Les superbes stations de ski européennes peuvent-elles également être adaptées aux familles?

Leaving the magical summer behind and getting cozy with the romantic autumn made us ponder how to endure the most from the cold weather that is predicted to come soon.  If you are planning on going skiing with children, Europe serves up some of the best skiing on the planet. But can those awesome Europe ski resorts can also be family friendly? Well, we did some research on that topic to find out which features you should look for to ensure a stress-free holiday in the snow.

Whether you’d like to book a stay at a ski resort in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria or another European destination, here are some guidelines to follow so that both kids and parents can enjoy a dreamy ski holiday.

 

Choose a ski-in/ski-out type accommodation

Choose a ski-in/ski-out accommodation where you can be on the slopes the moment you open your front door.

When taking kids to the mountains, it's essential to have ski-in/ski-out accommodation. Not convinced? Just imagine how much equipment (besides your own) you need to carry when you go out – the kids' poles, skis, helmets, goggles, backpacks with essentials and so on, and then imagine carrying it for many kilometers and hours as your kids get tired and restless.

In order to avoid that situation, choose the accommodation where you can be on the slopes the moment you open your front door. Most of the ski-in/ski-out hotels are situated in French Alps, where the rustic streets poetically clad in white will appeal to everyone, not just families.

 

Make sure the ski instructors are kid-friendly

Having child-friendly ski instructors is mostly what makes some ski resorts greater for kids than others.

Having child-friendly ski instructors is mostly what makes some ski resorts greater for kids than others (the ski resorts are aware of this pact and pay a fortune to retain the most charismatic and patient instructors). Going skiing with a family doesn't have to be stressful so we recommend to get informed before deciding where you'll spend your winter vacation.

Family friendly ski resorts in Europe. The Swiss and Austrian instructors in particular really stand out.

Nowadays, Google knows everything (perhaps even too much), so make sure to research the other parents’ experiences – or save time and just wait for our upcoming blog post regarding the list of the very best family-friendly ski resorts in Europe.

Spoiler alert: the Swiss and Austrian instructors in particular really stand out! ;)

 

Don't be too pushy!

Don't be to pushy! As much as you would love to descend down the hill and feel the rush when skiing, enjoy the snow with your kids gently for the first few days.

As much as you would love to descend down the hill and feel the rush when skiing, enjoy the snow with your kids gently for the first few days; have fun building a snowman, have snowball fights, take a ride with cable car – if it's their first time on the snow, all of those will be very exciting for them. Effort you put at the beginning with your kids without forcing them into the skiing school will result in them having real fun and they will gladly attend a few hours later, especially if the class includes kids of a similar age.

 

Opt for a family ski chalet

Opt for a family ski chalet. An advantage is that kids will be doing lessons with their friends from the chalet, and they get to play together in the evenings.

Everyone imagine having an informal, relaxed and kind of home-from-home atmosphere when spending holidays with kids. That's why when browsing for your family ski holiday you should consider selecting a catered ski chalet that is family-focused. Besides the intimate, domestic atmosphere, another advantage is that kids will be doing lessons with their friends from the chalet, and they get to play together in the evenings. Another fact worth mentioning is that a catered ski chalet can be much more affordable without having to cut back on quality and comfort.


Extra tip: Borrow or rent as much of the kids' kit as you can

With children growing up so fast, they will grow out of their gear before the next winter season. So borrow or rent as much of the kids' kit as you can.
With children growing up so fast, they will grow out of their gear before the next winter season. Borrow or rent as much of the kids' kit as you can because buying it is just like tossing money out the window. Ski-wear, goggles, skis, boots, helmets – today it's surprisingly easy to rent most of it, even when you’re already at the mountain itself.


These are few but essential guidelines to take when planning your ski vacation that will help you choose the right resort for you and your kids. Even if you have toddlers that are too young to be trained in skiing, there still remains a wealth of possibilities for a great ski holiday in awesome Europe ski resorts.


How do you organize your ski holiday? Do you travel with children? Have you had any interesting experiences? Share your thoughts in a comment below.

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