Our Family Ski Holiday 2023

Every year we think about booking somewhere different for a family ski holiday and every year we end up going back with Snowbizz. Why? Well the formula just works so well for us.  The resort is small enough that we know it well and the children can have a little freedom.  The 'pink ladies' childcare team are so much fun that my children want to spend time with them, meaning we get a bit of time as a couple. The snow is great and there are plenty of runs suitable for all of us, and it is easy to get to with a coach transfer from Turin airport.

This was our first year skiing as a family of seven but Rex was booked into the creche (run by English speaking, fully qualified nannies) so we knew we would be able to enjoy some time on the pistes.  The creche is open 9am -5pm and Rex did various hours between these times each day.  There is a babysitting service available in the evenings too but we didn't use it during our stay.

The big four were all dropped at ski school in the morning where they had time to play either indoors or out in the snow with the pink ladies before their two hour ski lessons.  My children love making holiday friends and this is where the bonds were made.  The lessons were split on ability and they are happy to move children around if a different lesson would suit their skills better.  Each child moved up a level during their week and got the next badge which they were so excited to be presented with at the awards night.

Ed and I could head up the mountain each morning to do our favourite runs, stop at one of the mountain cafes for a refreshing drink and have some much needed child free time knowing the whole gang was happy.  In the afternoons we swapped between sledging, skiing with just the bigger two or taking all four out on the slopes whilst Rex played in the creche.  The resort has a sledging area and small kids playground and the creche has sledges you can borrow for free if you want to play.  

Each evening there was a different kids club, from treasure hunts, winter olympics and crepe and games night.  The big four wanted to do every single one of course, which meant making them dinner in our apartment before hand and then getting to go out for a quiet meal in the evening (with Rex still).  They loved catching up with their friends and the talent show was a big hit.

Learning to ski as a family is such a special experience and we leave every year desperate to book our next trip.  I can't recommend skiing as a family holiday enough.

I have written a lot about family skiing with Snowbizz so if you want to know more then here are a few of my previous posts:

Ski Holiday through the eyes of an eight year old

A day in the life on a ski holiday

A video from a family ski holiday

Top tips for taking kids skiing

Learning to ski at 2 and 4 years old

Going on a ski holiday pregnant

First time skiing as adults

5 Things not to miss on a Snowbizz ski holiday

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Safe Skiing with Piste X Code

We first went skiing in 2014 and it has become one of our favourite things to do as a family ever since.  All four children now ski when we go away, with lessons in the morning and out with us in the afternoon and I love watching the pride they have in themselves as they progress.  It is still a couple of years until Rex can put on skis, but he has four mini teachers excited to help him out when he does.  Cora and Finn are still cautious and happiest on green runs (the easiest and flattest) whilst Dylan and Archie are more confident on the blues (next stage up) and love adding in little jumps and off piste sections. 

Learning the basics of a new sport is tricky and with skiing, it isn't just yourself you have to think of, it is everyone else on the slopes.  During a run we will inevitably come across people much faster than us, hurtling past and also people much slower who are still new to skiing and lessons taking place. Knowing how to navigate all that is so important and if the children are old enough to ski, then they are old enough to learn about safety.  This is where the Piste X Code comes in - a simple way to teach children (and remind adults) how to stay safe and respect others on the slopes.  In this video BBC Ski Sunday Presenter Ed Leigh introduces the code.

                 

Thankfully, we haven't yet had an accident on the piste but we do stick to the important rules and ski with respect for both the terrain and other people.  It won't be long until the children over take me with their skills and want to ski the runs beyond my ability so reinforcing the message regularly is so important.  I will be writing more about our family ski holiday this week so if you are considering booking a family ski trip then make sure you check back!

This post is for the Ski Safe Blogger Campaign by Alikats Mountain Holidays and Piste X Code. Find out more here

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Dressing Children for a Ski Holiday with Reima

We all know children don't like being too cold and so when we prepare for a ski holiday with them, the important thing is making sure they have everything they need to keep them warm and dry.  We have worked with Reima again this year who make clothing suitable for Finnish winters which are pretty snowy and found that the children are always so comfortable and prepared for spending all day in the snow.

The children's skiwear was all supplied by Reima

Dressing a child for a snow holiday starts with a base layer.  Underneath everything you see, they need thermals and Reima sent us a set for each of the small people.  I usually pack 2 or 3 sets of clothes for mine for when they do indoor evening clubs but other than that they live in the thermals for the week.  They wear them all day, and then chill out in them like they might pyjamas when we are in our apartment.  These ones are soft and warm and the children never wanted to take them off.

Next up is a midlayer.  I found that my bigger boys were warm enough without one most of the week but the younger two were more keen to wear them.  These are a thin-ish fleece layer that is designed to keep the heat in and the boys all had fleeces whilst Cora had an all in one version.  All in ones are ideal for younger children who are not as active in their ski lessons and she was so warm in it!  The weather can be unpredictable up on a mountain so it is best to come prepared for the coldest weather (especially with children) and enjoy it if you don't need everything. I couldn't find many photos of the midlayers but you can see it on Cora here under her coat.

Ski Socks are important to keep little feet warm and again, can usually be worn all week.  We took ours off in the evenings and hung them up to air out.  Nice soft, thick ones are important for children in ski boots and you should always take along the socks you intend to wear skiing when you try on boots to buy or hire.

And finally, outerwear.  What I love about ski resorts is that nothing is too bright.  Even adults are dressed in all the colours and it helps a lot when you are trying to spot someone across a sheet of white!  I let my children pick their own outerwear from the Reima website and I love every part of it.

Dylan is 8 years old but tall and he went for an all in one.  These aren't that common in bigger sizes but he is wearing an age 10 and it was fantastic (Reima stock them up to age 14).  It means no snow can get up his back and he can get dressed easily.  It has a pocket in his arm for his lift pass (absolutely necessary in all skiwear) and pockets on his legs for snacks.  He loved it and has declared he will only be choosing all in ones from now onwards!

The other three chose bright salopettes which come with removable braces and all have adjustable waists.  They come up nice and high so you never get a chilly tummy! Their coats all had snow skirts, which is the fitted band underneath that stops any snow coming up your coat if you fall, and they all had multiple pockets.  I love the bright colours and designs and how well this range mixes and matches.  Everything was incredibly warm and waterproof!

We can't forget the accessories.  For a ski holiday they need good quality hats and gloves.  We always take two pairs of gloves in case one gets soaked through (there is nothing worse than cold hands!) 

Preparing for a first ski holiday with children can be daunting but it is one of our favourite family trips and all four children love being out on the mountains.  They never complain of being cold or wet (and they are more than capable of this at home) and I put this down to being prepared with the right gear for them.  You can check out their ski collection which is from baby to 14 years here and I would advise to never size up on the salopettes as we find them generous (you can see Cora's are rolled up in some pictures), and to measure your child's height to find the best fit rather than going on their ages.

As a guide, Dylan (8) is 142cm wearing size 140

Archie (6) is 127cm wearing size 128

Finn (4) is 112cm wearing size 116

Cora (3) is 93cm wearing size 98

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Our Family Ski Holiday in Puy St Vincent

Going skiing is a really special holiday for us, it always feels like we are going home in a way.  We have visited the same resort for a few years now and we know it well.  The guys in the ski hire shop ask how we have been all year, the ski instructors recognise me and ask about my sister (who worked out there for a few years) and we know exactly where to find our favourite French treats in the little supermarkets.  The journey there feels long (as do most journeys when you have four children under 8) but once we arrive and breathe in the fresh mountain air, we feel at home.

It was our sixth year visiting Puy St Vincent with Snowbizz so in many ways I have nothing new left to say but I still feel like I have so much to share.  It was the first year that all four children could ski which made it so much more exciting.  The 'Totons' which is the youngest group start learning at 3 years old and Cora had been desperate to try on a pair of skis like her brothers.  She was the first one to the hire shop to request a pink helmet and her skis were so adorably small, I think possibly the smallest pair in the store.  Every morning we dropped her off at the creche in her thermals with everything she needed and at 10am she walked with the other two children in her group and the nanny that accompanies them on their lesson up to the Toton Garden.  She had so much enthusiasm, she got up with a smile every time she fell and she never gave up.  She asked to go back each day and loved every minute.  

The three boys were all in ski school and we got into a habit of dropping Finn off first for some play time and taking the bigger boys out for a pre-lesson ski.  Finn found the two hour lesson was plenty for him and he liked to insist on two snack breaks in it, but the older boys had more stamina and I loved being able to spend time with just them without guilt as their younger siblings were having the best time.  I would take it in turns who I sat with on the lift and I loved that little pocket of time where we could chat together before we climbed off and they skied ahead of me as I tried to keep up.  They loved being out on the mountains, showing us the skills they learned during their lessons and relishing the one on one time with a parent.

The afternoons were spent doing all sorts.  Some days one of us would take the bigger boys back out on the slopes as they had endless energy for racing back down them.  Finn, Cora and I loved the pool which you climbed into indoors and then swum into the outside.  The pool was surrounded by snow piling up over 1 metre but the water was a warm 32 degrees and it was glorious to climb out into the cold and jump back in again.  We all went to the sledging fields carrying with us a variety of shapes that we had borrowed from the creche and racing down the hill with huge grins across their faces.  Sledging has to be followed by Chocolat Chaud of course and nothing tastes better than a cup of hot chocolate after a day out in the snow.  The creche is open until 5pm and some days a few of the children chose to go in there to do some arts and crafts which meant all four of them had some one on one time with a parent - something that is such a novelty in a larger family and is so rewarding for all of us.

It was the first year we could all sit around the dinner table and discuss our skiing that day and I loved that it bonded us more. The pride the children had in learning a new skill and mastering an existing one was incredible and their faces by 5 o'clock were rosy and warm and full of joy.  It was the first year that all four children could go to some of the evening clubs.  The outdoors ones like treasure hunt and winter olympics were always going to be a bit much for our little three year old but she got stuck in at the disco and won the talent show as well as falling asleep half way through the movie night, snuggled up on her bean bag.  It was the first year we could go out alone and enjoy the hearty French mountain food in the evening, have a Raclette, and know that the children were all entertained in a club for a couple of hours.

The children are so comfortable in the small resort, they know where everything is, how to get around and where they need to go.  They walk around as though they are always there, like it is a second home and we are all sad when the alarm goes off so early on Sunday morning and alerts us that it is time to board the coach that is the start of our journey home. There is something special about this place, with the small family feel, the personal service every step of the way, the dedicated and enthusiastic pink ladies that I entrust my children to each morning and those mountain views that take my breath away in every direction.  If you are even a little bit curious about taking a family ski holiday then I can't recommend Snowbizz enough.  Of course there are always more pictures than there are words and I can't choose which ones not to include. . .

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