If you’re looking for something different to do with the family this winter, why not escape the Christmas rush and enjoy a fun-filled festive break in the Alps.
Hitting the slopes with your loved ones far from the stresses and strains of the festive season sounds like just the ticket.
Ski or relax with your family before sitting down to a delicious Christmas dinner (cooked for you by the chef).
This week, we take a look at some of the best family ski holidays and you could be jetting off sooner than you think.
There are some good prices around on package deals and with most of them departing from Scotland (Edinburgh) you won’t need to trek over half the country just to catch the plane. That said, sometimes to get to a special place, we need to put in a little more effort.
Even if you can’t get away over Christmas, why not give some thought to February half term?
Top Five Winter Ski Deals :
Chamonix
Stay in the Chalet Hotel Sapinière in the French resort of Chamonix & admire the stunning views of Mont Blanc. This versatile resort is ideal for winter sports with extensive pistes for skiers and snowboarders, including easy beginner runs and thrilling high-altitude pistes for intermediate and advanced skiers, as well as the famous off-piste route – the Vallée Blanche. There is also plenty of exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy – ice skating, sledging, husky rides or bowling.
Save £290pp: 7 Night Chamonix Ski Holiday from £573pp
Includes: direct flights from Edinburgh, resort transfers, 7 nights with chalet catering (skier’s breakfast, afternoon tea & coffee with cake, soup and tea time treats, 4-course evening meals with complimentary wines, celebratory dinner on Christmas Day)
Champoluc
If you have already made plans for Christmas, but would still like to get away this festive season, why not head to the Alps for the New Year and really pack in as much as you can over the holidays? The Italian town of Champoluc is great if you are looking for an uncrowded and affordable resort, with a great atmosphere. The resort is part of the Monterosa ski area – Italy’s very own Three Valleys, and offers good access to varied pistes for all abilities. Set right next to the main Crest gondola, the Chalet Hotel de Champoluc enjoys a virtually ski-in/ski-out location and is a great vantage point for the New Year’s Eve fireworks, too.
7 Nights Champoluc Ski Holiday from £728pp – Save up to £370pp
Includes: direct flights from Edinburgh, resort transfers, 7 nights with chalet catering (skier’s breakfast, afternoon tea & coffee with cake, soup and tea time treats, 4-course evening meals with complimentary wines, celebratory dinner on New Year’s Eve)
Kitzbuhel
With a friendly atmosphere, Austrian ski resorts are great for a family ski holiday, and the town of Kitzbühel is no exception. Although the resort is best known for the toughest downhill ski race – the Hahnenkamm, there are plenty of easy and enjoyable ski runs in Kitzbühel and the nearby SkiWelt area. Families can also choose from a wide range of fun activities such as ice-skating on the open-air ice rink, curling, tobogganing as well as swimming at the Water World Aquarena.
New for this winter, the friendly Chalet Linda is just a 5 minutes’ walk from the Hahnenkamm gondola and ski school meeting point.
7 Night Ski Holiday to Kitzbuhel from £1233pp – Save up to £200pp
Includes: direct flights from Edinburgh, resort transfers, 7 nights with chalet catering (skier’s breakfast, afternoon tea & coffee with freshly baked cake, 3-course evening meals with complimentary wines)
Verbier
The Swiss resort of Verbier is a great base for a family ski holiday. With an impressive 412km of pistes for all abilities and an abundance of activities for the family to enjoy, it is bound to keep the whole family busy this half term. For younger families, there is a ski kindergarten available locally, while older children will enjoy ice skating, tobogganing or ice karting. There is also an excellent sports centre with a swimming pool and sauna – perfect for relaxing after a day on the slopes.
For a home-from-home atmosphere, stay in the Chalet de Verbier which is conveniently located in the heart of the resort and is just a 7 min walk (or a short bus ride – bus stop only 50m from chalet) away from the main gondolas. This large chalet has family suites and interconnecting twin bedrooms, as well as a spacious lounge with a log fire.
7 Night Verbier Ski Holiday from £1418pp – Save up to £90
Includes: direct flights from Edinburgh, resort transfers, 7 nights with chalet catering (skier’s breakfast, afternoon tea & coffee with freshly baked cake and savouries, 5-course evening meals with complimentary wines, plus complimentary tea and coffee available all day)
Lapland
What could be more magical than celebrating Christmas in Lapland – the ultimate winter experience? North of the Arctic Circle, the resort of Saariselkä is ideal for an all-round winter wonderland adventure. From husky and reindeer safaris to snowmobiling, there’s plenty of thrilling activities for the family to enjoy, not to mention the chance to see the Northern Lights! The local ski area is also a great place to learn to ski or try cross-country skiing.
Set in the heart of Saariselkä, the Holiday Club Spa Hotel boasts an extensive indoor swimming pool and sauna complex, with a waterslide, massage jets and a children’s pool. On Christmas Day, there is a Christmas Dinner with a visit from Santa and his reindeer.
7 Night Lapland Adventure from £699pp – Save up to £559pp
Includes: direct flights from Manchester, resort transfers, 7 nights on a Half Board basis (hot & cold buffet breakfast, 3-course buffet dinner, festive buffet dinner on Christmas Eve)
Very often at this time of year, we all dream of heading off to sunnier climes and soaking up the sun but it might be time to embrace the magic of winter and enjoy a fun-filled few days in a setting that we only usually see on Christmas cards. Go on; whisk the family away for a trip to remember and make memories to last a lifetime. And there’s never been a better time to learn a new skill if you’re an absolute beginner. You might fall over once or twice but you’ll be guaranteed some laughs along the way until you become a more accomplished skier. With these stunning destinations as the backdrop to your snow adventure, they’re sure to be an inspiration!
