Everything that Should Be on Your To-Do List Before Your Next Family Ski Holiday

Planning a family ski holiday? We love to hear it! But we know that there’s lots to organise, and it can feel a little overwhelming. Panic not, we’re here to help you write the ultimate to-do list for a stress-free run up to your trip. From travel and ski hire to childcare, food, and practical essentials (like insurance), we’ve got you covered. The earlier you sort the fundamentals, the more time you’ll have to enjoy skiing when you arrive in the mountains.

First things first, where are you going to spend your holiday? Not all ski resorts are created equal, with some more suited to families than others. The best resort for experienced power hounds may not be the right choice for families with young children or first-time skiers (whether they’re kids or adults).

When choosing a resort, we recommend that you consider:

Your family’s skiing ability. If you have beginners in your party, choose a resort with easy access to the nursery slopes. Use our blog, The Best Ski Resorts for Beginners, to learn about which destinations are the most appropriate for skiing newbies. Heading away with advanced teens? Look at larger ski areas with plenty of challenging terrain and off-piste options, like Paradiski (home to La Plagne, Arc 1950, and more) or Tignes-Val d'Isère (formerly known as ‘Espace Killy’).

How family friendly the resort is. Check what types of ski schools, restaurants, and activities there are off the slopes to keep everyone happy and entertained all week long.

Snow reliability. Higher-altitude resorts will offer more reliable snowfall than those lower down, particularly important if you’re heading away at the start or the end of the season (i.e. at Christmas or Easter). Take a read of our blog, Why Altitude = Assurance, for more details about the importance of altitude.

Transfer time. Once you’ve stepped off the plane and collected your bags, there’s one thing separating you from the Alps: the transfer. Depending on where they’re located, it can take between one and four hours to reach your ski resort, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re travelling with little ones. The closest resort to Geneva Airport that we operate in is Avoriaz - on a good run, it takes around one hour and 45 minutes to reach.

Where you stay can make a big difference to the overall feel of your holiday, so it’s worth considering the type of accommodation that suits your family best before you go ahead and book.

Catered chalet

Self-catered chalet or apartment

Hotel

“Are we better off flying or driving to the Alps?” is a common question that many parents find themselves asking when planning a trip. The answer depends on what the most practical and easy choice for your family is.

If you’re flying, remember that:

• Taking your own skis, boards, or boots may count as ‘specialist’ baggage that may need pre-booking and an additional fee.
• You need to get to and from the airport in the UK, so book airport parking, arrange a taxi, or make sure you’ve checked out public transport schedules ahead of time.
• You also need to get to and from your ski resort, so you’ll need to arrange a transfer (popular options include a private taxi, a shared taxi/minibus, a group transfer, which is usually a coach, or the train).

If you’re driving, remember to:

• Plan your route, including whether you need to take a ferry or the Eurotunnel.
• Check you have the right vehicle insurance and breakdown cover for the country you’re travelling to (and the ones in-between).
• Research snow chains, winter tyres, and any local driving requirements.
• See whether your accommodation has parking - if so, you may need to reserve a space.

If you’re hiring skis, boards, and boots in resort, we recommend booking this in advance, particularly during peak weeks. There are plenty of rental shops dotted about French resorts, but for ease, we recommend you choose one that’s close to your accommodation or ski school.

Prefer to bring your own equipment? Check airline baggage rules when you arrange your flights and make sure you’ve got an appropriately-sized bag to keep your skis, poles, boards, and boots safe and secure during transit. It’s also worth looking over your equipment ahead of travel - this way, you can get any issues sorted before you arrive in resort, or make alternative arrangements. No-one wants to discover a huge chip in the bottom of a ski during the first run of the holiday!

Ski passes, ski lessons, and ski insurance are three elements of a family ski holiday that can all be checked off your to-do list before you arrive in resort.

Ski passes

• If you’re a family of beginners, a local area pass should be enough.
• If you have more advanced skiers in your group, a pass for the larger, linked area will give you access to hundreds of kilometres of slopes so you can explore the mountain to your heart’s content.
• Family of four or five? Many resorts offer a discount when buying passes for a group of this size, which is definitely worth taking advantage of!

Ski lessons

Ski insurance

• Local rescue costs
• Initial medical transport off the mountain
• Refunds for unused ski pass days if you are injured

Availability for childcare during Christmas week, February half-term, and the Easter holidays is something else that usually gets booked up quickly. If you know you’ll need childcare during your trip, look at the different kids’ clubs, babysitting services, and private nannies that are available in your resort.

Heading away with VIP SKI? We’ve got plenty of options for kids of all ages, from babies and toddlers to children and pre-teens. Please speak to your Alpine Account Manager to understand what’s on offer and to tick childcare off your list.

In recent years, restaurants and hotels in the French Alps have really adapted to dietary requirements. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are now standard on most menus alongside traditional alpine dishes such as tartiflette and raclette,

For families choosing to stay in one of our catered ski chalets, we take dietary requirements a step further. We encourage guests to speak to us about any food allergies, requirements, and preferences ahead of the trip, so our chefs and hosts can make menu changes to keep everyone happy and full. Our Choose Your Chalet Menu offering (where you can select the dishes you’ll be served during your weeklong stay) is standard across all Classic Chalet bookings, so you can arrive in resort feeling confident that everyone will enjoy what’s on their plate.

If a birthday or anniversary is on the cards during your ski holiday, then we recommend that you tell your chalet host or hotel about this before you arrive, too, so any special arrangements (like cakes and decorations) can be made.

There tends to be more to take on a holiday to the mountains than the beach, from goggles and helmets to fleeces and coats. Writing a list of what you need to remember is a tried-and-tested way of making sure you’ve got the appropriate clothes to keep you cosy on the slopes and after the ski day is done.

Head to our blog, What To Pack For Your Family Ski Holiday, for a full list of what you need to pack for your trip.

We’ve covered the bigger ticket things you need to do above, but there are lots of smaller, but still as essential, tasks to tick off your list before you travel:

• Check everyone’s passports are valid for travel. Where necessary, make sure you have the appropriate documentation or visas, too.
• Pack enough prescription medicines and other medication to cover you for the week and a few extra days (in case of travel delays or disruption).
• Remind yourself about your phone’s roaming/data allowances and restrictions, and arrange any necessary add-ons. Most accommodation and shops, restaurants, bars, etc in resort will have WiFi, but having data is handy when you’re on the piste and wanting to stay in touch with your group.
• Check if there are any extra charges for using your debit or credit card abroad. Most places in the French Alps take card, but it’s always worth having some cash (euros) on you, just in case.
• Take enough adapters to keep your family’s electronics charged. A portable charger (or two) is also a good shout!

A little preparation goes a long way when you’re skiing with the family. Arranging all the essentials and extras before you leave means you can spend less time stressing about the logistics, and more time on the slopes with the kids.

Have you booked, or are you about to book, a catered chalet holiday with VIP SKI? Our Alpine Account Managers are on hand to advise you about, and help you arrange, the activities we’ve listed above.