If you’re on a budget, there’s no need to go mad for your first ski holiday – lots of stuff can be borrowed from friends or bought reasonably cheaply from chains such as Decathlon.  Don’t skimp on quality though and make sure you have plenty of layers for warmth as there’s nothing worse than feeling freezing cold when you first start out.  Invest in a good pair of gloves for yourself, but several pairs of relatively cheap and cheerful gloves or mitts for your kids mean they can lose a few and it won’t matter!

Essentials

• Ski jacket/trousers or all-in-one ski suit
• Warm ski gloves or mittens (ensure they are roomy) – with wrist protection for boarders
• Comfortable cotton/breathable tops
• Extra fleece or jumper in very cold temperatures
• Thermal underwear (yes in January but probably unnecessary in March/April)
• Ski ‘tubes’ or socks
• UV protective sunglasses and/or goggles
• Hat/scarve – fleece material is soft and warm
• High factor sun cream and UV lip protection (a tube of both on a string is ideal)
• Ski helmet advisable, especially for kids – can be hired with skis.
• Warm, waterproof boots with a grippy sole for going out in the snow.

Extras

• Silk inner gloves for extra warmth (or handwarmers)
• ‘String’ for your sunglasses to keep them on when you fall over!
• Backpack or bum bag (only put soft stuff in when you are learning!)
• A chocolate bar in your pocket for energy!

Always carry

• Lift pass (6 day or more passes are usually ‘hands free’ so you keep it in your pocket)
• Passport if you are skiing across borders (eg Portes du Soleil)
• Euros/credit card for refreshments
• Insurance details
• Piste map and piste emergency number (once you start heading out without an instructor)

Skis, Boots and Helmets

It’s definitely best to hire your skis/poles/snowboard/boots (unless adult size 11 or above)  for your first trip.  If you find you are missing any important equipment on arrival such as gloves or glasses, the ski hire shops all tend to sell a wide range  but they are likely to cost a bit more than if you buy beforehand.

Ski helmets are increasingly considered an essential piece of kit, especially for children.  You can buy adjustable helmets to grow with your child but as they are quite bulky to travel with, both adult and kid’s helmets can also be hired with your skis.

Ski School

All resorts offer both adult and child group ski or snowboard lessons, which may be your best bet when you are starting out and are certainly the cheapest option.  Alternatively you can book your own instructor for  private lessons (or semi private if there are several of you) and this will ensure you learn at your own pace. Very young children (generally from 3 – 6 years)  can attend a ’ski kindergarten’ where they will be able to have fun in the snow on skis, either for morning/afternoon or all day sessions which will include lunch and some indoor activities.

Mountain Restaurants

These are dotted about the slopes but there is usually a restaurant and the top of the main resort lift – this is a good meeting place if you have a mixed ability group or children in ski school.  Ranging from traditional Savoyard restaurants to large, self-service canteens, all will have a range of meals to suit all tastes, usually with a children’s menu too, and you can drop in at any time of day for a hot chocolate or vin chaud when you need warming up.

Obviously the restaurants all have toilet facilities (WC’s) but you will also find public toilets at the main lifts.  Some resorts now offer comfortable indoor picnic areas with tables and washing up facilities – restaurant owners don’t take kindly to people picnicking on their terraces!

Apres Ski

There’s usually no need to dress up so take what you feel most comfortable in – but bear in mind that it may be cosy and warm in the restaurant but minus 15 degrees outside when you leave!  Stilettos aren’t ideal for negotiating icy pavements so make sure you have something sensible to wear on your feet!

Children love rolling around in the snow at any opportunity so spare gloves and coats are a good idea to give things time to dry out overnight.  Waterproof, fleece-lined ‘snow boots’ are ideal for children to play and go out in – they are widely available over here in outdoor stores such as Millets and Decathlon whilst even supermarkets tend to sell them in the Alps.

Many resorts have sports centres, toboggan runs, bowling, ice rinks and cinemas (not all will show English films) and there will be a choice of restaurants suitable for family meals.  You can also try out a variety of snow-based activities subject to availability or enjoy a relaxing massage or beauty treatment if you feel your efforts on the slopes during the day have earned you a bit of pampering!  There is often a ‘trunks not shorts’ rule in public swimming pools in France.

Most bars welcome children coming in with their parents during the early evening, but in more lively resorts the bars are likely to fill up with a noisy, adult crowd as the night wears on.  Larger resorts have nightclubs, discos and live music whereas evening entertainment in small villages is likely to be based around dining out or having a sociable drink with friends.  Whilst enjoying that bottle of French red, don’t forget you have to be up early for Ski School in the morning!

Have fun and we hope to see you again next year!