Budget plays an import part when organising a ski trip for a family. The parents are having to not only to cover the costs of flights, transfers and accommodation but also the additional costs of child care, lessons, equipment hire and lessons. It all adds up.
Our ski experts understand the large cost that a family ski holiday can be and we are here to assist with expert advice throughout the entire process of your booking. From advice on the best properties and offers available through to help with ski packs and booking childcare, and more.
Saving money on a family ski holiday
There are a variety of options to help save money on your family ski holiday when booking:- You can sometimes get discounted child places or even free child places when a child is sharing a room with 2 adults.
- There are often deals on ski equipment when adults pre book theirs
- Ski All In deals help or in some resorts they do offer discounted ski packages when you book skis/boards, boots, lessons and lift passes together in a bungle package price.
- Less popular resorts may have cheaper extras.
- Less popular countries may have cheaper rates.
- You can look out for ‘baby/ toddler weeks’ or weeks that are not as desirable in selected resorts.
- Families with fussy eaters you could look at self-catering options but we would recommend booking these early as operators eventually block of flight seats for committed catered properties.
With all this in mind I’d recommend speaking to one of our ski sales consultant to help you navigate your way through the best options. Because the type of holiday depends on the children's ages, family holidays can be broken down into the following categories:
New-borns and infants
Parents will get the much needed quality ski time in on the slopes with infants in childcare, but just purchase a local pass as you won’t want to be too far from the crèche just in case. Don’t be concerned that you have to ditch your ski holiday now you have a baby, enjoy the adventure, pack well and choose a supplier that will have everything you need for your week on the slopes. If you are concerned that you may have forgotten anything, remember that they do have supermarkets in resort!
If you aren’t fully convinced by leaving the infant in nursery all day, the parents could take turns - one person skis at a time and one stays with the child. If after the first or second day you’ll feel more confident and you’ll feel more comfortable leaving your child in nursery for longer.
We recommend any chalet style of accommodation with Ski Esprit. In the evening you can set up you baby monitor while the infant sleeps leaving you to relax in the living room with a glass of wine.
Read more about skiing with infants
Toddlers
This really is the start of their ski adventure. Their holiday and journey will be all about playing in the snow, getting used to the mountains, putting on ski boots and maybe carrying their own skis.
It’s a first for many things so the focus needs to be on having fun. Their attention span for may not last a whole lessons so as a parent your expectations need match what you think may be likely.
Read more about skiing with toddlers
Juniors
By now these hotshots are in school back home. They will also be at their most receptive, keen to learn, will have the strength and willingness to spend lengthy spells in lessons and on the slopes.
Even if you ski well as a parent, we’d still recommend putting children in ski school, children will listen to an instructor; they may not listen to their parents. There is also the safely element, with an instructor they will receive knowledge and up-to-date teaching which will help children progress to their best.
Half a day’s ski school and half a day skiing with parents is a good balance. You’ll also get some quality time too.
Read more about skiing with juniors
Pre Teens
This age group is very rewarding and skiing on the baby slopes will just be a memory for the pre-teens. Instead you will be able to enjoy whizzing around the higher terrain all together as a family. At this age you need to factor in additional costs for the latest clothing, lunches on the mountain a lift pass will be more expensive at this point.
It’s worth thinking about closeness to the town and slopes at this point when you book your accommodation. Now your children are skiing with you, you have to manage your group, this includes: navigation on the mountain, keeping safe on the mountain, understanding the rules and safety signs, including etiquette on the hill with fellow skiers.
Teenagers
This age group will hopefully want to let off steam after a long school term. Feeding them at lunch time seems to be a never ending source of funds especially as they seem to eat about four times a day.
After dinner they will probably want to be let loose with other like-minded youngsters, but it's a fairly safe assumption that roaming the streets of a ski resort is a safer environment than your local suburb or village back home.
Read more about skiing with older children