Planning your first family skiing holiday in America? It pays to think ahead as although many American ski resorts offer some fantastic pistes, scenery and entertainment, they’re not all family-friendly. Read these tips before you book so your family can have a great time.
Before leaving
Borrow as much equipment from friends and family as you can to save money, or try and hire it cheaply. Some resorts also offer discounted lift-passes for family groups so it’s a good idea to look into that. Get the kids some lessons beforehand so they have the basics covered, such as snow-ploughs and how to remove the skis. It’s also vital that they understand how to use the various types of lift in operation and be safe on them. One essential piece of kit is the helmet. In fact it’s mandatory nowadays to wear one in many American resorts, and also can invalidate many insurance policies if you don’t.
On the slopes
Even if your body is aching, it’s worth spending half an hour to get all the clothes and equipment ready in the evenings. That way come morning it’s straight to the lifts, and you’ll be able to beat the worst of the queues.
Kids-only instruction is great, but you want a larger resort so that your children will be with others of a similar ability. Go with a large company if you can, as you be more confident of their credentials Rotate responsibility so that Dad takes the kids mornings and Mum in the afternoons or vice versa. That way both parents get to tackle a few serious runs every day. But also make time to do a few runs as a family. If your children are old enough and skilled enough to ski on their own, then issue them with a mobile phone, and agree firmly on a set rendezvous time and place. If they’re late once, make sure they know it’s the last chance and next time they don’t go off alone again. You can do without that headache. Look for a resort with very few base areas, preferably just the one. There’s little chance of them getting lost if all the pistes will eventually funnel down into the same place.
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Hotels
Research your resort well - a lot of hotels will be situated near, or even above, bars and clubs that will be playing music and entertaining raucous drinkers until the early hours. If you do find yourself in one of these hotels, ask the management if you can switch to a different room where the noise isn’t as bad. If you can, find a hotel that offers doorstep skiing, or is near the ski bus stop. Life is so much easier if the kids (or rather, the parents), don’t have to carry heavy skis for hundreds of metres every morning and evening. Look for resorts that have large pedestrian areas in the centre, so you can let the kids wander off to look round the shops for a bit without worrying. Self-catering is usually the best option for families as it’s much less xpensive, but it is nice to eat out once in a while. So try and find a resort where there’s a few family-friendly restaurants. If not, eat earlier in the evening to avoid the crowds.
Aprés-ski
Budget for a bit of entertainment every evening, as it beats staying in the hotel reading or playing cards. A bit of loose change for the arcades after dinner or a crêpe is all it takes, but also splurge on a big treat like ice-skating or a horse-drawn sleigh rides. If you take your holidays in Alaska, a resort such as Alyeska will have Santa visit, or organise snowmobile tours and night-skiing.
