Snowy Christmas holiday for non-skiers?

[SparkleFly]

We'd like to take our kids somewhere for a snowy magical Christmas one year. Lapland is out of budget for actually over the Christmas period so I'm wondering where else we could go? We don't ski but would be up for a ski resort if there was a great pool and we could go sledging or if there were other things we could do to pass the time. Any ideas? Kids would likely be 3 and 7. Must be snowy!

What sort of budget are you working with and where do you want to fly from ideally?

Zakopane in Poland! We are going in Feb half term and it looks incredible for skiing and non skiers with thermal baths and a town to explore. Also only 2 hours from Krakow where we are spending the first two days. Poland is also way more affordable than the French ski resorts!

I’ve been to Zakopane. It’s a fantastic resort and cheap. Lots to do there

Also Came here to say zakopane

Oh we’re going to Zakopane for the first time at half term - this is good news!

You can do Lapland on a budget if you book everything yourself. We did a Lapland day trip before Christmas and it was the most magical experience ever! We did everything like sledding, snowmobile, husky sledge reindeer sleigh, marshmallow toasting with the elves all in the day and saw Northern Lights. My kids are 3&8

Christmas is quite early in the season for snow so if you’re going to a ski resort you need to make sure the actual town is quite high if you want snow all around you.
Most of the snow for the season arrives in January so Christmas can be variable.

We’ve been to resorts at Christmas where there’s been no snow down in the valley in the villages but once you go up the mountain in the gondolas that’s where all the snow is, but then you come back down at the end of the day to brown/green all around .
So make sure you do the research to how much snow there is usually at Christmas and not Jan/Feb if it’s important for you to you to look out the window and see snow all around

Thanks everyone, will look up Zakopane. My son is of the magical age where he's convinced it will definitely snow one Christmas so we want to make sure it happens!

Saw an ad earlier for Centerparcs in Germany with skiing and snow activities nearby https://www.centerparcs.eu/in-en/ski-holidays-in-germany-netherlands_sck

I did centreparcs allgau in germany this year. It was amazing. Little sprinkle of snow, but went up to obertsdorf 40 minutes away for the proper stuff and did a day's sledging with the kids. Also got snow round neuchwanstein castle which was gorgeous.

Christmas markets + snow + loads for kids to do in the resort. It was perfect

Ohhhh I've wanted to see that castle for years. Did you drive there or fly and use public transport?

Flew into friedrichschafen and hired a car, which was handy for day trips.

Lapland can be affordable if you DIY. Plenty of groups of Facebook with great tips

In general, established ski resorts are expensive at Christmas. Poland is no doubt cheaper.

Even to stay over Christmas day?

Kranjska Gora!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/16sEBTsrPn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Have never checked the prices for accommodation around Christmas Day, but would imagine so. You can check prices on booking.com. From what I can tell, flight prices are much the same price around Christmas.