Family Ski Vacation

by: Donald Taylor



Whether your family lifestyle is a little extreme, or more serene, a family ski vacation is a great way to have fun and bond with your kids. Family ski vacations can be as wild or as subdued as you like, and with options available for all budgets, it's easy to plan a winter getaway for your clan.

Once you've all agreed that a family ski vacation is the way to go, you can start planning the details. Skiing isn't as expensive as you might think, and there are many great resorts that cater to families with money-saving packages available. The biggest problem your family will have is choosing a location.

Most ski resorts have websites, so begin your planning process online. Assess the various resort sites and compare the accommodations to decide which resort will be most suited to your family's needs. Don't choose a resort based on one or two attributes, but consider many different points. If someone in your family will need ski instruction, look for resorts that offer skiing lessons by qualified instructors. Don't make the mistake of choosing a resort where one or more of your family members won't be able to join in the fun because they're not good skiers. Many resorts offer on-site instruction but some don't, so take the time to research and choose carefully.

To make the best choice for your ski vacation, compare the available lifts, slopes and trails. The destination you choose should offer something to please every member of your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, more advanced skiers will quickly become bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there are no snowboarding parks or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. Some resorts cover all of the winter sports bases, so shop around for a place that will cover all of your family's interests.

Lodging is another very important consideration. Remember, you're going to be on vacation, so you want to feel comfortable day and night. You'll often find a hotel right at the base of the slopes, but it may not necessarily be the best or most affordable place to stay. Search out all available lodging options in your destination area, and choose the one the fits your budget and suits your family. If the accommodations you choose are located away from the slopes, make sure that you arrange to have easy access to transportation each day.

Even if everyone in your family is an avid skier, you'll likely want to explore other activities while on your family ski vacation. Find out if the resorts on your list offer other activities. Sleigh rides, dog sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing horseback riding and even tobogganing can all offer a fun twist to liven up your week at the slopes. Not all resorts offer additional activities, so be sure to ask before you book. Check into winter activities at the resort, as well events taking place in and around the town you'll be staying.

A family ski vacation is a great way for kids and parents to get active and have fun. Compare resorts, be sure you find the accommodations and amenities you need, and create a family ski vacation you'll all remember for a very long time.

Planning A Family Ski Vacation

by: Subert Kiing



It is time to plan a family vacation and everyone wants to go skiing. Do not worry, skiing is not as expensive as you might think, and there are numerous resorts that cater to families, offering a variety of packages designed to save you money. The problem will be choosing the right destination.

Most ski resorts have information websites. Start the planning process by accessing these websites to determine where you and your family might want to go for your family ski vacation. There are many different things to look for when choosing a resort. The absolute most important thing to look for is a ski school if someone in your family will need instruction. While most resorts do have ski schools, some do not. Do not make the mistake of choosing a destination where one or more of your family members won’t have fun, simply because they do not know how to ski.

Next, take a look at the slopes, lifts, and trails. You want to make sure that the resort has something to offer everyone in your family. If the resort only caters to beginners, an expert skier will become quickly bored. If you have a snowboarder in your group, and there is no snowboarding park or terrain, that snowboarder will not be happy. There are resorts that serve all winter sports, so make sure that interests of your family are covered.

Lodging is the next thing to look at. You want to be comfortable, so where you will sleep at night matters a great deal. In most cases, there is a hotel right at the base of the slopes, but this is not necessarily the best or most affordable place to stay. Find out what your lodging options are for the area, and choose the one that is right for your family and your budget. If you will be staying farther away from the slopes, make sure that there is transportation to and from the slopes each day.

Your family will have many more interests that you will need to search for before deciding on a particular destination and resort. Some of those interests may be dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or horseback riding. Resorts do offer these activities, but some do not, so be sure to ask about the winter activities, as well as the planned events during the time that you will be at the resort. This will help you plan a ski vacation that your family will enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.

Ski Vacations – What To Pack

If you will be traveling for a ski vacation, it is often difficult to know what to pack. You may not even have a problem knowing what to pack, but instead have a problem figuring how to get everything that you need from your home to your destination. Skis do not easily fit into suitcases, and if you are flying, this presents a huge problem.

Start by knowing what is available at your destination. Is there a rental shop? How much are the rental fees for skis, boots, and poles. If it is reasonable, and you don’t mind skiing with rented equipment, this is a viable option and it makes packing and traveling much easier.

If you do not care for rented equipment, there is another option. Find out if there are any ski shops in the area. There usually are. Get prices on skis, poles, and boots, and then ask if they buy used equipment. If they don’t, ask if there is anyone near by that does purchase used equipment. Call that place to get an estimate on how much you could get for barely used ski equipment. Figure the difference in the money you will spend on the ski equipment, and the money you will get for the used equipment when you are finished with it. If it is not much more than what it would cost you to rent the equipment, go for it!

Ski suits, ski jackets, and sweaters can be very bulky, and hard to pack. These items will take up a lot of room in your suitcase, and leave less room for other clothing and essentials. If you are trying to pack for a two week ski vacation, it will be impossible to fit everything you need into one suitcase.

There is a way to solve this. Call the lodge or resort where you will be staying. Tell them that you need to ship a package, for yourself, to them, and that you need that package to be there when you arrive. Ask them if they will hold it for you at the desk. In most cases, they will. Next, get a box, put all of your ski suits, your ski jacket, and any other bulky items in the box, and ship it to yourself, in care of the lodge or resort. Shipping can be overnight, two day, or three day depending on how far it must travel. Depending on how much the box weighs, you will usually pay less than fifty dollars to ship a package in the continental United States, which is a lot less than you would pay an airline for extra overweight baggage.