Ski Half Term Holidays

With the worldwide recession still affecting spending and creating an extremely cautious approach in particular to long-term spending, skiers may be surprised to hear that half term ski holiday bookings are up this year. Whether this highlights greater confidence in the economy or just a case of family ski groups deciding where their priorities are remains to be seen.

Half Term ski report "interest has been at  highest in five years with bookings following suit. This said it is a week where demand outstrips supply and this may reflect merely the fact that buyers recognise that it is the early bird that catches the worm and they are therefore excepting the risk of booking early and a change of circumstances versus the chance of missing out".

Family Ski Holidays

We finally have a new family ski chalets site that is dedicated to of course just family ski holidays. The new site is run by Distinctive Holiday (UK) Ltd and its not a bad effort. Improved navigation would help but its appearance is clean, informative and feels good to use. As family skiers themselves the owners also know a thing or two about skiing so any advise should come from people with some knowledge rather than the teenagers you can get with some of the other 'family ski company's'!

Good luck to them and also to their other family focused site Half Term Ski Holidays.

Family Chalets

In October of this year a new site is being launched called family chalets which will focus on some of the best family friendly chalets in the Alps. Unlike many sites, Family Chalets will offer only chalets that really are family ski friendly and therefore offer great facilities and services , e.g. ski in ski out, a swimming pool, Games Room, childcare facilities and services, etc.

What will set this site apart from many others is the fact that it will be run by family skiers rather than so many where your contact will be with a teenager who is fresh out of school, and will know very little about family ski holidays. The staff will therefore been on hand to advise on the best family ski resort for your vacation, whether we are talking about the best skiing for beginners, through to great family resorts for competent family groups.

Ski Christmas

Well it now just half a year until the peak skiing week of Christmas will be upon. Its always hard to think about skiing just before our summer holidays, but the Christmas skiing is always a great week to get away with the family, all ages, and just celebrate in style and lets someone else worry about ordering the turkey, peeling the sprouts, and cooking it. Some mum and dad, put the oven gloves down, and get on the jet in six months time!

Family Chalet

Many chalets nowadays claim to be family friendly ski chalets and therefore the obvious question arises, which ones really are? I've therefore compiled a few questions that might give you a feel in terms of sorting out the real family chalets from the 'branded' versions:

1. What childcare support do you provide
2. Do you have any dedicated childcare support and if so what is it and when
3. What facilities do you have for the children
4. Is there a separate games room for the children
5. What games, videos, toys, etc do you provide
6. do you have child car restraints, cots, high chairs, etc and are they free
7. What assistance do you give getting the children to and from school
8. What do you know about the local creche, and ski school lessons for children, and what would you recommend
9. Do you provide any assistance in respect of getting the children to and from ski school and what is it
10. Have you ever taken your own children on a ski holiday and if so when and what age

I particularly like the last one as it never ceases to amaze me how many people give advise on children, and haven't even had their own yet!

Season Ends

Well the ski season finally ended yesterday even in the highest resorts with the largest snow depths (e.g. Chamonix). Whilst snow in such resorts was still good, I guess the end of the season reflects the need for alternative activities, and even our two children, who are both keen skiers at 5 and 7, are happy to put the skis away and get the bikes and climbing gear out! That said, we will expect the equivalent question of 'are we there yet', i.e. 'when's the smow coming back' in June!

Easter Ski

One the best kept secrets is slowly now getting out, that the Easter ski holidays are a great time to get away for a great late family ski break. The snow is typically good, the sunshine always that little bit brighter, the days for the children warmer and longer, so all in all a great time for a family ski holiday.