Skiing

Specialist Reports Activity Holidays Skiing Picking a Resort 

Picking a Resort
? The Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide details suitability of resorts for children, including child care for different ages, ski school and lift pass prices for children to give an idea of the probable cost. Not all cater to all ages of children.

? Broadly, there is little resort-organised care in Italy but rather more in France and a scattering in Austria. The US and to a lesser extent Canada seem better equipped.

? Other issues to consider are child-friendly food (Italy scores here with its pizza and pasta), family-friendly resorts and ski schools (Austria and particularly the Tyrol have long been known for this), or simply compactness of the resort and so closeness to the slopes (so avoid the big places like Verbier and Val d'Isere, and north American resorts like Banff).

? If your children's age group is not catered to by your tour operator, the local tourist offices may be able to offer the names of local girls who could babysit (often non-English speakers), or give the name of a hotel which operates a nursery, though this may only be open to residents.

? When picking a resort, transfer time is important. This can range from an hour to close to three, or even four - difficult with small children, particularly as there may not be child seats or belts.

? Think about getting around in the resort and between accommodation, childcare, ski school, slopes etc. Children can find if difficult walking on slippery surfaces, particularly in ski boots, and you may not enjoy carrying their skis and poles as well as your own (though it may be less work than encouraging them to carry their own). If you are going to take them anywhere yourself, look to do this over short distances only, or with some kind of pick-up service. (Buses are to be avoided as small children regularly use them as depositories for small items like hats, gloves, goggles? ) Without a pick-up service, smaller/more compact resorts are more manageable than large ones, and while modern purpose-built resorts may lack charm, ski-in, ski-out is very convenient.

? Ideally any childcare should be at or convenient for your accommodation, or at least near the lifts so you can set off once you have dropped off the children. Also useful is proximity to ski school.

? Children seldom ski happily for as long as adults so think about a day starting late and finishing early, punctuated by loo (hourly in the cold), food and hot chocolate stops, or if skiing all morning, doing something entirely different in the afternoons.

? Think about what you are going to do when you aren't skiing. Skating, snowmobiling, tobogganing and dog sledging may all be available, albeit at extra cost. US resorts are particularly good at this sort of thing although increased competition means the European ones are having to keep up.

? Look for somewhere with a good chance of decent snow. Novice skiers will not be happy skiing on moguls and ice. North American resorts are particularly recommended in this respect but for the moment none of the British family specialists operate there.

? With older children who want real or feigned independence, smaller resorts are probably safer, or even somewhere like Club Med which has specific activities for those up to 17. Alternatively think about the US where drinking under 21 is illegal and on-slope safety standards are admirable. (Alternatively send them off on a school trip.)