Choosing family ski holidays with childcare

As we watched the skiers zooming down the slopes on our Lapland holiday, my daughter decided that ‘next time’, she wanted to try her hand at skiing too.

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Booking a family ski holiday is something which I’ve wondered about on and off since she was old enough for skiing to be a realistic possibility – although as she’s since changed her mind about learning approximately 27 times, I would only consider family ski holidays with childcare… just in case.

Having only had a couple of ski lessons myself, I’m definitely a novice too. It was huge fun and having assumed I would be terrible, I was pleased to be able to get down a (small) slope AND stop by the end of day two.

But I don’t think either of us would want a trip that’s only about the skiing – extra winter activities away from the ski slope would be ideal to break up all that time snowploughing and navigating button lifts.

So what do you need to consider before booking a family skiing trip? These are my tips for what to consider before booking family ski holidays with childcare.

Choosing a ski holiday with kids

Which resort to pick?

Top of my list for picking the perfect ski holiday with kids would be keeping it simple – there’s such a choice out there in the Alps alone that for a novice, I want to cut out any hassle.

So that means asking how far the resort is from the airport, and looking for companies which can arrange transfers. I don’t expect to fall off the plane onto the slopes, but a long complicated bus journey up twisty mountain roads is no fun.

The same goes for our accommodation: how easy is it to get from the ski hotels, chalets and apartments to the slopes and the ski school? Especially given that I’ll be carrying two sets of skis and other bits of her gear.

A smaller ski resort is also tempting if we can walk quickly to lessons – at our hotel in Levi, we could have taken the gondola down the mountain straight to the ski school, while at our recent mountain escape in Vaujany, our ski hotel was just a few minutes from the lifts, and elsewhere in the French Alps, Les Carroz was also very compact.

And it’s not even as if we want a variety of red and black runs. Although more than one beginner slope is always nice and more experienced adult skiers will want a wider choice, so a lift pass which gives access to a larger domaine is a great compromise.

For more tips for a first family ski trip, check out this post for everything from packing to snow ploughs

Is there enough snow?

How much snow will there be? It might sound a silly question but you don’t want to arrive for a ski holiday and discover there isn’t enough powder to ski on…

So the perfect family ski destination needs the perfect balance between a resort that’s snowsure without little ones being frozen at high altitude.

For some of the best family ski resorts in France, check out my top picks

The price – how expensive is it to ski?

How expensive will it be? Skiing isn’t a cheap hobby but some destinations like Switzerland and Scandinavia are always going to be pricier than others, and personally I’m not fussed if there are no designer shops to browse between lessons.

Are there free child places? Book ahead and you can often snap up ski deals and discounts so kids travel free – also a bonus if you’re not quite sure if skiing is for all of you yet.

And while it needn’t cost a fortune to get cold weather clothes for kids as we discovered when we stocked up for Lapland at Mountain Warehouse, we’d want to hire skis and boots for starters.

For more tips on saving money on ski gear and what to buy for a first family ski trip, check out my post

Is it family-friendly?

What’s the atmosphere like? When the apres-ski you’re looking for is focused more on hot chocolate than the hottest DJs, it pays to find a more family-friendly ski resort than one with music playing late into the night.

It also means you’ll be more likely to find accommodation geared towards travelling parents, with all the equipment and kit that babies or toddlers need, not to mention food for little ones.

What else is there to do?

Whether it’s other traditional winter activities such as ice skating and sledging, options like husky sledding or a reindeer sleigh ride, or family favourites like waterparks, it’s great to have more options than making snowmen.

In the French Alps, Les Gets even has its own mechanical museum, for example, as well as electric snowmobiling for kids and the chance to snowshoe to an igloo for dinner.

Check out some more ideas of things to do on snowy holidays for non-skiers

Ski holidays with childcare: for younger kids

If you’re planning a family ski holiday with younger kids, childcare is going to be essential – assuming there are no non-skiing adults to look after them.

So whether you’re taking a family ski holiday with a baby or toddler, or younger kids who can’t ski and don’t fancy learning, you’ll need someone to take care of the kids.

Finding a family-friendly ski company solves that particular dilemma. Look for one with qualified childcare and nursery staff who’ll pick them up in the morning and deliver them back later, as well as giving them lunch and tea if you’re out all day.

Just check what age childcare starts from – some will cover babies aged three months and up though.

Some specialist family ski holiday companies provide childcare in your own chalet, using their own childcare staff. Ideal for younger kids as they’ll be in more familiar surroundings than a big crèche or kids club; some ski chalets also have their own playrooms so you won’t have to pack everything you need to entertain them.

You could also bring a nanny with you – something which works best if you’re travelling with a group of friends (or have deep pockets…) and you can then arrange things exactly as you want. If you have grandparents travelling with you but not skiing, that’s another alternative (assuming they’re happy to!).

Alternatively, some resorts have in-resort nanny services where guests can hire someone once you arrive, cutting the travelling costs.

The available options may vary considerably and you’ll see different qualifications and English-speaking abilities on offer, so make sure you’re happy that they’re trained, DBS checked and will be able to communicate with your kids.

Then consider if there is babysitting in the evening? If you do fancy checking out the apres ski yourself, are there childcare options for after your child’s bedtime as well as during the day?

Ski holidays with childcare: for kids in ski school

For families with kids who are also learning to ski, ski companies which offer childcare can also deliver your children to ski school and pick them up later.

In some countries, you can get your kids out onto the slopes from the age of two (if they’re potty trained), although most UK family ski companies tend to put the lower limit at three years old.

It’s worth checking how flexible they are – if your kids are only at ski school for a few days in the week, or if you want to take a few days off from skiing to explore the area together, can you adapt the schedule?

Equally, will they collect them for lunch and provide tea if you’re out skiing all day?

As your kids won’t be in lessons all day, it’s worth considering what activities there are for them when they’re not on the slopes if you’re out for more than half a day yourself.

And for added peace of mind, some will even provide trackers so you can check on an app to see exactly where your child is at any point.

*First published 2019, last updated 2026*

PIN FOR LATER: FAMILY SKI HOLIDAYS WITH CHILDCARE

 Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions are my own except for my daughter’s which change from day to day…

Images: Girl lying in snow copyright MummyTravels, all others courtesy of Depositphotos

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