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If you’re heading on your first family ski trip, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are 12 tips to ensure your family has a cool snow holiday.
1. Prioritisation
When you start looking around at ski deals, consider what is most important to your family, easy access or saving dollars? While it might cost a little more to stay on snow, transporting your gear from the slopes back to your accommodation is so much easier, which is something to consider when your toting the kids gear too. If you are travelling on a budget, there are lift bargains to be found early or late in the season, when the snow coverage is a little lighter.
2. Activities
When selecting your resort, check out what they have to offer in the way of alternative activities like tobogganing, tubing, snowmobiling or outdoor playgrounds as not all resorts offer these.
Val Thorens Ski Resort, PhotoL Bound Round
3. Gear
Be wary of spending too much money on new ski gear, especially if this is your first time as you may discover skiing isn’t for you. Save dollars by borrowing ski clothes from friends or hiring your ski clothes in your home city. Regardless, it is worth the additional expense of hiring boots and skis at the resort so they can be adjusted or exchanged if they’re not the right fit. The one place not to skimp on costs is a properly fitted helmet, to protect your kids’ precious heads.
4. ID
Masking tape and a permanent marker make it easy to tag skis and poles for easier identification amongst the piles of others you’ll see at the resort.
5. Clothing
Layering is a must! Make sure the kids have base-layers, mid-layers and a waterproof outer layer to ensure they stay warm.
Braving the chill at Val Thorens, Photo: Bound Round
6. Emergency contact
Given those layers it is wise to get the to take a toilet stop before gearing up. And consider writing your mobile number on a wristband, or on the kids themselves, with a marker in the event of an emergency.
7. Insurance
Now is not the time to skimp on travel insurance. Be sure to check that your family insurance policy covers your for snow sports as not all do, and some require an additional premium. But it will be money well spent.
8. Ski lessons
No matter how skilled you are on the slopes, don’t try and teach your kids to ski yourself. Kids as young as three years can learn to ski at resort ski schools with qualified professional instructors who know exactly how to improve your kids’ snow and safety skills.
Last one down the hill has to do the dishes for a week! Photo: Bound Round
9. Childcare
If you have members of the family who are too young for ski school, check that your chosen resort has easily accessible childcare facilities and book early, as places are limited.
10. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Take plenty of breaks as kids tire easily. Be sure they hydrate during stops as they will burn tonnes of energy on the slopes and the high altitude can be especially dehydrating.
11. Be realistic
If your kids are new to skiing don’t expect them to join you on the lifts by the end of their first day. Give them time to get the basic skills down first before you start thinking about black runs.
12. Make it fun
From snowball fights to building snowmen there’s as much free family fun to be found off your skis as there is to be found on them.
There are going to be some very cold bottoms after sliding around in the snow, Photo: Bound Round
Looking to stock up on ski gear without paying a fortune? Check out these tips for getting ski gear on a budget.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]