Planning a Family Ski Trip

A family ski trip is a chance to build lifelong memories, but it can also be a test of patience, especially when traveling with young children. From packing all the gear to the long journey, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Don't let the stress get in the way of the fun. With some smart planning, you can avoid the common headaches and focus on what really matters—creating an unforgettable trip for the whole family. Read on for some time-saving tips that will help you have a smooth and enjoyable ski vacation.

Where to Go?

Your resort choice is essential to a fun and rewarding experience.That’s where the custom search tool on SkiTripPlanner.com comes in. You can select the criteria that matter most to your family and be matched with ski resorts that best fit those preferences. Each family is different; SkiTripPlanner helps you to find the resorts that best match your family’s needs and interests.

On SkiTripPlanner’s custom search tool, you can filter by terrain preferences, mountain size, snow abundance and quality, weather, scenery, service, crowds, restaurants and bars, non-skiing activities, and multi-pass affiliation. You can even filter by geographic region, state, or proximity of major airports in ski country. SkiTripPlanner’s custom algorithm will match you with the resorts that best match your preferences. To learn more about the resorts in your search results, simply click on the link for “Learn more about this resort.”

Where to Stay?

There are three main categories of ski lodging: (1) ski-in, ski-out; (2)trailside; and (3) off-mountain.

• Ski-in, ski-out means the lodging is located right next to a trail or the base, so you can literally ski to and from your hotel or rental home. It is very convenient. For families with young kids or those who want easy access to their lodging throughout the day, a ski-in and ski-out option can’t be beat. It’s nice to be able to come back to the hotel or condo for lunch or mid-morning warmup. But this premium lodging option is also the most expensive.
• “Trailside” is almost ski-in, ski-out. This term usually refers to lodging that is a short walk from a trail or the base lodge. Short-term rental houses are the most common type of trailside lodging. Many major resorts have single family houses near the base, between trails, or along the edge of the resorts. For families with older kids, the short walk is usually not an issue, but for younger kids the additional schlep might not be worth the cost savings.
• “Off-mountain” means you need to drive or take other transportation to the resort. Driving adds a logistical layer than can be challenging for families with young kids. At a minimum, the driver will need to change into ski boots after arriving at the resort. Passengers can travel in the car in full ski gear, but if the drive is longer than a few minutes, the little ones might get hot and cranky. If bringing your own equipment, that will need to fit in the car on or on a ski rack.

Hotel or ski house/condo?

Choosing a lodging option that matches your family’s needs is key. A ski house will usually provide plenty of space, a full kitchen, and washer/dryer.For families traveling with other families, it’s nice to have communal space with private bedrooms. Some ski houses also have hot tubs, which is a sweet relief after a long day of skiing.

A ski condo provides many of the same benefits as a ski house. In skiing parlance, a “ski condo” usually refers to a townhouse-style unit with other condos immediately to the sides or above/below. Ski condos typically have one to three bedrooms and sometimes offer shared amenities like heated pools. Trailside ski condos are common at many resorts, allowing for easy access to the slopes.

Hotels tend to have lower price points but lack the space and amenities of a ski house or condo. Most rooms do not have a full kitchen or in-unit washer/dryer, so you’ll find yourself having to go out to dinner or order in.Unless you get adjoining rooms, it will be parents and kids in the room together, which can feel tight. On-mountain hotels usually have ski lockers on the ground level where you can store your skis, poles, and sometimes ski boots. This adds another step in the process getting out to the slopes and back in.

Prepare to Park!

Parking at the ski resort warrants particular attention and sometimes even advance planning. Many major resorts charge for parking, and some require advance parking reservations on weekends and holidays. Always check the resort website for their parking rules. You don’t want to show up to the parking lot at 8:30 am on a bluebird day only to learn you needed to make a parking reservation weeks earlier.

Some parking areas are also far from the base lodge. Most offer free courtesy shuttles to take skiers and riders from their car to the base lodge. For families with young kids, this can be an added level to navigate. At the end of the day, there can also be a wait for the shuttle back to your car.

Some major resorts (Vail, Park City, Aspen, among others) provide free or low-cost public bus service from the base village and town directly to the resort. This can be a great option for off-mountain lodging. If you can find a house on or near a bus line to the resort, that can provide a great balance of space, affordability, and flexibility to go to and from the resort. The buses generally drop off right at the main base, and they run regularly.

Travel To and Fro

If you are flying to your destination resort, renting a car will usually be your best bet. But also check out private shuttles from the airport to the resort. If you’re staying at a resort with a large base village, such as Whistler Blackcomb or Vail, or a large town right at the base, such asBreckenridge and Park City, you might not need a car during your stay.

In that case, an airport shuttle could be right for you. Several companies operate shuttles from Denver Airport to resorts in the Rockies, and there are over a dozen resorts within a quick shuttle ride from Salt Lake City airport in Utah. This option also takes a load off the family driver.

Lift Tickets

Years ago, you could walk up to the ticket window at any resort and buy a day pass or multi-day pass for a reasonable price. The ski industry business model is different now. Industry consolidation has led to “multi-mountain passes”—the largest two being the Ikon Pass and the Epic Pass. These passes offer unlimited or multi-day skiing at dozens of resorts throughout NorthAmerica and even abroad. Prices range from $500 to $1,300+, depending on blackout dates, visit limits, and number of resorts on the pass.

If you ski or ride 10+ days per year, a multi-mountain pass can be a great value. But if you are only skiing four or five days in a season, the economics change. Walk-up ticket window prices at major resorts in the U.S. are very expensive: at resorts like Park City, Vail, and Breckenridge, an adult weekend/holiday single-day pass is $300+!

So, if you only plan to ski for 3-5 days, check out the “Ikon SessionPass” or “Epic Day Pass.” A four-day Ikon Session Pass is $489 adult/ $299child. A four-day Epic Day Pass is $535 adult/ $275 child. But you must buyit before the ski season begins! That’s the catch. With a few months of advance planning, you can save big money. Be sure to check the website for specific terms and conditions and the cutoff date for purchase.

Ski Lessons

Ski lessons (a/k/a “ski school”) are a great way to learn or improve your confidence on the mountain. Lessons are categorized by “private” or“group.” In a private lesson, you, your kids, or your whole family hire a professional ski instructor to teach you how to ski. It’s a great experience but is also very expensive ($1,000+ per day at many resorts, plus gratuity for the instructor).

Group lessons are also great, especially for kids, who benefit from the company and comraderie of other kids their age learning how to ski or ride together with them.  Group lessons typically have two instructors and 4-8 kids, grouped according to ability.

Lessons can be half day or full day. It pays to book in advance. Lessons tend to sell out at many resorts, especially on popular weekends and holidays.

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Should I Rent Ski Equipment or Bring My Own Gear?

For most families, renting ski equipment at or near the resort will be easier than traveling with your gear, unless you are driving to your destination. Even if you have your own equipment, there are benefits to leaving it at home and renting at the resort.

Flying with ski equipment is a pain. You need a large ski bag to fit skis/poles or a snowboard, plus a boot bag. There are checked bag fees. Taking the ski and boot bag to the airport, and then from the airport to the rental car or shuttle, can be a hassle. Moreover, if you’re an east coast skier, you probably have skis designed for packed powder and ice. If you’re planning a trip out West, you’ll likely have deeper and softer snow, which benefit from wider skis. Renting also generally allows you to switch your skis on different days to match the conditions.

You can rent directly from the mountain or from off-mountain rental shops. Renting on mountain is usually more expensive, but a bit more convenient. If you or your kids are taking ski lessons, the resort will usually offer a deal on rentals through a package lesson/ rental. Renting from private companies off mountain means more selection and usually higher-end skis and boots to choose from.

What should I pack?

Adults:

• Ski clothes: ski socks, toe warmers, long underwear bottoms, waterproof ski pants, long underwear tops, fleece, ski jacket, neck gaiter or balaclava, goggles, helmet, mittens or gloves, hand warmers.
• Casual clothes: winter boots, slippers or sneakers to wear in your lodging, warm clothing, parka, hat, extra mittens/gloves (to wear out while your day pair dry out)
• Sundries: swimsuit (hot tub!), sunscreen (key at high altitudes!), lip balm, sunglasses, trail snacks
• Multi-mountain pass or advance purchase pass (see above about big cost savings for buying early)

Kids:

• All of the above but err on the side of over-packing long underwear and other insulating layers under the ski pants and jacket. Due to their higher surface area to body density ratio, kids get colder and hotter faster than adults. Layering clothing can therefore really help keep them comfortable, especially on days with big temperature swings.  
• If you’re buying new ski clothes or other gear for your kids for the trip, make sure to have them try it on before you pack it. Not only will you ensure the size is right, you will also help build excitement for the kids as they try on their new gear just for them.

Dealing with Altitude Sickness

‍Skiing or riding at high elevation can lead to altitude sickness. With the lower air pressure at higher altitudes, every breath you take delivers less oxygen to your body, compared to lower elevations. The condition can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or sex.

The symptoms can vary in severity. The mildest form, Acute MountainSickness (AMS) feels like a hangover or the flu. Symptoms can include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping. At 8,000 feet above sea level, about 20-25% of people are impacted.At 10,000 feet, the percentage is 50% or more. Many of the resorts out west have peak or even base elevations in these ranges. For the precise elevation of any resort, check out the resort profile page of the resort you’re interested in.

There is medication available to moderate the symptoms. Acetazolamide (Diamox) works for many people but requires a doctor’s prescription and must be started 24-48 hours before ascending to altitude. Even with medication, however, giving yourself a day to acclimate to the altitude before any physical activity can really help. Also, stay hydrated with water or sports drinks with electrolytes. Drinking alcohol can make altitude sickness much worse.

Building Excitement for the Trip

If this is your first destination family ski trip, getting your kids in a positive mindset for the experience will really pay off.

-- Check out YouTube videos of your chosen resorts and share inspiring clips with your kids.

-- For older kids, find a Warren Miller Ski film (Steep and Deep, Born to Ski, or Freeriders) or something from TetonGravity Research (Beyond the Fantasy , linked below).

-- Print out the trial map from the resort website and ask your kids to circle trails they want to try, or color all the beginner runs with green crayon or intermediate runs in blue.

-- Major ski resorts also have other activities like ice skating, snowmobile rentals, alpine slides, snow tubing, and other activities for after skiing or during a rest day.  

Happy trails!

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