As the snow melts on this year’s ski season and spring is (finally) in the air, you might think now is the time to think about summer plans. Well it’s also one of the best times to book ahead for next year’s skiing trip. As one season ends you can grab great deals at some of the best resorts for the following year, so why not be really organised and plan ahead for an unforgettable trip. Imagine the excitement at the end of the summer, when the colder nights start drawing in, and you remember, oh yeah! You already have next year’s family ski trip sorted.
Crystal Ski Holidays is the perfect family-friendly company to book with. They offer budget-friendly trips for families without losing quality. Think 4* hotels or roomy apartments, to cater for groups who need flexibility around mealtimes, right on the slopes for convenience. With over 100 resorts to choose from across 12 different countries – covering everywhere from France to Canada – the options are endless.
If you’ve got a young family and the thought of trying to keep everyone on two skies, together, on the slopes fills you with dread, remember, the key to great family skiing is starting them young. Then before you know it, they’ll have picked it up (and, we’re sorry to say, they’ll probably be better than you in no time - kids have no fear).
Alternatively, if you don’t think your child is ready to ski just yet there’s also Crystal’s Pepi Penguin Nursery and Beanie Bear Club (for children aged 6 months to 8 years) where they will do stories, singing and arts and crafts in the safe hands of Crystal Childcare staff. And when the weather’s nice, the younger kids will head outside with the staff to build snowmen, make snow sculptures and go on winter walks. The older ones will get their snowy fun in ski school, since their lessons and equipment hire are included too.
Crystal's website is a helpful place to start for all the questions you might want to ask before your first family ski trip.
When is the best age for kids to start skiing?
They say children can start ski school from age three, but most places start from age four and some are from age five or six. At this stage, it’s more about playing in the snow and gently sliding on skis for the first time. Older kids will still play games but there’s also more focus on skiing technique.
What makes a good family ski resort?
When it comes to picking your resort, Crystal recommend looking at the resorts they’ve marked ‘Best for families’, because they’ve got lots of places to stay with family-friendly facilities like bigger rooms and kids’ clubs. Plus, they’re close to the lifts and have great ski schools and tons of other activities to do too.
Imagine the excitement at the end of the summer, when the colder nights start drawing in and you remember you were organised enough to book ahead – and get a great deal – for your family. You can start the countdown there and then.
Now close your eyes and imagine yourself shuffling off that ski lift, blue skies above and piercing white powder beneath you, at the top of your first slope of 2024. Get set, ready, go book!
Five of the best family friendly holidays with Crystal Ski Holidays
The one with a free child place included
Spacious child-friendly rooms are the key to this hotel, which is right on the slopes, so easy for getting kids to ski lessons and you all to get around. It's arguably the most convenient spot in Pas de la Casa - and there's plenty of apres action too, with live music and quizzes most days. The town centre is just a minute's walk away too.
It makes sense to be such a child-friendly place when kid spaces come free with bookings on this place. The offer applies to new bookings only and are subject to availability. You must book two full-paying adults in order to get one free child place. But when it comes to a skiing holiday, it's absolutely a win.
The no fuss, self-catered option
When it's £806pp and that includes flights, transfers, a family-sized self-catering apartment (most of which have beautiful views) and 59% of visitors who stayed here rated it either very good or excellent on Tripadvisor, you know you're onto something. The resort of La Plagne is a playground for families or anyone else looking to build confidence. The 425km Paradiski area is known for having a huge variety of terrain, from tree-lined runs to open bowls. Once you’ve got the basics down, head up to Grande Rochette to ski linked blues back to Plagne Centre. Perfect for keeping the family together on the slopes if you're not putting the kids in ski school.
Families will also love Plagne Aime 2000, which is where Crystal Childcare is based. So the option to drop the kids off and enjoy some reds is definitely there.
The resort’s made up of several small villages. Plagne Centre was the first to open in 1961, while Plagne Soleil is the newest of the bunch. Belle Plagne and Plagne 1800 are the prettiest picks, or choose Plagne Villages to be smack-bang in the centre of the slopes. Wherever you end up though, they’ve all got a mix of accommodation, bars and restaurants, and easy-peasy access to the piste.
Eager for some off-slope thrills too? Go for gold as you zoom down the Olympic bobsleigh track, the only one in France, or take to the skies on a ziplining adventure. Or for something more laid-back, catch the lift up to the Bellecôte glacier to explore a grotto filled with sculptures carved from snow and ice.
The teaching the kids how to ski option. Plus a free kids' club
Bosnia and Herzegovina is off the usual beaten track, but if it was good enough for the Winter Olympics in 1984, it's certainly good enough for our ski holiday. A lot of the skiing events in the Olympics actually took place in Jahorina. What makes this spot so perfect for families is the three beginner areas and abundance of gentle, nursery slopes - exactly where you wish you'd learnt to ski. Spacious runs zig-zag down pine-covered mountainsides. You can also enjoy cross-country skiing, snow tubing, snowshoe walking and winter walking paths here. And to seal the deal? It’s got some of the best-value lift passes and equipment hire in Europe.
And we've picked out one of the best family-friendly hotels to stay at. At Termag, the hotel-run kids’ club is just what you need so you can enjoy an easy-peasy family ski trip - and it's free! As for food, breakfast and dinner is included. An all-you-can-eat spread sets you up for the day – sit down to a full English or keep things quick with a coffee and croissant. And in the evening, you can fill up on the buffet (which everyone knows is easier than ordering à la carte when there's children involved). They have all the international classics, but also an array of options so you can sample the local fare. Look out for Balkan sač dishes, where meat is slow-cooked in a special oven to make it tender and flavoursome. The cherry on the cake? With the resort being only 45 minutes away from Sarajevo, you won't be stuck for hours on winding roads with impatient children in the back of the car.
The spa while the kids are in childcare option
Who said family ski trips had to be stressful? At Hotel Planibel you can drop the kids in childcare and enjoy a few hours in the spa, or visit the swimming pool and sauna, after a morning on the slopes. As for the skiing, it’s right at your feet – you can ski to and from the door, and the main gondola is just metres away.
Here, the hotel is your oyster. Pop into the hotel bar for an après drink. And there's a line-up of shops you can visit without leaving the complex.
When it comes to mealtimes, your breakfast and evening meals are included. On top of your buffets, there’s a range of restaurants and cafés to explore, as well as a mini-market where you can grab drinks and snacks.
La Thuile’s a top pick if you’re fairly new to the mountain. You can ski at your own pace on 152km of wide, empty slopes, where the excellent snow conditions have earned this area the nickname ‘Little Siberia’ among Italians. Exactly what you need with a couple of little ones behind you, following your lead.
The magical, Christmas option
Is there anything more exciting for children than being told you're going skiing in Lapland over Christmas? Believe it or not, dates are still available for December 2023, so get booking the best Christmas present imaginable for a family. Plus, this one comes approved with a Crystal 'Best for families' stamp on it.
Ruka Village Hotel & Apartments is the perfect location right in the middle of the pedestrian village, less than a minute's walk from the lifts so you can ski and in and out - perfect after a tiring day on the slopes. And next door, there’s a shopping centre where you can stock up at the supermarket and play a few games in the bowling alley.
The apartments are typically Scandi in style, and they’ve all got that Finnish staple, a private sauna that's perfect for a spell of après-ski relaxation. It's flexible here and you can choose the set-up that suits you best, whether that's a studio on bed & breakfast basis or a bigger self-catering apartment. Why not go all out and pick a 3-bedroom apartment, where you can sit in your own outdoor hot tub on the balcony, soaking up the wintery cosiness and views?
Meals can be equally flexible. Stick with bed & breakfast or self-catering to prep your own meals – or try out the local restaurants. Or, upgrade to self-catering plus or half board to get your evening meals included with your holiday.
Who knows, the kids might even spot Santa in his sleigh shooting down the slopes on Christmas Eve - or you may see a flash of the Northern Lights. This is Lapland after all.