More and more families and groups of friends are sharing their ski holiday fun – but they can easily fall into chaos.
From a handful of friends to an entire footie team, or several generations of families, ski trips can be the perfect annual group holiday.
AlamyA group holiday can be the perfect annual trip – as long as you don’t make some common mistakes[/caption]
With nearly four decades of organising ski holidays, here are Ski Beat’s top tips for harmonious group ski holidays – and the big no-nos that could leave your holiday on a sour note.
Don’t overdo it too early
While skiing may be the main point of the trip, you can easily make it more fun by taking some fancy dress for a themed day on the slopes, or a onesie ski suit day.
Bring some duty free G&T for `cheers’ on the balcony, or spend some down time having massages or time at the shops as well.
Just don’t overdo it on the first day (or night!), there’s a whole seven days’ skiing and partying ahead of you.
Don’t teach non-skiiers
If friends and family are of mixed abilities, choose a resort where it’s easy for non-skiers or beginners to get to the ski schools, or to go for a stroll in and around the resort, and close enough to the lifts up to the next day’s challenges for intermediate and advanced skiers.
Never try to teach a non-skier – it will only end in tears.
Keep your phones warm
Share every day’s thrills and spills, post and tag on social media, for a ski holiday that just keeps giving.
Bring filters for mobile phones, tripods and quirky lenses – just remember to keep mobiles warm as batteries drain fast in freezing temperatures.
Always check the sleeping arrangements
Grandparents can be a real asset on a family ski holiday and make the best babysitters.
(Treating them to an invigorating stay in the mountains can also work out cheaper than kindergartens, nannies and babysitters.)
Choose accommodation that’s close to the resort, the shops and bars, near to the ski school if kids need collecting and with tree-lined slopes for better shelter if grandparents ski too.
And when it’s time for bed, think about accommodation that’s cleverly divided up, so families can be close to each other, while maybe grandparents would like their own space.
Share and share alike too – if you don’t plan on sharing a bed with random friends, don’t overlook the importance of checking if the accommodation has double or twin beds!
Don’t forget the essentials
Bring a compact backpack and pack it for the day with sun lotion, lip balm, sunglasses or eye protectors, a bottle of water and some sugary sweets or snacks for those fatigue moments.
Avoid mixing up skis when meeting up as a group, so take a photo of your own (including the bar/reference code).
A ski mum revealed the other big mistakes parents made when booking holidays.
And here’s how to do a cheap ski trip to France from £21.
AlamyDon’t try and teach non-skiers either – book some lessons instead[/caption]