Skiing in canada with young children - any recommendations?

[iom08]

Hi all,

Would just like to ask if any of you have been on a skiing holiday in Canada with young children and if so which company did you go with. We've been to Lake Louise in the past and had a great time. We used Inghams for that holiday but that was before we had our little girl. I've looked on the net for family friendly tour operators but they mostly seem to concentrate on Europe. Any suggestions?

[captainmummy]

We went to whistler year before last with Crystal - they were great. It helps that Whistler iself was fab and the hotel a 5-star....it was our first time skiing and everything (lessons, transfers, weather) was fantastic. I wish we could do it every year - too bl*dy expensive tho.

[iom08]

Thanks, I'll look at their website. Our holiday to Lake Louise was expensive too but well worth it. We loved it so much that we want to go back to Canada. Wish we could afford it every year too lol

[jicky]

We ski in Canada with our children but always book direct with the resort. We have been to Silver Star and Tremblant and this year are going to Big White and Sunshine. We reckon the main thing with kids is to ski-in-ski-out and for there first time to be staying as close to the ski school meeting point as possible. I'm not really sure what extra benefits you would get booking with a tour operator.

[Lolski]

We usually ski in Canada every year and since we have had our Ds always go to Whistler. It is great for kids and the village is pedestrianised so really good. We go with Crystal but have also been with Inghams. Both seem really good.

[Flowertop]

Can I ask if Whistler is any good to new skiiers. I am just managing the blue runs - quite shakily but would love to go to Canada at new year. Any advice would be great. Also if anyone is going to Myrahofen I can give you some info on that.
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[iom08]

Hi Flowertop

I can't comment on Whistler but we went to Lake Louise and the ski runs were great. They catered for novices through to off piste skiiers. I am not an adrenaline skiier, give me a nice blue run and a hot chocolate at the bottom of the run. the snow there was fabulous, the slopes were perfectly groomed. The ski school was excellent too. so all in all I would recommend Canada for a ski holiday whatever your ski ability is.

[Flowertop]

Thanks iom08. What time of year did you go and was it a bit too cold when you went.
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[GetOrfMoiLand]

Hi, I would recommend that you go to Banff, and ski mainly in Sunshine Village. They are very geared up to children and the blue runs are a lot more forgiving of novices that Lake Louise's blues.

There are plenty of inns to stay in Banff, and it is very laid back and great with kids. It is also a quicker ski bus to Sunshine, about 25 mins iirc. Also Banff is a proper little town, unlike Lake Louise, so you can do other things besides skiing if you want.

Also Sunshine Village has a ski in, ski our hotel at the foot of the slopes; have seen this advertised in Inghams and Crystal. You get a free lift pass if you stay there (well, you would have to, the hotel is at the top of the major gondola up to Sunshine) and they lay entertainment/kids clubs etc on. I imagine it is pretty remote at night, because when the gondola closes you can't get anywhere, but looks like a fun place to stay. And you would DEFINITELY be first on the slopes!

I stayed at a place in Banff called Caribou Lodge (through Inghams) and I can't fault it. Free (monster sized) breakfast as well.

We went first week in April and it was ideal, very warm, but the snow wasn't at all slushy. Skiing in a Tshirt was great fun! Howwver I have been told that it is incredibly bitter in January and to avoid going then.

Hope this helps!

[iom08]

We went in January and it was ok, the temp was minus 5. we were told however that it was unusually mild so I would take heed of what GetOrf says and go a bit later in the year. Lake Louise had hardly any shops but quite honestly we were so knackered after a day on the slopes that we didn't leave the hotel in the evening so it made no difference to us. Now that we have added a little person to our family however, I would go somewhere with a bit more to it. Wherever you decide to go hope you have a fab holiday

[FairyBasslet]

We're in Banff right now and having a wonderful time. We're in the Banff Park Lodge which is in a perfect location for us in the middle of town so lots of restaurants and shops nearby.

We've skied mainly Sunshine as our kids have settled so well into the Day Care there - Tiny Tigers. Our 2 year old is having a ball with the staff in the creche and our 4 year old has a couple of hours ski lessons a day and has come on really well.

We did go to Banff a few times several years ago so we knew exactly what we were coming to, although it's still obviously quite a different holiday with young children.

I love Whistler as well although we went there pre-kids so I can't speak for going as a family.

This time we booked with Crystal - fairly last minute. We've travelled with Crystal a few times before and they've always been fine, though when we went to Whistler before we booked everything independently so check out all avenues and get the best thing for you.

[MrLSG]

We've been skiing Big White and Silver Star for the past 10 years or so and ds1 (now 6) did much of his learning to ski there and I dare say ds2 will when the time comes (probably next year). They are both family oriented and very well set-up for young children (although BW does have a minimum age of 18months in the creche - SS will take them from birth).

We don't bother using a tour operator and just book everything direct - they are only a phone call away - although we have in the past used Frontier Ski.