How We Chose Our First Family Ski Holiday

 

Planning our first family ski holiday felt like an exciting yet slightly overwhelming task. With so many resorts, accommodation options, and travel logistics to think about, we quickly realised that choosing the perfect destination and digs would involve a lot of research and careful consideration. Here's how we made our decision and why we think it might turn out out to be the best holiday we've ever had...

 

Finding a Family-Friendly Ski Resort

We knew we wanted somewhere that catered to families, offered reliable snow, and wasn't too complicated to get to. After reading countless reviews and chatting with friends who had taken their families skiing, we narrowed it down to a few popular contenders:

• Morzine in France - This was high on our list because it's only an hour and a bit from Geneva Airport, which means much less travel stress with the kids. It also has a reputation for being super family-friendly, with lots of ski schools and gentle slopes to learn and progress on.
  
  
• Zell am See-Kaprun in Austria - The idea of staying near a lake surrounded by mountains sounded magical, and learning about the guaranteed snow on the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier was a big draw. On top of that, it had 12 ski schools, which sounded perfect for our little beginner skiers.
  
  
• Les Gets in France - Another great option that came highly recommended for families by my friend Jane. It's part of the big Portes du Soleil ski area, so there's plenty of variety in the slopes, and it has lots of non-skiing activities for younger kids, so we knew we had backup plans if they didn’t immediately take to skiing.

In the end, we talked it through with a family ski holidays specialist and chose Zell am See because it ticked essentially every box for us. It’s really easy to get to from Salzburg Airport, promises more or less snow-sure skiing, and has plenty of activities for everyone in the family on and off the snow.

 

Choosing the Type of Holiday Accommodation

Once we'd settled on the destination, the next big decision was accommodation. We debated whether to stay in a ski hotel or go for a catered chalet holiday. Here’s how we weighed it up:

• Ski Hotels - We liked the idea of having everything taken care of, from meals to cleaning, and being able to just relax. The downside was that we wouldn’t have as much space for the kids to play, and we’d miss out on the cozy, log-fired feel of a chalet.
  
  
• Catered Ski Chalets - This seemed like the best of both worlds, with meals included but with a more personalised and relaxed vibe. We could put the kids to bed and still enjoy time together in the living room without feeling like we were confined to one hotel room or have to worry about babysitting services.

We ended up booking a catered chalet with bunk beds for the kids and a spa for us (yes, a hot tub was non-negotiable!). I was mainly swayed by my friend Jane who said their last chalet ski holiday turned out to be absolutely perfect, with incredibly friendly and attentive hosts and hearty home-cooked meals ready every evening after a day on the slopes making life in the evenings so much more relaxed.

 

Other Factors That Sealed the Deal

• Ski Schools and Childcare - As beginners, we wanted to make sure the kids would have fun and feel safe while learning to ski. Zell am See has 12 ski schools, so we feel confident they’ll be in good hands. After a bit of digging we found the resort also had some childcare options, which gives us time to explore the tougher slopes as a couple.
  
  
• Non-Ski Activities - Not everyone in our family is planning to spend every minute on the slopes, so finding a resort with non-ski activities was a must. Zell am See had sledging, ice skating, and even an indoor pool, to keep the kids entertained in the afternoons.

• Après-Ski and Dining Options - While we didn’t need wild nightlife, we did want some fun options for dinner and drinks after skiing. Zell am See has a great mix of cozy restaurants and family-friendly cafés and, while the livelier après ski bars might be blasting Europop to fans singing “Nicki Lauda, mama Lauda” there are also lovely old Austrian taverns and live music is part of their mountain traditions, so we’re looking forward to a bit of lederhosen-clad thigh-slapping vibes too!
  
  
• Budget Considerations - We knew we wanted comfort but didn’t want to blow the budget. A catered chalet gives us that balance of a little luxury without the five-star hotel price tag. Having meals included also helps us stick to our budget.

Looking back, all the time we spent researching was completely worth it. Zell am See looks to be the perfect choice for our family’s first ski holiday. The combination of great ski schools, easy transfers, and a cozy chalet should make the skiing things that are new to us go smoothly, and the relaxing and wining and dining (which we look forward to when travelling with kids) ensure it feels like a proper holiday. Now we’re just crossing fingers that the kids fall in love with skiing, because researching this one was so much fun that we’re already planning our next trip!

Check back for pics and roundup of the first of our family ski holidays.