Family ski holidays - A Million Miles From Nightmare

Some people think that once you have a family, your once cherished escape to the mountains will be consigned to the nostalgia shelf for at least ten years. The truth is, family ski holidays can be a hugely rewarding and enjoyable experience for all.

Some top tips•The ski accommodation you choose is also key - many families favor ski chalets over ski hotels, particularly if your children are very small and you’d like access to a kitchen. Chalets which include hot tubs or pools are bound to be very popular with your children!•Some ski resorts offer free lift passes and/or ski hire to children under a certain age - check if this is the case in your chosen resort.•It is advised that all children wear helmets and in some places - Italy, for example - it is mandatory under a certain age. You might

decide that hiring a helmet is the best idea, rather than buying one which will soon be outgrown.•When choosing a resort for your ski holiday, bear in mind the transfer time from the airport. Driving to the Alps might not be the best idea unless your children are a little bit older.•Always make sure your child has sunscreen, goggles, an extra layer and a drink if you’re sending them off to ski school for the day.

Family ski with infants and toddlersAlthough some people would break out in sweat at the idea of taking very young children on a ski holiday, when your little ones are not yet in school you do have the luxury of choosing any week of the season to head to the mountains.

You may decide that late-season spring temperatures are preferable, or to avoid February in the Alps, as this is prime-time school holiday for European children, making the slopes busier.

Before you know it, your youngest will be hitting the slopes and swiftly catching you up, but until then you can rely on a variety of childcare services in many ski resorts for tiny tots and toddlers.

One option is a private nanny to take care of your children from 9-5, so you can spend a full day on the mountain. High end ski operators such as Scott Dunn offer a private nanny service in their luxury ski chalets and hotels in Courchevel 1850, Val d’Isère, Zermatt and St Anton, as well as a children’s club in Val d’Isère. Nannies are fully qualified and provide a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, according to age, for children between 8 months and 13 years old. Nappies are provided to ease your travel load, and nutritious meals are for the children prepared each lunchtime. Alternatively, children’s clubs are a particularly good choice if you’re keen for your child to interact with others.

Family ski for older childrenMost ski schools will take children from the age of 3 upwards, but a few will take those from as young as 2. It’s a good idea to research the ski schools in your chosen resort - are there English-speaking instructors, for example, and what are the nursery slopes like.

Some resorts are hot on making skiing as child-friendly as possible - Courchevel is one of very few resorts to feature Magnestik safety packs. These packs use magnets to ‘stick’ children to their magnetised chairlift

seats, for extra safety.

If you’re booking a family ski trip with an operator, many will be able to advise on this, and some such as Scott Dunn have a family specialist you can speak to.

Contrary to common belief, Family Ski Holidays can be blissful, if you prepare well and book with the right operator. You’ll still get to do plenty of great skiing whilst your children experience a taste of the snowy mountains for the first time - after that, they’ll be begging you to go back every year.