It might still be mid-summer but already thousands of people all across the country will be planning ski trips and winter breaks for the return of the snow. Skiing holidays are a fantastic way for families to bond: Spending time with your children or partner, all getting to take part in activity that you all enjoy and then being able to come together in the evenings and tell stories of the day’s adventures over a family meal is a practice which sadly has been dying out in recent years.
Like any holiday the key to making sure you get as much quality time with the family is often helped by what resort you go to. If you get it right then you can look forward to 7 days of family fun and making some of the best memories you’ll ever have. If you get it wrong however you be enduring a week of hell chasing after small children whilst carrying 3 sets of skis and ultimately regretting shelling out so much hard cash in the first place. This is why we’ve put together a selection of what we think are the best family resorts for skiing holidays in 2015.
La Plagne, France
A cluster 10 villages all interlinked with intermediate runs form the La Pagne resort. The characteristics of each individual base make it ideal for families and skiers of all levels. The resort features a children’s playground ideal for youngsters to learn how to ski as well as nursery schools and nursery runs. There are also 225km of intermediate slopes to challenge those more experienced skiers in the family as well as 5 terrain parks to keep the teenagers happy.
Laax, Switzerland
The resort at Crap Sogn Gion offers an extensive array of beginner’s slopes as well as an excellent ski school the instructors of which all speak fluent English. For those with more experienced and older children the resort’s 5 terrain parks and annual freestyle competitions provide a wealth of entertainment. Getting to the resort is no bother thanks to an efficient train and bus service from Zurich.
Cervinia, Italy
This quaint Italian town is not the biggest of resorts however it boasts a number of quality nursery slopes near the town centre, ideal for those with small children looking to learn the basics. From there the slopes progress to gentle intermediate runs further up the mountain when they are ready to move on to something a bit more challenging. The resort also has 2 kindergartens with excellent instructors to help the little ones find their feet.
Alpbach, Austria
This gorgeous village situated in the Austrian Alps is a particular favourite of British families. The resort has a number of excellent nursery slopes right next to it as well as a number of intermediate slopes for when the kids begin to progress as well as two excellent ski schools with knowledgeable instructors. For those with a bit more experience under their belt, there are also a number of off-piste slopes that will offer good challenge.
Alpe d’Huez, France
With a vast array of green beginner’s runs the Alpe d’Huez is an excellent playground for novices and those new to the sport. The resort also has a good number of blue runs to progress to and that will keep teenagers and intermediates well entertained. There are also a number of self-catering apartments available at this resort for those on tighter budgets.
Don’t fret if the thought of travelling to Europe is too much for you. There are a number of reputable resorts in almost every country. Just make sure you’ve done your research properly and you can look forward to a week to remember.
2 comments
I’ve never actually been skiing
My family and I enjoy skiing very much. It is a great family activity. The resorts you have listed all look amazing and fun, but so far away. Luckily I live in a state that has some of the best skiing in the world. So we spend most weekends during the winter on the slopes.