I love to ski.  Unfortunately, I am a terrible skier.  So, when we moved to Denver four years ago, I jumped at the chance to have the girls learn to ski.  Now we spend almost every weekend on the slopes and the girls easily out-ski me (the oldest can literally ski circles around me!).  Breckenridge is our mountain of choice because it has wide open greens & blues for me,  “fun” blues and blacks for the girls, a great ski/ride school and, most importantly, a family friendly atmosphere throughout the historic town.  More on Breck in future posts…

No matter your destination, these tips can help create a great family vacation.

Where to stay:

You’ve spent the time deciding on the perfect destination for your family ski vacation and now you need to select your lodging.  Ski resorts & towns have a variety of options but our favorite are the condos or houses.   You can find numerous choices by doing a google search or on www.vrbo.com.  The biggest factor  impacting price is the option of ski-in/out places.  At first thought this sounds great – no need to schlep gear to the slopes, just walk out your door and hit the slopes.  But wait – there is no set definition for ski-in/out.  We found several places advertising they were ski-in but they required a back country ski adventure of over a mile to reach the rental house.  Also, consider where the kids are skiing.  If they are in ski school, is the rental property near the drop off point?  With four kids, we find it easier to drive to slope-side parking near the ski school and pay to park.  It isn’t cheap (often $15 – $20 per day) but still likely cheaper than paying a premium for a ski-in/out place that really isn’t that convenient.

Renting Ski/Ride Gear:

It is always cheaper to rent gear away from the mountain but the savings may not be worth it.  Many resorts offer rental with their ski/ride school.  It is sure to be more expensive but you don’t have to lug their gear to the school and if something breaks or doesn’t fit, the ski school can easily replace it. Helmets are highly recommended and can also be rented at most shops. 

Where to Scrimp/Places to Splurge

Skiing is expensive – from the gear rental to the lift tickets, it is easy to spend a small fortune on the mountain.  I am not a budget traveler but also don’t like to spend money for things that don’t add value to the overall experience.  Here is my list of scrimps and splurges:

• Scrimp on food – Bring snacks.  I am not one to ski with a backpack filled with every necessity but I do carry a few snacks to get through the day.  Granola bars, peanut butter crackers, and trail mix are easy to stash in a pocket and don’t get smashed.
  
• Splurge on parking – pay for slope-side.  Parking in the free lots and taking buses to the slopes is great for adults but add in a few kids and their gear and it just isn’t worth the time and effort (especially when someone forgets something in the car and you have to backtrack to get it).
• Scrimp on lift tickets – pre-purchase on-line.  Search for deals on-line to save money.   Ski rental shops often have discount tickets as well.
• Splurge on ski school.  Even if you are an expert skier, let the professionals teach your kids for at least a day.   Every time I ski I see kids crying because their parents are yelling at them while “teaching” them to ski.  Or worse, parents push kids into dangerous situations by taking them on runs before the kids are ready.
  
• Scrimp on lodging by staying farther from the slopes but do spend enough to get a place that comfortably accommodates your family.
  
• Scrimp and Splurge on snow gear.  Look for off-season bargains and borrow what you can from friends.  BUT it is no fun to be cold.  Spend enough so that the coats/pants are warm and waterproof, mittens/gloves are designed for skiing/boarding.  neck gators, hats & ear warmers are worth the money!
  
• Splurge on socks & base layers.  Buy socks made for skiing/boarding.  Base layers should be wicking fabrics (not cotton) and not overly heavy.  Use layers to create warmth.
  

The Finishing Touch

What to do after the lifts close?  Hopefully the kids are tired so play some family games or work a puzzle and start the bedtime routine early with a warming bath.  Bring some new bathtoys and soothing bubbles to calm everyone down.

Happy Travels!

Skiing with kids · traveling with kids

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