Whether you or someone else in the family has skied before - either as a child or with friends and acquaintances, it can seem overwhelming to plan the family's first, collective ski holiday. Time, place, equipment, and learning to ski are many things to overcome - especially if you have children in tow. Therefore, at secondskis.com, we have gathered the 10 most important tips you should know before you and your family plan and go on your first ski holiday.
1. Choose the ski resort carefully
The most important thing to consider when planning your first family ski holiday is where you want to ski. If everyone in the family is completely new to skiing, you should consider going to a smaller ski resort with fewer people and lower prices. Conversely, you should prioritize a ski resort with good access to several slopes at the level you want to challenge and explore if you are experienced in skiing but have children and other family members who need more time on the green than the black slope. The idea is to minimize the time you need to spend getting back and forth between the areas where you want to ski and the areas where your children and family ski, so you can enjoy the time on the ski holiday with the rest of the family without missing the opportunity to hit some of the area's other slopes when the green one just isn't enough.
If you plan to fly on a ski holiday, it can also be a good idea to check how far it is from the airport to the ski area. Usually, this trip by bus or car is long and cumbersome, as most ski areas are located near or even on top of a high mountain. Therefore, specifically check how long you should expect to spend on transport to and from the airport - there can be surprisingly "long" distances between the airport and the hotel, even if the two seem close on a map.
Still unsure where the ski trip is going? Read about where you can go on a ski holiday cheapest.
2. Choose the right place to stay
If you have children with you on a ski trip, it is recommended to book a stay at a hotel or in a cabin with so-called "ski-in/ski-out" if you can afford it and there is availability when you go. With ski-in/ski-out, you have direct access to the slope from your hotel or cabin, so in the morning, you can get up, put on skis and ski equipment, and go directly to what you are on a ski holiday for: Skiing.
It may seem like overkill to spend time and money finding accommodation with direct access to the ski area's slopes, but our experience is that covering a distance of just a few hundred meters for two children and two adults in full gear with two skis each can feel like completing an ironman.
3. Buy lift passes as soon as possible
Since COVID-19 made its serious entry into Europe and the rest of the world in early 2020, it has become almost impossible to buy lift passes at the ticket office at the ski resort after arrival. As part of the restrictions introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19, most ski resorts have stopped selling lift passes in their physical stores, instead selling them exclusively online. Additionally, many popular ski resorts have introduced a cap on the number of lift passes that can be issued daily to reduce the number of people on the slopes. Therefore, it is a good idea to order lift passes as early as possible if you have already decided where and when you will go on a ski holiday.
4. Book a spot at ski school
If the ski holiday is to go as smoothly as possible, it is highly recommended to enroll the children in a ski school. Although many people succeed in teaching their own children to ski, the entire ski holiday becomes a much less stressful experience for you as a parent if you enroll your children in a ski school. The ski school gives your children a strong foundation for further learning on skis, while also giving the family's parents a break on the ski holiday, which can be used to explore and challenge the ski area's more demanding slopes.
If you are new to skiing yourself, it can definitely pay off to take a few lessons. Besides developing your skiing skills much faster than you would on your own, the ski school also provides you with good tools that you can use when helping your children on their way on skis.
The price of ski school varies greatly, but it is usually cheaper if you book lessons for a whole group or family. Spend a few days at the beginning of the holiday at ski school. You/your family will quickly learn the most basic techniques, which you can use together for further learning on the slopes on your own.
Most ski schools have a limited number of spots to ensure that the teaching is conducted safely and optimally, and sometimes these are snapped up quickly. Therefore, it is a good idea to book ski school at the same time as you order lift passes.
5. Consider buying used skis instead of renting
It goes without saying that you won't get very far down the slope without skis. In high season, there are guaranteed long queues and poor service in the ski rental shops at the ski resort, so it can be a good idea to have the equipment ready before you go on a ski holiday if you want to avoid the stress of dragging children and adults through a chaos of skis, poles, boots, and all sorts of extras. However, it can be an expensive affair to pay your way out of the rental hell by going out and buying a pair of brand new skis, ski poles, and ski boots for each family member. Therefore, as a family, you should consider investing in used skis. It is - also within the world of ski equipment - cheaper to own than to rent, and a pair of used skis have thus already paid for themselves within a few seasons.
Are you unsure where to start? Read our good advice on buying used skis, or go directly to our large selection of used skis right here!
Note: With all skis under 150cm in length, a ski exchange certificate is included, so you don't have to worry about the children outgrowing their skis between this and the next season. Read more about our ski exchange for children and juniors here, or go directly to our large selection of children's and junior skis here.
6. Wear warm clothes
It's really obvious, but at the same time so important that it needs to be emphasized.
You can get far on your first family ski holiday with high spirits and a positive attitude towards learning to ski, but one of the biggest factors that determine how successful your ski trip will be is your clothing. It is nearly impossible to try to enjoy the special togetherness you get as a family on a ski holiday while being cold and wet. Therefore, always make sure to be properly dressed. This means, in short: Ski socks, thermal underwear, outerwear (ski pants and jacket), and possibly a fleece or ski pullover between the thermal underwear and outerwear on extra cold days. Besides ski goggles and ski boots, it is also crucially important to wear a ski helmet so you and your family don't get injured if you fall while racing down the slope.
7. Plan your first day on the slopes
The first day on the slopes is the springboard for the rest of your ski holiday, so it's important to start well so the rest of the holiday isn't marked by bad moods and low expectations. Therefore, make sure to get a good night's sleep the day before your first day on the slopes, so everyone is well-rested and ready early the next day when it all begins. Here are the most important things to keep in mind when planning your first day on skis:
- Eat a good breakfast.
- Get out on the slopes in good time.
- Remember to take plenty of breaks on the first day.
- End the day with a joint ski trip.
- Evaluate the day with the children. What went well? What was difficult?
8. Bring food to the slopes
Having some snacks ready for the children is a good idea, no matter where you are in the world, but it's especially a good idea when you're on a ski holiday. Both children and adults get tired along the way when you spend a whole day on the slopes, so it's smart to have something that can keep the blood sugar up along the way. If you want to save good money on food during the ski holiday, you can bring a packed lunch to the slopes to avoid the absurdly high prices that cafes, restaurants, and hotels charge for food and drinks on the mountain. We recommend taking the packed lunch out into the soft snow in the off-piste, where you can enjoy both the view and privacy. Just remember to clean up after yourselves and make sure you don't leave any trash on the mountain.
9. Have some side activities ready for when you get tired of skiing
It may be tempting to spend every day on the slopes, but for some, it can be a bit too much time on skis. Especially if it's your first ski holiday. Your legs and your children simply get too tired. Therefore, it can be a good idea to ski 60-70% of the days on your ski holiday and leave the remaining days for other activities in the area. Go ice skating, sledding, book a sleigh ride, or explore the terrain in a pair of snowshoes. Most ski areas offer a wealth of activities besides skiing.
Alternatively, you can spend the day relaxing with the family at the hotel or in the cabin, which usually has either a bathtub or a spa.
10. Remember to have fun!
It can seem stressful to plan the family's first ski holiday, but fortunately, it's always fun when you finally get going. Have a great ski holiday from us at secondskis.com!
