators sometimes find hard to sell. The snow in lower altitude resorts can be iffy, however, so again, you need to aim high.
If you're a first-time family, then pay extra and go with a family-skiing specialist. Putting yourself into the hands of someone who knows what your needs will be, long before you do, will make all the difference between a successful holiday and a disaster.
Don't expect the children to ski all day. They'll need other distractions, such as pools to keep them fully occupied - though often they're happiest tobogganing on a tiny slope outside the chalet.
Bring your own essentials from home - you don't want to be searching a ski resort for them in the middle of a blizzard! And don't forget to apply high-factor sunblock on little faces each morning, whether it's sunny or cloudy.

What's the right age to start your children skiing?

You will know better than anyone else how physically brave and adventurous your children are. But as a rule of thumb, anything under the age of five is a bit of risk. At the very least, it's going to be a tough job to keep them from getting cold and grumpy. If you are taking under-fives to the slopes, then think of your trip as more of an introduction to winter rather than a dedicated skiing holiday. Choose your resort accordingly - looking for one which has plenty of well-organised activities beyond the pistes.

If you're new to skiing, these companies are tailor-made for you. You'd be well advised to put yourselves into their hands. Ideally, your chosen company should offer most, or all, of the following:

Nurseries and crèches for the children under the age of four.
Ski school classes which are run exclusively for the children of its guests - or which at least are attended by a member of staff from the company.
Supervised lunch.
A special, earlier, meal time for children, so they don't have to wait till the adults eat (usually 8pm).

Equipment

Your children will have grown out of their ski gear by the next time they'll use it, so hire it from one of the growing number of rental companies. Failing that, search e-bay, or the racks at T-Maxx for cheap gear. Helmets for children are more or less obligatory in every mountain resort these days, and are provided as a matter of course by ski schools. (If not, you can rent them in the resort, along with skis and boots.)

Insurance

Don't leave home without it. In some countries, accidents on the slopes can otherwise be ruinously expensive. And remember, it's often possible to take out joint cover for both adults and several children in the same family.

Who do we recommend

With so many companies to choose from, we have researched the market to find those with a wide range of choice as well as some that are more specialist. Browse our list below to find the right company for you then click through to their web site for more information and how to book. It couldn't be easier!