Tips on planning a stress-free family skiing trip



Planning on hitting the slopes this winter? From arranging airport transfers to purchasing lift passes and hiring equipment, ski trips require a little more organisation than a standard two-week holiday in the sun.

So, we thought we’d share our top planning tips to make sure your family skiing trip is as smooth as those snow-covered slopes...

Get the timing right


The main ski season kicks off after Christmas, though travelling before the New Year could bag you a cheap deal on your trip, plus you’ll beat the crowds. That said, you don’t want to turn up to a snowless resort, so choose higher-altitude spots if you’re travelling out of season. This Iglu Skisnow history report dates back five years and shares previous monthly snowfall in popular resorts, giving you a good idea of where to head for the best chance of snow.

Get the location right


You’ve narrowed down your resort options based on the time of year you’re travelling, but there’s more to picking the perfect ski destination. The right resort for you and your family depends on a whole heap of factors, from your kids’ ages, to your skills and experience, to your après-ski plans. Here are some things to ask yourself:


  • Is there easy access to and from the airport? An important consideration if you’re travelling with younger kids and lots of luggage.
  • What are the costs of passes and equipment hire? Resorts in areas like Bulgaria are usually much cheaper than those in France and Italy, but they can be just as good.
  • Is there a big après-ski scene? If you’re skiing with kids, you probably don’t want to head to a resort notorious for its round-the-clock partying!
  • What are the ski schools like? Different resorts have different rules when it comes to age restrictions for ski schools.
  • Are there slopes to suit everyone? You might be an off-piste pro, but you want to make sure there’s something for everyone on your skiing trip.
  • Ski school/lessons. This is particularly important if you’re skiing in peak season.
  • Lift passes. Beat the queues and order your lift passes in advance.
  • Ski equipment. Most resorts rent out ski and snowboard equipment, but you should book online in advance to save disappointment.
  • Salopettes, ski jacket and goggles. These can be expensive to buy, so if it’s your first time, ask ski-loving friends and family if they can lend them to you first. The resort or hotel may rent out clothing too. You may decide to buy your own under-layers though!
  • GP skiing accessories. Kit out your ski trip with tech from GP, including mobile chargers to boost your phone on the move, head torches for taking on floodlit slopes after hours, and our beam torches to guide you home after an evening out! Check out our handy infographic on essential ski trip items for some other must-take items.
Skiing is no walk in the park, so upping your exercise regime now will boost your stamina and help to prevent injury on the slopes. Get the whole family involved a few times a week and make it a mix of cardio and strength training, focusing on the legs. For instance, you could head out on a family bike ride, finishing off with some squats and lunges. Doing this will help to ensure you wake up each morning minus any aches and pains, and raring to go for another day of snow!

Get organised


The more you book now, the less back-and-forth you’ll have to do when you’re at the resort – and the quicker you can get out on those slopes! Get organised by sorting out the following before your trip:

Get fighting fit!


Skiing is no walk in the park, so upping your exercise regime now will boost your stamina and help to prevent injury on the slopes. Get the whole family involved a few times a week and make it a mix of cardio and strength training, focusing on the legs. For instance, you could head out on a family bike ride, finishing off with some squats and lunges. Doing this will help to ensure you wake up each morning minus any aches and pains, and raring to go for another day of snow!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 4 benefits of walking every day – and how to stick at it

Image
Did you know that dog owners walk 79% further than non-dog owners? Great news for those with a canine companion...not so great for the rest of us who don’t have a beloved pooch to pry us out of our homes when it’s cold and wet outside. Dog or no dog, walking is a great way to get fit and lead a healthier lifestyle. Nature is free, not to mention the environmental advantages of walking instead of driving or catching the bus. Sure, walking outside isn’t so appealing in the winter months. But spring is just around the corner and soon, those lighter, warmer evenings will be tempting you to step outside and make the most of the great outdoors. There are lots of reasons to try and incorporate more walking into your day-to-day life. Here are four key benefits of walking every day for starters: 1.Reach your 150 minutes Walking can count towards the NHS’ recommended 150 minutes of exercise minimum per week, for people aged 19-64. A leisurely stroll through the park w
Read more

Time for a digital detox? 6 tips to help you reconnect

Image
  We all know when we’re using our smartphones too much. You put it down, only to pick it up again. There might not even be a notification on the lock screen. If that sounds like you, don’t worry... you’re not alone. Lots of people find it difficult to unplug from the world, even for a short while. In fact, the average person in the UK checks their phone every 12 minutes throughout the day! To mark the USA’s National Day of Unplugging on March 1-2, we’re inspiring our UK readers to join those on the other side of the pond by taking a ‘digital detox’. So, here are some ways you and your family (particularly if you have teens or tweens in the house!) can reconnect and enjoy some time away from your devices: 1.   List what you love Sit down with your family and write a list of all the things you enjoy doing in life – running, meditating, reading – but currently aren’t making enough time to do. Hopefully you’ll get to the end of the list and realise that if
Read more

Geocaching: everything you need to know about the world’s largest treasure hunt!

Image
Blending technology with exploration, geocaching is an exciting outdoor activity that’s become extremely popular in recent years. If you’re yet to try it, here’s a brief explanation of what it is, followed by some final tips before you set off on your big adventure... What exactly is geocaching? Geocaching is essentially a modern version of an age-old recreational activity known as ‘letterboxing’ – with the addition of tech. People hide boxes, called ‘caches,’ in different locations and others hunt for them using GPS. Each cache is recorded on the official free geocaching app and contains a log book to sign and date once you’ve located it. Many of the boxes contain small knick-knacks for trading, too. Once you’ve placed the box back in its original position, you can later record your find on the app and share your adventures on social media – fellow geocachers will be keen to read about your experience! Geocaching in numbers There are around three million geo
Read more