Our Favourite Family Ski Holiday Games - For the Journey and the Chalet

A family ski holiday isn't just about time on the slopes. There's the transfer to and from the airport, the odd rest day and those cosy evenings in the chalet once ski boots are off and drinks are poured - all prime territory for a bit of family fun. Here are some of our favourite games to keep everyone entertained, from the airport to the last night making memories by the fire.

Long journeys can make or break the start of a ski holiday, so it's worth having a few no-fuss games up your sleeve that need nothing more than eyes, ears and a bit of imagination.

I Spy
The classic for a reason. For younger children who can't read yet, swap letters for colours or shapes ("I spy something white") to keep it fair for all ages.

20 Questions
One person thinks of a person, place or thing and everyone else asks yes-or-no questions to guess it. Brilliant for older children who like a proper challenge, and just as fun for the grown-ups.

The Alphabet Game
Working through the alphabet in order, everyone looks out of the window for words, signs or objects starting with each letter. A great one for keeping restless eyes on the passing scenery rather than a screen.

Story Chain
One person starts a story with a single sentence, and each person adds the next line in turn. Give it a snowy theme ("Once upon a time, on a mountain covered in fresh snow...") to get everyone in the mood for the week ahead.

The Name Game
Going round the group, each person names a person, place and thing starting with the next letter of the alphabet. Simple, silly and surprisingly good at passing an hour.

For anyone travelling with very young children, a small "transfer bag" packed with a sticker book (we love the winter-themed Usborne Sticker books), a couple of favourite small toys and of course, lots of snacks (why not try one of these cute “snackle” boxes?) is worth its weight in gold - low effort for parents, high reward for little ones who need a change of activity every twenty minutes or so.

Once the skis and boots are in the drying room and dinner's done (or being prepared by your chalet host), chalet evenings are made for board games, cards and a bit of friendly competition. A few favourites worth packing:

Uno
Small, light, and endlessly re-playable, making it one of the easiest games to throw in a suitcase. Works for a wide age range and rarely outstays its welcome.

Dobble
Fast-paced and simple enough for younger children to join in, but quick enough to keep older kids and adults engaged too. Monopoly Deal - Don‘t panic! This is a much quicker version of the original game and great for adults and children to play together.

A family quiz night
Take it in turns to set a round of questions on something everyone knows - favourite films, family in-jokes, or even facts about the resort you're staying in. A lovely way to end a big day, especially with a hot chocolate (or something a little stronger for the grown-ups) in hand.

Pictionary
If you can get hold of some blank paper and a couple of pens, one person can be games master in another room and write a list of ski-themed things to draw whilst two teams battle it out to see who can make it to the end of the list first.

Empire
A brilliant one for bigger groups (think 10 to 20 players), making it perfect for multi-family chalet gatherings. Everyone picks a category together - dream job or types of food work well - then secretly writes down their own answer and hands it to a moderator, who reads every answer out loud twice. From there, players take turns asking each other if they're a specific name from the list; guess correctly and that player joins your "empire." You keep going until only one empire remains. Watch a quick how-to here before you play:

Don’t forget to bring a pack of cards for classics like Snap, Pairs or Go Fish for younger children and Palace (also known by a ruder name beginning with "s"!) for older children (this one’s great for teens and multi-gen gatherings). No batteries, no setup, and they'll happily fill five minutes or fifty depending on how the day's gone.

If you'd rather travel light, most chalets - ours included - tend to have a shelf of board games and cards for guests to dip into, so it's always worth asking what's on hand before you pack half your games cupboard from home.

Set a daily "best bit" question at the table. Simple, but a nice ritual that gets even reluctant talkers sharing something about their day.

If you’ve exhausted your games and fancy some movie-watching instead, check out our favourite ski holiday movies here (add link when it’s ready).

Whether you're stuck in traffic on the way up the valley or relaxing back in the chalet after a big day on the slopes, a little bit of planning goes a long way towards keeping everyone - kids and parents alike - entertained, happy and ready for tomorrow's adventures on the mountain.

Ready to start planning your own family ski holiday? Get in touch with our team - we'll help you find the perfect chalet for making memories, on the slopes and off.