The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
THE BEST FAMILY BREAKS ON THE SLOPES THIS WINTER
FIND A FRIEND – OR TWO
Nothing is more relaxing for parents, or grandparents, than when the children have plenty of distractions after a day on the piste. Chalet-hotels, with their sociable dining rooms, play areas and games rooms, offer plenty of opportunities for this and are great for making new friends. Supervised evening kids’ clubs also mean you can enjoy relaxed, child-free dinners.
Book it Mark Warner (0344 273 6793; markwarner.co.uk) is offering the slope-side Chalet Hotel L’Ecrin du Val Claret in Tignes, France, with spa, pool and on-site childcare available for children aged four months to 12 years, from £2,316. Departs April 3
VARY THE MIX
Six consecutive days of dawn-to-dusk skiing is not for everyone – especially youngsters or non-skiers. So how about pepping things up with a bit more variety? Norway, with its additional activities such as husky sledding, snowmobiling and sledging, offers precisely this and is reliably snow sure for a late-season break during the Easter holidays.
Book it Ski Norway (020 7199 6015; ski-scandinavia.co.uk) is offering the four-star Radisson Blu Mountain Resort & Residences in Trysil, with pool and complimentary childcare, from £1,438 based on a two-bedroom selfcatering apartment. Departs April 3
CUT THE HASSLE
It’s not just the cost of all the extras on a ski holiday that takes its toll, but also the stress of having to remember and book them for yourself and the kids. If you have children under 12 or fully vaccinated teenagers, relax and opt for an allinclusive in Italy. All arrangements, lift passes, equipment hire, lessons, meals and drinks will be taken care of – and included in the price of the holiday. Book it Club Med (0345 367 6767; clubmed.co.uk) is offering stays at Club Med Pragelato Sestriere in the Italian Alps from £2,853, including all meals, drinks, lift passes, group lessons and kids’ clubs. Departs February 13
TIME THE TRIP
There is lots of pressure on half-term getaways this year, so Easter is looking like a good option. Most schools break up for Easter on April 1, but if you are among the lucky ones who finish a week earlier on March 25, then you should ensure that you make the most of it. There will certainly be much better availability, cheaper deals and quieter slopes.
Book it Ski Solutions (020 3944 2669; skisolutions.com) is offering Peaks
Place self-catering apartments in
Flims Laax, Switzerland, sleeping up to six, with swimming pool and spa, from £1,005. Departs March 27
ENJOY THE PRE-SCHOOL YEARS If you have children who have yet to start school, heed my advice: don’t let the pre-school years go by without taking advantage of a ski trip outside the peak holiday weeks, when prices are so much lower and slopes much quieter. March, with good snow and warmer temperatures, is the perfect month for giving small children a gentle introduction to the slopes.
Book it Inghams (01483 319565; inghams.co.uk) is offering the Allalin Apartments, sleeping up to six, in the family-friendly Swiss resort of Saas-Fee, from £584. Departs March 13
KEEP IT WALLET-FRIENDLY
When you tot up the total cost of lift passes, ski hire, lessons and meals out, Bulgarian resorts are among the best value options in Europe for a family ski holiday. The resort of Borovets, with plenty of gentle nursery slopes, is a good choice for those who want to try their hand at skiing or snowboarding without you having to break the bank. Book it Crystal Ski Holidays
(020 3451 2821; crystalski.co.uk) is offering Hotel Rila in Borovets, Bulgaria, with kindergarten and kids’ entertainment, from £921. Departs February 12
Sophie Butler
Unless stated otherwise, prices quoted are per person, based on seven nights’ chalet board for two adults and two children, including flights and transfers, and are subject to availability. Accommodation is in shared or adjoining rooms
For the latest travel rules for all the major European ski resorts, see telegraph.co.uk/tt-skirules