26 October 2024

I speak to many families who love the idea of taking the family away skiing but fear for how much it is going to cost them. I'm not going to tell you it's a cheap holiday, but if you pick the right resorts, and follow this advice your budget will go further. If you have grown up with parents who ski then you will be well aware of how it works and all the costs involved, I wasn't from a family who skied but was lucky to take my first ski trip at 15 with my friends parents who did and haven't ever stopped! My first ski trip was to the large Bulgarian resort Borovets which still offers families great value. Planning a family ski holiday with young children can be challenging, especially if it’s your first family ski trip. So there is a lot to consider when picking the right ski resort. Luckily, there are many resorts that cater to families of all ages and abilities. Learn to ski before you go If you're local to Poole or Bournemouth then we have a great easily accessible dry slope centre. Children can start skiing from 2 years old and work through the alpine stars programme so they get to a stage where they are making parallel turns. Avoiding ski school when you're there all together. Borrow or rent your ski clothing If you are new to skiing or snowboarding, it's a good idea to borrow from friends or look for pre-loved ski clothing and equipment on sites like Vinted. This was is not only a budget saving idea but also a sustainable one. Choose room only or self-catering apartments A great way to save some pennies but also create a home from home feel when on a ski holiday is to book a self-catering apartment. You can cook your dinners or pack a picnic, which makes good money sense but also pleases your preferred food tastes no matter where you are. I actually prefer to go self-catering as it gives us the flexibility to eat out in the local restaurants or cook if we have had a big meal on the mountain. And more living space for all our ski gear! Book your ski trip early - ideally 11 to 9 months before you go Often there are early booking savings and discounts on offer when you book a package holiday. Examples of early booking offers may include half price ski passes. or better sill if you plan to go twice in the season it can be better value and buy a season pass. Which is what will usually do as it includes up to 5 days skiing in other more expensive resorts. Avoid February half-term When planning a family ski trip, take a look at Spring and Easter time ski holidays, these are often slightly less popular than Christmas and New Year so you’re likely to find a deal or two. Dare I say it, travel outside of school holidays. If you'd like my help with planning your first or next trip get in touch as selecting the prefect ski resort for your family comes down to your specific needs and preferences.

26 October 2024

Whether you are a first time skier or a seasoned pro who goes to the mountains a couple of times a year, you want to ensure you have all the right clothing, gear and equipment for a successful skiing or snowboarding holiday. Since I started skiing, what I tend to do is update a piece of equipment or a new item of clothing every year. As you become more experienced, you will realise those cheap gloves you picked up, when it gets cold. Quality gear, not necessarily the most expensive is worth the investment if you are going to ski regularly. Top things to pack for a skiing holiday, with or without children: Warm clothing / Top layers so you can layer up or down - temperatures will change throughout your weeks holiday Base layers are vital to staying warm, pack a few spares Snow boots with good grip so you’re not slipping and sliding around resorts Sun protection and hand warmers (essential for keeping little ones warm) Ski / Snowboarding gear (including footwear, helmet and poles - these can be rented in resort) Sunglasses and Goggles (you will need the sunglasses when you stop for a beer) Gloves / Mittens / Hats and Snoods Backpack and carry a spare battery pack for your phone as the cold will drain battery life Après clothes - from experience you won't need your thermals on in the bar When booking your ski holiday and depending on how you do it, it is worth organising your ski equipment and ski passes ahead of your trip. It saves time when you arrive in resort and many of our ski tour operators will guide you through the process if you are unsure when in resort and take you to the ski hire shop. Ask me for more details when you come to enquire.

26 October 2024

Ski holidays are all about getting out there in the fresh air and the snow conditions make or break your trip, you want to be sure when you arrive there is plenty of snow cover. With weather patterns becoming more unpredictable a snow-sure ski resort is a fool-proof way to avoid disappointment. You need to look for a high altitude resort, based on glacier ideally. The Alps is where as a family we do the majority of our skiing and are home to several incredibly snow-sure ski resorts. Here's my take on a list of snow sure ski resorts across France. Val Thorens is the highest point of The Three Valleys, the world’s largest interconnected ski area! Sitting at an altitude of 2,300m, it is officially the ski resort with the highest village in Europe and one of the most snow-sure ski resorts in France, with incredibly reliable snow cover both in resort and on the slopes. Linked to the neighbouring ski resorts of Méribel and Courchevel, The Three Valleys ski area offers over 600km of terrain to explore and is home to six glaciers. Additionally, 90% of the runs in Val Thorens sit above 2,000m and the resort stays open until early May. The Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area at an altitude of 2,100m, Tignes is one of the best ski areas in the world for reliable snow and offers ideal conditions for skiers of all abilities. Tignes takes one of the top spots for snow reliability in the Alps with the majority of its slopes sitting above 2,100m! Its position near the Italian border creates a unique microclimate that means it gets snow not only from the north but also from the south-east. The Grande Motte glacier in Tignes sitting at a staggering height of 3,456m allows for excellent skiing almost all year round. The neighbouring ski resort of Val d’Isère sits slightly lower than Tignes at an altitude of 1,850m. Val d’Isère also forms part of the snow-sure Tignes-Val d’Isère ski area which offers 300km of high-altitude skiable terrain and is often regarded as having the most reliable snow in the Alps. Val has its own glacier – the Pisaillas glacier, which reaches up to 3,300m in altitude and allows for summer skiing. Better suited for intermediate and advanced skiers, Val d’Isère offers some incredibly thrilling runs, such as La Face, that will be sure to get your heart racing. Avoriaz village sits at 1,800m with the highest ski lift reaching 2,466m. The resort is situated on a sloping shelf high above the town of Morzine and is a gateway to the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area, which offers 600km skiable terrain. With a seasonal snowfall average of nearly 8m, it is statistically the snowiest resort at the resort village level. The picturesque, car-free resort is one of the best ski resorts for families, offering lots of ski-in-ski-out style accommodation and incredible snow-sure skiing throughout the season. Les Arcs is made up of five villages, but Les Arc 1950 and Les Arc 2000 are the two highest, so head to these for reliable, snow-sure conditions. Due to their high altitude, both villages and their slopes are incredibly snow-sure. Their location on a sheltered north-easterly facing bowl bolsters their reliability for excellent snow conditions and makes the area one of the most snow-sure locations in the French Alps. Les Arcs’ glacier, Aiguille Rouge, offers skiing at 3,226m and most of the runs sit at an altitude above 2,000m! We have skied in all these resorts many times, feel free to get in touch about your next ski trip.