Collaborative Post¦ Considering a ski holiday for your kids? While the experience itself is incredibly rewarding, it can be difficult. The logistics of group travel are already quite demanding, never mind managing a group of children on top of it.
Thankfully, there are practical ways to make group ski holidays with kids a lot less stressful. Here are our top tips for seamless, stress-free travel.
Consider the Dates
When you go skiing is just as important as where. For the best group skiing experience, avoid peak seasons like December and February. December is packed with festive crowds. February is when snow conditions are the most ideal and school trips to Europe are more likely to happen due to half-term.
Your best bet for minimal crowds and roomy slopes? January — after the holiday crowds have died down and before the half-term rush begins.
March and April are choice months, too, with longer daylight hours and warmer weather. The snow won’t be as ideal for skiing, but many resorts utilise snow-makers.
Stay in Family-Friendly Resorts
Child-friendly accommodations are a non-negotiable. However, a lot of resorts will say they’re “family-friendly” for the sake of marketing. More often than not, this just means they offer large rooms.
For a truly comfortable stay with young travellers, you’ll need to do some research. A lodging that’s actually family-friendly has at least two of the following features:
- Short Distance to Slopes. Ski-in/ski-out lodging is preferable, but a 5- to 10-minute trip to the slopes (via walking or direct transportation) is also acceptable.
- Manageable Resort Size. A smaller resort is better for children. The distance between rooms, restaurants, slopes, and other activities should be something little legs can handle.
- Non-Ski Activities. Even if the kids are fond of skiing, it’s still good to have other forms of entertainment nearby. Tobogganing, alpine coasters, and skating rinks are fun activities they can do off the slopes.
- Dedicated Beginner Slopes and/or Ski Schools. If the children in your group have minimal ski experience, it’s best to book a place with an on-site ski school. This way, they won’t have to go to a different resort to learn the basics.
Rent Equipment & Buy Lift Passes in Advance
Renting gear and buying lift passes on the day you’re skiing can be stressful — more so if you’re doing it for 20 kids.
Minimise the headache and pre-book all the essentials your kids will need for skiing. This way, there’s also less risk of the hire shop running out of gear for your group.
You might even be eligible for early bird specials or group discounts.
Reinforce the Buddy System
Organising a group of 20 kids can be overwhelming. But if you whittle it down to 10 pairs, the numbers become more manageable.
Ultimately, you still have to be responsible for every single child. But encouraging students to stick to a designated partner no matter what can make it easier to track them. And in the worst-case scenario, if one child isn’t accounted for, you at least know who to ask.
Set Expectations & Take Suggestions
Ultimately, you need to prioritise the kids’ experience. Be upfront about the itinerary so they know what to expect and ask them for feedback, if possible.
For school ski trips to Italy, for example, would they like to tour the alpine villages? Are they interested in dog-sledding or thermal pools? Do they just want to ski or would they like to try other activities, like snowshoeing?
Children can be a lot more accommodating when they know what to expect. Adjusting your itinerary to include something they like can also make them happier — and more agreeable — throughout the trip.
Good Luck!
A school trip means you’ll have other adults to rely on and split the responsibilities with. But implementing a few measures such as the ones listed above can make group travel easier for everyone involved.
Cover photo by Jochen van Wylick on Unsplash
