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Who is going
It may seem like a strange question, but when you know who you’re going with then you will have a better idea of what you need.
Just the two of you
There is quite ridiculous scope for romance on a ski trip. Aside from the beauty of the natural environment, there's cosy lodges with roaring fires, moonlit sled rides, and a glass of fizz while relaxing in the Jacuzzi. But, if you're not careful, there can be screaming rows too (as we know from experience) so prepare carefully.
We would avoid the concrete brutalism of many high-altitude resorts, and seek out somewhere you feel most cosseted - that might be a swanky hotel and it might be a small chalet for just the pair of you. Avoid busy resorts and those with a rep for hard partying, unless that's how you both want to spend time with each other of course. A word of advice on ski lessons; many rows are caused with the better skier trying to teach the less able skier. Pay an instructor.
Children
If you’re skiing with children, then their needs will have a really big impact on your holiday. Not to mention your pocket - prices rocket when school holidays kick in. Look for deals like free lift passes in Austrian resorts. Next, given that you will almost certainly be needing some tuition, what do you do with children? Does your tour operator offer any childcare, or is there a good crèche? If the children are old enough, then putting them into ski school solves a lot of the problem. Resorts and schools vary in what age they start to take young ones, from three to five. But if they can walk up stairs ‘one after the other’ – as opposed to one foot up then putting the same foot on that step, if you see what we mean – then they have the leg strength to ski.
In general, lessons are either morning or afternoon, leaving the other half of the day for family time or kicking back. Try and get lessons that match in with your ski school timings.
Much of the same thinking that affects you as a beginner affects them too. Is it a long walk or a bus ride to the slopes, or school meeting point? Have you had a recommendation, or a good steer, on a ski school that meets your needs? Are the slopes, the lifts and the infrastructure suitable? Often resorts will have dedicated children’s pistes or even ski area. Is there more than just skiing – kids love to toboggan, and an ice rink or perhaps a sports complex with pool is a good idea too.
Next, if you have young kids, what are the childcare options? Apart from the tour operators, almost all of which will run childcare options in some if not all their accommodation, there are locally-bookable services. Some hotels have a crèche, some towns have nurseries too – almost every resort will have some option. In the French Alps, there’s Alpine Nanny Service, which has nannies bookable by the hour.
Friends and groups
It probably stands to reason, but you most probably want to be in a chalet if you’re traveling in a family group or with a bunch of friends too. This doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. Chalets come at every price, just like hotels do, and as we explain on our Accommodation page, they can be catered or they can be just like a rental house. One of the tough things for a big group is pleasing everyone. As a result we recommend staying in a bigger resort with a range of activity, restaurants and skiing terrain so that everyone is happy. Some groups want some decent skiing followed by - how shall we put this - uncomplicated pleasures, like cheap beer and a pizza. No problem; we know just the resort.
Of course, if you know everyone wants a quiet week in a secluded chalet then you can tailor your trip accordingly.
Just the two of you
There is quite ridiculous scope for romance on a ski trip. Aside from the beauty of the natural environment, there's cosy lodges with roaring fires, moonlit sled rides, and a glass of fizz while relaxing in the Jacuzzi. But, if you're not careful, there can be screaming rows too (as we know from experience) so prepare carefully.
We would avoid the concrete brutalism of many high-altitude resorts, and seek out somewhere you feel most cosseted - that might be a swanky hotel and it might be a small chalet for just the pair of you. Avoid busy resorts and those with a rep for hard partying, unless that's how you both want to spend time with each other of course. A word of advice on ski lessons; many rows are caused with the better skier trying to teach the less able skier. Pay an instructor.
Children
If you’re skiing with children, then their needs will have a really big impact on your holiday. Not to mention your pocket - prices rocket when school holidays kick in. Look for deals like free lift passes in Austrian resorts. Next, given that you will almost certainly be needing some tuition, what do you do with children? Does your tour operator offer any childcare, or is there a good crèche? If the children are old enough, then putting them into ski school solves a lot of the problem. Resorts and schools vary in what age they start to take young ones, from three to five. But if they can walk up stairs ‘one after the other’ – as opposed to one foot up then putting the same foot on that step, if you see what we mean – then they have the leg strength to ski.
In general, lessons are either morning or afternoon, leaving the other half of the day for family time or kicking back. Try and get lessons that match in with your ski school timings.
Much of the same thinking that affects you as a beginner affects them too. Is it a long walk or a bus ride to the slopes, or school meeting point? Have you had a recommendation, or a good steer, on a ski school that meets your needs? Are the slopes, the lifts and the infrastructure suitable? Often resorts will have dedicated children’s pistes or even ski area. Is there more than just skiing – kids love to toboggan, and an ice rink or perhaps a sports complex with pool is a good idea too.
Next, if you have young kids, what are the childcare options? Apart from the tour operators, almost all of which will run childcare options in some if not all their accommodation, there are locally-bookable services. Some hotels have a crèche, some towns have nurseries too – almost every resort will have some option. In the French Alps, there’s Alpine Nanny Service, which has nannies bookable by the hour.
Friends and groups
It probably stands to reason, but you most probably want to be in a chalet if you’re traveling in a family group or with a bunch of friends too. This doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. Chalets come at every price, just like hotels do, and as we explain on our Accommodation page, they can be catered or they can be just like a rental house. One of the tough things for a big group is pleasing everyone. As a result we recommend staying in a bigger resort with a range of activity, restaurants and skiing terrain so that everyone is happy. Some groups want some decent skiing followed by - how shall we put this - uncomplicated pleasures, like cheap beer and a pizza. No problem; we know just the resort.
Of course, if you know everyone wants a quiet week in a secluded chalet then you can tailor your trip accordingly.
Havens for couples:
Megeve - choccie-box village, amazing food
Samoens - lovely old town, relaxed feel
Courchevel - luxury on and off the piste
Arosa - lovely tree runs, amazing Tschuggen spa
Champery - great weekend bolt-hole
Grindelwald - stunning views, pretty skiing
Les Diablerets - close to GVA, quiet and pretty
Lech - beautiful, well-run, skiing made easy
Saas-Fee - lively, high, attractive town
Telluride - old mining town with lovely scenery
All operators cater for two-people trips
Great family resorts:
Les Gets - dedicated pistes, friendly
Laax - Ami club for littl'uns
Meribel - abundance of childcare options
Aspen - Buttermilk ideal for new skiers
Cortina - traditional, and great kids deals
Passo Tonale - Italian welcome for kids, value
Levi - two words: Santa Claus
Are - good snow, waterpark and dog sledding
Adelboden - quiet, with lots of piste (185km)
El Tartar - Andorra's best family resort
Ellmau - gentle slopes, classic Austrian village
Ste Foy - quiet, enclosed area with good links
Family-friendly operators
Scott Dunn
Ski Famille (Les Gets)
Esprit Ski
Ski2 (Italy)
Skibizz
Family Ski Company
Great resorts for a group of friends:
Chamonix - choices, choices
Morzine - good nightlife
Val d’Isere - something for everyone...
Tignes ...ditto, but cheaper
Arinsal - fun for the budget-conscious
Bansko - lively and cheap
Deux Alpes - terrific for newbies, party-hearty
Les Menuires - ugly, but value alternative to 1850
Hemsedal - abundant snow, pricey apres
Davos - lots for non-skiers to do
Zell am Zee - good for all ages, proper town
Les Arcs 1950 - convenience with style and snow
Park City - good terrain, amenable town centre
Operators with good group/chalet choice:
Ski-Direct.co.uk
Inghams
Flexiski
Erna Low
World Indulgence (Chamonix)
Megeve - choccie-box village, amazing food
Samoens - lovely old town, relaxed feel
Courchevel - luxury on and off the piste
Arosa - lovely tree runs, amazing Tschuggen spa
Champery - great weekend bolt-hole
Grindelwald - stunning views, pretty skiing
Les Diablerets - close to GVA, quiet and pretty
Lech - beautiful, well-run, skiing made easy
Saas-Fee - lively, high, attractive town
Telluride - old mining town with lovely scenery
All operators cater for two-people trips
Great family resorts:
Les Gets - dedicated pistes, friendly
Laax - Ami club for littl'uns
Meribel - abundance of childcare options
Aspen - Buttermilk ideal for new skiers
Cortina - traditional, and great kids deals
Passo Tonale - Italian welcome for kids, value
Levi - two words: Santa Claus
Are - good snow, waterpark and dog sledding
Adelboden - quiet, with lots of piste (185km)
El Tartar - Andorra's best family resort
Ellmau - gentle slopes, classic Austrian village
Ste Foy - quiet, enclosed area with good links
Family-friendly operators
Scott Dunn
Ski Famille (Les Gets)
Esprit Ski
Ski2 (Italy)
Skibizz
Family Ski Company
Great resorts for a group of friends:
Chamonix - choices, choices
Morzine - good nightlife
Val d’Isere - something for everyone...
Tignes ...ditto, but cheaper
Arinsal - fun for the budget-conscious
Bansko - lively and cheap
Deux Alpes - terrific for newbies, party-hearty
Les Menuires - ugly, but value alternative to 1850
Hemsedal - abundant snow, pricey apres
Davos - lots for non-skiers to do
Zell am Zee - good for all ages, proper town
Les Arcs 1950 - convenience with style and snow
Park City - good terrain, amenable town centre
Operators with good group/chalet choice:
Ski-Direct.co.uk
Inghams
Flexiski
Erna Low
World Indulgence (Chamonix)
