Ever since our first family ski holiday, the children have always imagined Christmas filled with crisp mountain air, snowy peaks, and magical adventures around every corner. A family ski trip is always a great adventure, but it’s even more exciting at Christmas. Whether you’re an experienced skier or a complete beginner, there’s something very special about learning or improving a skill together followed, of course, by a hot drink by the fire, sledging, and the obligatory board games that keep us playing and laughing together into the evenings.
Lapland might seem like the obvious destination for winter skiing, but it’s not the only option. Over the Christmas period, lots of European resorts transform into a magical winter wonderland, so here I’ve compiled a few of the best winter-sports destinations and family-friendly ski resorts that we’ve either visited or had recommended by friends.
Where to ski at Christmas
Finland/Lapland
The ultimate Christmas ski location when you have little ones in tow has to be Lapland. In addition to skiing, you can meet Santa, take a husky ride, and maybe even see the Northern Lights. Lapland at Christmas is definitely a bucket-list adventure and a great ski option for young families and beginners, as the smaller ski areas might not have enough kilometres of piste for experienced and advance sliders and riders.
Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere is well known for having tons of lively Christmas celebrations, including a Christmas Eve parade, carol services, snow and ice sculptures, with Santa and his helpers even making a personal appearance on Christmas Eve. The town is always full of festive decorations, and due to its altitude, snow is pretty much guaranteed (there’s even a glacier at the top of the enormous and linked Val d’Isere / Tignes ski area, so skiing often starts up to a month earlier in late November). Here’s what local ski instructor Amanda says about Christmas in Val d’Isere!
Les Gets, France
Les Gets is another French resort that transforms into a Christmas paradise, and it’s one of the most family-focussed ski destinations in the Alps, with many ski chalets offering childcare or outside nannies as an add-on. Children can visit Santa in the enchanted forest, and there’s a whole week of special activities in the run-up to the big day. The lower Morzine parts of the ski area can be less snow-sure so early in the season, but the higher parts of the Portes du Soleil up around Avoriaz get great snow, so I think it’s work considering a self-catering apartment up there if you want the hassle-free experience of ski-in ski out (great when you’re carrying kids and their gear).
Val Gardena, Italy
Val Gardena is known as the “Christmas Valley” and we recommend visiting for the experience of a traditional Italian Christmas, with festive markets in Ortisei, wooden chalets covered in snow and a truly magical atmosphere.
Ski Farther Afield
If your fancy something a little more far-flung, no one does Christmas bigger than across the pond to North America. In Canada, Whistler and Banff are famous for their festivities with ice skating in the village, dog sledding and snow tubing, and Colorado’s Vail and Breckenridge are fantastic choices in the USA, where the Americans really go to town on creating the ‘winter wonderland’ vibe, complete with Santa visits and some of the most indulgent Christmas menus you can imagine – even McDonalds gets in on the act with their Christmas menu – thank goodness you’re there to ski all week and burn it off! It’s essential to book really early if you’re going to ski in the States or Canada, because their lift passes cost silly money unless you get the early offers on sale the summer before, and same goes for the earlybird deals on transatlantic flights – there are no last-minute ski deals over there.
Where’s the best value Christmas skiing with our kids?
If your family is anything like mine, sometimes the finances don’t quite match the holiday ambitions, but where there’s a will there’s always a way. If you want to book a snowy Xmas on the slopes, and still have some funds left over for presents, I really recommend you consider Andorra. It can be a more affordable option while still offering great skiing, miles of slopes, and a genuinely festive atmosphere.
We priced up family ski holidays with Sno Ski (I use an ATOL travel agent because they sell the whole market, so price comparing is easy) in the classic Alps destinations above, and then looked again for the exact same dates but in the Pyrenees. I found we could get the holiday and even the lift passes and ski rental for around a quarter cheaper in Andorra.
My top tips for a successful family ski holiday at Christmas
My experience of skiing with friends and later with the kids has taught a few lessons so I hope you can learn from our experience – skiing is not the cheapest family vacation, so it’s important to do a little planning to get it right at the start.
Head up high for guaranteed snow. Val Thorens and Tignes in France are reliable early in the season, or if you fancy Switzerland, Zermatt and Saas-Fee are excellent high-altitude options.
Book early! Christmas is a busy time for ski resorts, so it’s a good idea to book flights, accommodation, and lessons as early as possible. Get an ATOL protected package for safety.
Plan for all skill levels, with a resort that suits all your family. The biggest resorts have plenty of good beginner (green and blue) runs for the kids, plus more challenging red/black for the daredevils in your brood.
Chalet or hotel? Both have benefits, so it’s down to personal preference. You can often get a free place when booking 10 or more, so invite a few extra family members and book a whole chalet to yourselves!
Remember the presents. You probably don’t want to travel with all the family presents, but bringing a couple along makes Christmas Day even more special.
Are you ready to trade your slippers for ski boots this yuletide?
Let me know in the comments where you’d recommend, for a festive ski holiday with your family.
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