10 Expert Tips to Know When Planning a Ski Trip with Kids

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Planning a ski trip with kids can be quite the task whether you are a veteran ski family or whether it’s your first family ski trip. It is important to note that, when kids are involved, there is no such thing as a perfect ski vacation. Knowing this beforehand will take some pressure of you, especially with planning and also when on your trip.

black kids ski

Our family when skiing for the first time last year, and knowing this expert tips when planning a ski trip with kids were very helpful for me. So, below are a few things you need to know when planning a ski trip trip with kids.

Find The Right Resort

Finding the right ski resort is going to help your family immensely. When choosing a destination for your ski trip with kids, make sure to speak to ski specialist at that resort so that you know if the resort you are choosing will match your families ski abilities. If your kids are new to skiing, you should opt for resorts with several beginner ski slopes so that your kids can practice without being crowded by other skiers. This will give them the opportunity to make mistakes and learn better. Some resorts have activities for kids and even daycare where your kids can spend the day if they need a break from skiing. Some resorts also have spa services for parents to take advantage of. For this reason, it is important to do you research on ski resorts prior to planning a ski trip with kids. Also make sure to search for resorts that offer all-inclusive family ski packages which include lift tickets, lodging, ski camps for kids, lesson, rentals equipment, and so on.

Avoid Holidays

Holidays simply mean peak season, which also means that hotel rates will be much higher and it will also be crowded. It is advisable to go on midweek ski vacations especially if you don’t mind the kids missing a few days of school for an epic ski trip. Not only will there be lower prices and fewer crowds, but you will have options for registering your kids for ski school on your preferred dates and times without worrying about it being sold out. When you go during off season or mid-week, you can even plan a last-minute budget ski trip with kids like we did to Winter Park, Colorado without breaking the bank.

Book Activities in Advance

Booking your activities in advance is one of the things that you should ensure you do before you leave your home. This is due to the fact that many ski schools get booked quickly during the peak season. If you want your kids to have a private lesson, or if you want to book a sleigh ride or snow-ski experience, then you should plan to book it in advance.

black family ski

Seek Out Used Gear

As we all know, good ski gear is expensive, and kids won’t use ski clothes more than twice because they usually outgrow it before the next ski trip. You absolutely don’t need to buy new ski gear, you can buy used ski gear on local resell pages, or simply rent them. Most ski shops have rental ski gear for kids and adults including ski equipment as well. If you do end up buying new ski gear, you can always resell it when you’re done using it, and that’ll give you some money to buy or rent what you need for your next ski trip with kids.

Have A Backup Plan

You should ensure you have a backup plan in case your kids do not like skiing. This can be frustrating since you spent your time and energy to plan the trip, however use this opportunity to do other things that you researched earlier. Something that every family member can enjoy. It can be something as simple as tubing or even just enjoying the hotel pool and jacuzzi. Other good options are Winter Programs going on at the resort or an indoor playground where your kids can get some energy out.

Set A Meeting Point

When planning a ski trip with kids, it is important to set a meeting point. If you have older kids or other family members on your trip and you plan to split up, make sure every family member knows where to meet. This is going to help you out in case phone batteries die or there is no signal to contact each other which happens often. You should also instruct your older kids on how to ask for help if they need it until they can locate you.

Pack The Right Clothes

In my opinion packing the right clothes is the most important part of planning a ski trip with kids. If your family isn’t used to cold weather, you’ll want to make sure to make the appropriate clothes for skiing and for the snow. Don’t forget to shop for the correct snow boots and warm socks as well to keep your feet warm. I have always dreaded cold weather, until I realized that with appropriate clothes, like gloves, jackets and hats, it’s not so bad.


Plan for Altitude Sickness

This is one of the things that you don’t want to miss planning for as it can disrupt the whole vacation. You should make sure you look out for symptoms like nausea or headaches while on the ski slopes with kids. To avoid the effects of high altitude, ensure that you drink lots of water before you head out on the slopes so as to acclimate. It is also recommended to have light meals and pack nausea medications if you absolutely need it.

Go Car-free

Renting a car and driving in the snow can be especially stressful if you’ve never done it before. You don’t want to add more stress to yourself while on a ski trip with kids. The best way to avoid this is by avoiding renting a car, and using resort transportation. Many resorts have shuttles and bus systems that you can take from the airport, and then there is a local bus system to get you around the resort.

Stay Hydrated

It is important that you drink a lot of water or electrolyte-infused beverages while on the slope. This is due to the fact that you easily become dehydrated in the mountains when skiing with kids and staying hydrated will help to ward off altitude sickness. Sometimes people think because it is cold out, you won’t get dehydrated, but that’s false.

Hopefully this information will be helpful when planning your next ski trip with kids. If I missed any helpful tips, please share with me in the comment section.

ski trip with kids

You can read my other posts on ski trips with kids below:

Booking Your Trip – Tips & Tricks

How To Book Cheap Flights When You Travel

If you are looking to book the cheapest flights you can possibly find on the internet, then make sure to use Skyscanner when searching for flights. Don’t forget to download the Free Skyscanner App also which is very handy. This is how I was able to get $12.40 airfare from Los Angeles to London, as well as $9.40 airfare from London to Italy.

How To Book Affordable Accommodation When You Travel

When booking accommodation, TripAdvisor is the way to go because you can read reviews and see photos from other travelers to get a feel of where you will be staying. Other great sites to book hotels are HotelsCombined, Booking.com and Hotels.com. Don’t forget to check HomeAway and VRBO for house and villa rentals too. Perfect for when you travel with a large family, and also to save money when hotels are expensive. Another favorite of mine is BookVIP – they offer huge resort savings.

How To Book Activities When You Travel

My favorite website to search for activities, tours and especially skip the line tickets is Viator and Get Your Guide. This makes trip planning so much easier because you don’t have to search several sites as both websites have several options to choose from. Same also goes with TripAdvisor Attractions – you can search and book activities as well as read reviews.

How To Book Rental Cars When You Travel

Instead of checking every single website, I use RentalCars.com, Car Rental 8 and Skyscanner Car Rentals to find car rentals all over the world with just one click. If you plan to park at the airport, visit Airport Parking and make a reservation.

Why Travel Insurance Is a Must When You Travel

People book trips and forget the most important part, purchasing travel insurance. Because we travel often, I purchase our travel insurance through Allianz for a year at a time which means that we are covered for all trips within that year. Travel insurance will protect you and your family against theft, injury illness, flight cancellations and so much more. It is a MUST!

Looking to save even more money when you travel?

Visit my Travel Resources page to see all the reliable and trustworthy brands that I use to book my travel with. I only recommend brands that I’ve used and can vouch for, so you’re in good hands! ? Also check out these posts below:

Top Travel With Kids Tips

Traveling with kids and have a few questions you need answers too, these posts below will help your trip run smooth.

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Kay, The Mom Trotter

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I am an entrepreneur and travel enthusiast who is passionate about sharing an alternate way of living surrounding travel, homeschooling, parenting and financial independence, with a mission to inspire other families.

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