The Essential Family Ski Guide for Ski Hotel Guests
With the arrival of winter comes the opportunity to hit the slopes and enjoy a memorable holiday with the family. Skiing is a magical experience for everyone, whether you're a first-time skier or an experienced snowboarder. It's a fantastic way to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life while reconnecting with your loved ones.
When planning a family ski holiday, one of the first things to take care of is the accommodation, especially if you're travelling during the peak season.
If you need help, here's an essential family ski guide for ski hotel guests.
Choosing the Right Place to Stay
When choosing the right place to stay for your ski holiday, chalets are often the best option, and for good reason. With their stylish architecture, cosy interiors, and alpine charm, chalets offer the perfect setting for a relaxing and fun-filled ski holiday with the family.
But not all chalets are the same, so you must spend some time searching for something to suit you best. Some factors to consider are the location, facilities, service, and interiors.
Location is a crucial factor when looking for the right place to stay. Even if a chalet has superb facilities and excellent service, it's no good if it's not well-located. Aside from having awe-inspiring views, the best chalets offer easy access to the slopes, such as ski-in and ski-out chalets. With the slopes at your doorstep, you can immediately hit the slopes as soon as you wake up.
Choose a chalet that offers top-tier service for a truly relaxing skiing vacation. With a staff to attend to your needs, you'll have more time to spend with your loved ones.
The interiors are also crucial when choosing the right place to stay. Of course, you prefer to stay in a chalet with cosy interiors and stylish decors to make you and your family comfortable and relaxed. After all, it's your home away from home, so it should have the same level of comfort as your home.
The Best Time to Go Skiing
The best time to go skiing will depend on where you're heading. But in general, snow tends to fall late in November before it melts away around the end of April. Thus, you'll have a five-month opportunity to experience excellent snow conditions.
Since December is the peak season for skiing in the world's top skiing destinations, such as the Alps, expect the resorts to be more expensive and crowded. Many families would take advantage of the festive holidays while their kids are off school to go on a ski holiday.
The resorts tend to be quieter in January, with the slopes snowier until February. March is the best time for families with young kids due to the milder temperatures. In order for kids not to miss too much school, it may be best to opt for half-term ski holidays.
Finding the Best Ski Deals
A skiing holiday with the family can sometimes be an expensive holiday. But there are ways to visit some of the world's top resorts without breaking the bank. If you search hard enough, you will find some excellent April ski deals with SNO ,perfect for those seeking ski deals for the whole family.
As the ski season comes to a close, tour companies will want you to book your holiday and entice you by offering the best possible ski holiday experience. When looking for the best value ski holidays, be on the lookout for deals, like Black Friday and other promotions throughout the year.
Peak dates such as Christmas, New Year, Easter, and Half Term are the most expensive since this is when kids are on a break from school. Thus, flights and holidays are expensive. Therefore, schedule your family holiday outside these dates to enjoy lower prices.
What to Pack for a Skiing Holiday
Before you get too excited on your ski holiday with the family, it's worth having a list of things to ensure you don't forget anything. So, here's what to pack for a skiing holiday :
Ski Gear:
- Ski trousers
- Ski jacket
- Ski gloves
- Several pairs of ski socks
- Hat, gloves, and scarf
- Goggles
- Sunglasses
- Helmet
- Thermal trousers and top
- Ski or snowboard bag
Basic clothing for when you're not skiing:
- Jeans or trousers
- Tops and jumpers
- A pair of comfortable walking/outdoor shoes
- Slippers to wear in the chalet
- Underwear and socks
- Sleepwear
- Swimwear for hot tubs, sauna, or swimming pool
Toiletries:
- Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Hair products
- Shaving kit
- Face wash
- Sun cream and lip block
- Hand sanitiser
- Small first aid kit
- Prescription medication
The Best Things to Do on a Ski Holiday
While you'll likely spend most of your time on the slopes during your ski holiday, there are many other things you can enjoy other than that. Below, check out some of the best things to do on a ski holiday:
- Cross-Country Skiing or Nordic Skiing - if you're looking for thrills, try cross-country skiing. Also called Nordic skiing, it requires using your locomotion to move across snow-covered terrains. Cross-country skiing allows you to move at your own pace on the slopes. Some ski resorts have groomed cross-country ski trails that you can take advantage of. Others offer guided tours for those trying it for the first time.
- Snowshoeing - snowshoeing is a great way to head out for a scenic walk in the snow without worrying about sinking. It does not need technical expertise, so it's perfect for anyone. You only need to wear a pair of winter boots that you can attach to your boot.
- Snowboarding - if you're not into skiing or looking for an alternative, you may want to try snowboarding, where you slide downhill using a snowboard. Most ski resorts allow snowboarders to use the ski runs and offer snowboarding equipment for rent.
- Explore Towns and Villages - some of the world's top ski resorts are home to picturesque towns and villages you can explore on your visit. Therefore, during your downtime, consider taking the family on a stroll through nearby villages and towns, where you can stumble upon cultural attractions, museums, shops, and restaurants.