As someone who loves family adventures but has never tried skiing before, I’ve become really fascinated with the idea of planning our family’s first-ever ski holiday in Europe. My interest has grown significantly since China hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics, when it sparked a huge interest in skiing and snowboarding across China and beyond – so many of our friends back home are talking about skiing! I was also drawn to skiing after starting to watch the delightful Chinese drama Ski Into Love, starring Lin Yi and Esther Yu, which really makes skiing look like the perfect blend of romance, fun, and adventure!
Until recently, skiing in Europe, especially at luxurious alpine resorts like Val d’Isère, Courchevel, or Zermatt, was considered something only very wealthy Chinese travellers did. Thankfully, skiing holidays have become far more affordable, making it easier for families like ours to enjoy winter sports and the stunning alpine landscapes of Europe’s mountains. Crucially for my family, we’re already in Europe (sort of, since Brexit) so we can avoid the big cost of long flights.
If you’ve read my blogs about our family adventures hunting the Northern Lights in Norway and visiting Gothenburg in Sweden, you might wonder how we visited these snowy northern climes without getting out on the snow to ski. Well now it seems like the time is right to plan our first family skiing holiday, so here I’m sharing the advice and top tips I’ve gathered so far, hoping for more recommendations from my wonderful readers!
When planning our first ski trip, I’ve been told by skiing friends that it’s important to choose destinations that offer both skiing and sightseeing – perfect for families new to it, if you’re not sure you’ll want to be on the slopes from breakfast until dinner every single day. On the advice of a good friend who skis every winter, I phoned and got recommendations from a ski holiday expert at sno.co.uk a recommended Zermatt in Switzerland, situated beneath the spectacular Matterhorn mountain, and Chamonix in France, close to the majestic Mont Blanc. They are fantastic choices because both ski resorts have enough beginner-friendly slopes as well as charming and ancient mountain towns filled with culture, history, and great food – they’re ideal for making a memorable family holiday skiing or snowboarding.
Here are some helpful tips I’ve learned for families planning their first European ski holiday:
- Select Family-Friendly Resorts: Resorts such as Chamonix and Zermatt have excellent ski schools with instructors who can teach in multiple languages, sometimes including Mandarin, making it easier for the whole family to learn comfortably.
- Combine Skiing with Family Sightseeing: Allow some extra days in your schedule for sightseeing and enjoying local attractions. After skiing, you can easily visit other popular spots as a stop-off on the way home, such as Paris if you’re staying in Chamonix, or beautiful Swiss cities like Lucerne or Geneva if you choose Zermatt.
- Travel During Off-Peak Seasons: Visiting slightly outside of peak times means fewer crowds, but mainly better prices, and so more family-friendly conditions.
- Rent Equipment Initially: Renting your gear like skis and boots initially helps you and your family find out what works best for you, saving money and luggage space until you’re sure skiing is a sport you’d like to commit to long-term. You might be surprised how many of your friends go skiing, so reach out to borrow ski clothing because it’s not worth buying it all for your kids first time, especially because the grow out of it so fast!
Planning our family’s first ski holiday has already been so exciting, and I can’t wait to experience the slopes, scenic views, and wonderful European culture with my loved ones. Hopefully, this will inspire you to consider your own family ski adventure soon too!
So the big question now is… which mountain resort should we pick, for a first ski holiday?
Please give me your best recommendations in the comments below, and tell me why it’s your favourite ski resort. Remember that I’m a total foodie, so tell me where you think we can try out the best fondue and other classic mountain dishes!
Disclosure: This is a featured post. Images used with permission.