CFT Featured Article

CFT Featured Article / October 2006
Family Skiing Holidays.

When skiing with the family as opposed to when you went solo, careful consideration needs to be given as to what you want from your holiday in the way of childcare ie. Ski school if they are old enough, kids clubs or privately run organizations which are available in the bigger resorts providing private nursery and private nanny services. As a parent who goes on ski holidays but doesn’t ski, it is worth remembering that if you are taking your own childcare option, for example a nanny or grandparents, try and book a resort which has activities for them to do either solo or with your children whilst the rest of the family is out skiing.

Next consideration is the accommodation – what will suit you best – your own chalet, a catered chalet or an hotel? Hotels may be more expensive but will offer more services, however with babies/toddlers you may prefer to consider the self-catering option. Chalets really do vary in quality and size and you will be sharing with families you don’t know. However, going as a larger group and filling the whole chalet will solve this problem.

Next when considering where to stay, think about the resort overall and what is available when you are not skiing and the suitability of the slopes for your whole group ie. Will they cater for the whole group in terms of ability. Also, what is the transfer like from the airport and will it make the journey unbearably long.

A word on fitness too – it’s worth trying to get into shape before you arrive so that you don’t spend the first few days in complete agony!

To summarise, one of my highly recommended hotels is the Hotel Kalkstein in Austria which, as it is run by a family with small children, it really does go that extra mile in providing everything you could want. However, the skiing may not be challenging enough here if you are fairly advanced. Now, my ‘out of the box’ recommendation is the ski dome in Dubai. Yes Dubai, one is already open and another is due to shortly. You can ski in the cold, even have a hot chocolate on the mountain in the morning and then spend your afternoon sunbathing by the pool. Have a look at http://www.skidubai.com. Definitely something to suit everyone there! Or you could be really adventurous and try Durmitor in Montenegro and experience some fantastic views coupled with the lowest prices out -http://www.durmitorcg.com/ski_centar_eng.php.

Anyway, below are the places we have been to or the smaller companies that you have personally recommended to us at CFT. As per always, we are steering away from the larger companies because you already know who they are but we hope you find these places perfect although the list is not large. Definitely take your time to go through the recommended websites as these are full of great options, often with free childcare too.

AUSTRIA

Hotel Kalkstein
http://www.kalkstein.at

Hotel Bar
http://www.loewebaer.com

Hotel Alpenrose
http://www.hotelalpenrose.at

Ginas Kinderhotel
http://www.abenteuerhotel.com

CANADA
http://www.banffcariboulodge.com

USA
http://www.innsbruckinn.com

http://www.brettonwoods.com

http://www.sugarbush.com

http://www.smugs.com

http://www.waterville.com

http://www.altalodge.com