Skiing help for non skiing family

[scrambledeggs01]

Our kids ages 12, 7,5 are desperate for a snow holiday. The eldest wants to try skiing
The middle one wants to go on a husky ride
The youngest is a frozen fan so just wants snow

I have never even been to a snowy place but would like to go

Where would you recommend and when is best time to go (options are Dec 2020 or Feb 2021 half term or possibly Easter 2021

We want very very beginners skiing and lots of non skiing activities like walking, tobogganing husky's in a beautiful place. Ideally to stay in a log cabin

Also we have looked at some companies like ingrams but they are so expensive. Is it better to book separately or go with a company ?

[RUSU92]

What about Finnish Lapland? It’s not just for Xmas, although as Santa is in residence all year round they could visit him anyway.

Rovaniemi is the home of Santa and if you go a bit further north you’re guaranteed good snow in Feb. December can be a bit risky as sometimes the snow doesn’t arrive until mid/late December in Rovaniemi, but in Feb you should be fine.

Levi is a popular resort, as is Ylläs.

You can get direct flights to several resorts and book air bnb etc, but tbh once you’ve paid for all the excursions, winter clothing, hire car, eating out etc you might find it easier to book a package with inghams or Tui (although I think Tui only do pre-Xmas) and have it all included.

Skiing, snowmobiling, huskies and reindeer, sledding etc it’s all there!

[RUSU92]

Also worth looking at daylight hours - if you do in the depths of winter it will be dark a lot! Feb-April still a good chance of seeing the northern lights but with a decent amount of daylight too!

[scrambledeggs01]

Thanks that a great suggestion

[jenthehen]

I too can recommend Yllas or Ruka in Finland (although we went over 10 years ago when the children were 4 and 6) Also “Are Bjornen” in Sweden is beautiful.

[ChristmasPuddingAllRound]

Levi is fab. We are off to Yllàs in 3 weeks. Lots to do and my 8yr olds really enjoy the skiing, sledging, sleigh rides, husky sleding, snowmobiles and all the rest! Be warned though...you will get hooked!

[scrambledeggs01]

Thanks can i ask who everyone booked with, and whether you recommend booking separately or a package holiday ?

[RUSU92]

We booked it all separately as we like our own space and wanted to pick and choose the activities hotels etc. Flights with easy jet (£65 outbound + £110 homeward each), about £150 a night on log cabin, £200 a night on nice hotel. Plus food and activities (£100-150 pp for most things) so it all adds up, but I think we’ll do it all for £2500-3000 for two of us, which seems about average whether it’s all included or you are age it yourself.

[notmoresheep]

another vote for Finland, not midwinter though because daylight hours.

[Nearlyadoctor]

Levi is great - we went 2 years ago for a week Feb half term ( Dd was 10) booked through Inghams. We did sledging, husky safari, snowmobile, horseback riding, reindeer sleigh, snowshoe walking. We stayed at the K5 hotel which was an excellent base, hired thermal suits and boots.
We’re going again this year but mainly cross country skiing this time.

[anappleadaykeeps]

Try Seefeld in Austria. Good for beginner skiers, and also a lovely charming village with lots else to do (winter walking, skating, cross country, fab pool complex), and 25 mins by train to Innsbruck.

[anappleadaykeeps]

You can fly to Innsbruck, or cheaper flights/flexibility go for Munich.

[justmyview]

Kranjska Gora in Slovenia is a small resort which might appeal to you. Some of the hotels had swimming pools. We went with Crystal and they had various day trips on offer. We went to Bled and it was stunning