Family Ski Holiday Planning Checklist

I started skiing from the age of 10, and growing up in Alberta, Canada meant I had easy access to world-class skiing in the Rocky Mountains. After moving to Ireland, we skied around Europe and the only factors we ever really considered were the snow conditions, flight prices and whether the accommodation was good value.

Once our kids came along, we knew we wanted to continue skiing and decided to try it when they were 3 and 5 years old. While I did a lot of research, I cut corners and made a few mistakes...none that I have repeated since.

Since that first trip, we spent 4 years skiing around Japan and last year we went to Switzerland. Here's what I've learned over the years:

1.      Choose a resort that works for families

• beginner area and slopes near the main lifts

• easy route back to the accommodation at the end of the day (kids can get tired easily)

• compact resort rather than large/spread out

• try to pick a less-popular resort around school holidays (the less busy, the better)

2.    Quality ski school and childcare

• check minimum age for ski school

• small group sizes

• experienced, child-focused instructors

• English speaking lessons (not always a given)

• convenient meeting points

• childcare options for younger children (if not available in your accommodation)

3.      Location of accommodation

• ski-in/ski-out if possible, otherwise as near to the main gondola as possible

• close to ski school meeting points

• centrally located near the village for easy access to the ski rental shop and places to eat

4. Food options

• half-board hotels, early dining times

• self-catering apartments for flexibility

• supermarkets and bakeries nearby

• child-friendly menus

5. Easy travel, shorter transfers

• direct flights

• minimal transfer times

• private transfers where possible

• train-accessible resorts for easier travel

6. Snow conditions

• go high-altitude for better snow and peace of mind

• check historical snowfall for the time of year you're going

7. Non-skiing options

• sledging areas

• ice skating

• indoor pools or leisure centres

• snow parks

8. Length of stay

• 5-7 nights (kids will get tired, so don’t expect full days of skiing everyday – rest is needed)

9. Things to factor into your budget

• flights, transfers, accommodation

• ski school

• ski rentals and lift passes

• ski clothing (new jackets, goggles, helmets etc. – kids grow quickly)

• meals (can add up quickly, especially lunches on the slopes)

• other non-skiing activities

Skiing is not a cheap holiday, so make sure to get it right. If in doubt, ask your friends about their experience or get in touch with me!