Packing for a ski trip

[CruCru]

I am packing for a ski trip to France next week and wondered whether any of you keep a list of gear so you don't forget anything. If you do, please could you share it?

I have a three and a five year old. I've packed for them first.

Thanks!

Hat for in resort (& helmet hair at lunch)
Buff or neck scarf
Layers for legs and body i.e.base, mid, jumper. I take a min 2 of each for kids, 2 thermals, 2 mid usually sports tops and 2 jumpers. For me I take 6 base layers and 2 mid layers and 2 jumpers, at Easter that's quite a lot, but you can have cold days.
Coat
Sallopettes
Gloves for day
Gloves for evening (day ones will be wet)
Sun screen 50+ for face - something you can give to kids if in lessons and it's really hot too. Sunscreen to take in rucksack.
Lip balm with sunscreen - bleeding lips hurt! Possibly the most exciting aspect of a ski holiday is lip balm, take a spare as they break. Ensure they use it as burnt lips have always featured in our trips.
Sunglasses
Goggles
Helmet
Water bottle - I use a camel bak if DH has one for cycling.
Small ruck sack ideally to hold all the above crap!
Snacks for on the slopes - good excuse to eat mars bars every day.
Going home outfit for kids - I don't take any other day clothes as mine just wear their thermals at the end of the day or change into onsies.
PJ's & onsie
Swimmers
Nail clippers - or get bruised nails
Plasters for any blisters (blister or walking ones)
I take all the usual medical kit too.
Walkie talkie or phone roaming
Crocs or similar slip on shoes ideally to wear to boot room.
Walking boots/footwear that can get wet for resort. We always travel in ours.
Guy and I take flip flops for the evening, some people wear slippers.
Ear plugs as it can be noisy in resort and in shared accommodation.
Print out of insurance for you and DH in rucksack and ICE details in everyone's pocket.
4 gang/bar plug so you don't need millions of foreign converters (that's my best tip ever!)
4 large shopping bags so you can collate (helmet, gloves, buff, layers) for everyone so they know where to head to get ready every morning. I doubt you are that far from the boot room, but we would take bags, get finished dressing, swap shoes etc in the boot room so no one overheats.
Hand wash for clothes might be worth it. I used to take a big Tshirt for mine to wear at breakfast so their thermals survive the experience.
We take a Velcro strap to keep the kids skis together which helps them carry them. If you are far from the lifts it's worth considering how you will carry everything. They are a few pounds and can really help.
Cuddly toy!
... and a bloody big case 😂😂

^^ that's what I recently sent to a friend

Sorry, just marking spot - cant work out how to put on 'watch' list on my tablet

I'd also recommend some ski glove strings so the kids don't lose their gloves if they take them off. And packs of tissues for pockets - I always seem to need to blow my nose at the top of a chairlift

That's amazing! Thank you.

Place marking - thank you!

Yes, tissues! How the heck did I miss that. Def packs (and packs) of tissues.

Ski socks. 3 pairs each per person.
Hand warmers - I pop a set of disposables in each pocket or emergency use. Temps can plummet quick at high altitude.

Microfleece balaclava for under helmets.

God yes, glove strings for kids! Essential. Plus neck warmers - don't be faffing around with flapping scarves.
Second the idea of the plug adaptor bar.

Mini choc bars for snacks on the mountain. Sure, yes, you could take something more healthy, but hell, you're on holiday and expending a huge amount of energy and effort clumping around in ski boots and the like, so a bit of chocolate won't hurt.

Hip flask?

Photograph on your phone the lift pass code numbers, in case of loss. You'll need to quote it to someone or other.

Designate one pocket just for lift passes. Don't let the kids put anything else in that pocket, in case they flip it out and lose it whilst rummaging. Buy it, pocket it and keep it zipped!

When packing, put each person's socks/thermals etc in separate carrier bags in the case. Then it's all in one place when you unpack at your destination.

Tempted by the hip flask...

What to put in it though....

Cherry brandy for the hip flask. Though I can't drink and ski, too novice also I think it invalidates my insurance!

So my list is copied directly from my Evernote account and I assemble everything on the bed then tick it off as I pack it in the case. Why yes I am a bit funny in the head. But this works and I add stuff on that I should take next year, plus remove anything I don't use (which is why I take barely any makeup now!!)

Vitals

[ ] driving licence
[ ] passport
[ ] EHIC card
[ ] Green purse with Euros in (I keep a separate purse for overseas currency and put my cards in it with my EHIC card when I get on the plane)
[ ] contact lens fluid
[ ] contact lens case
[ ] spare lenses
[ ] books - ONE THICKISH BOOK, you don't need many - Place of Greater Safety? - this is to stop myself bringing ALL THE BOOKS :D
[ ] notepad
[ ] Usual handbag contents; phone, purse, headphones, lip balm, hand sanitizer

[ ] knitting - ONE SMALL PROJECT

Toiletries

[ ] toothbrush
[ ] toothpaste
[ ] make up bag with miminal makeup
[ ] moisturiser
[ ] handcream
[ ] razor
[ ] shower gel
[ ] shampoo
[ ] conditioner

[ ] deodorant
[ ] face suncream
[ ] factor 30+ lip balm - think it's in the car
[ ] tampons
[ ] panty liners
[ ] wipes
[ ] Travel laundry wash
[ ] Plasters
[ ] Blister plasters
[ ] Body moisturiser
[ ] Nail clippers and file
[ ] Print out of insurance details
[ ] packets of tissues - get from boot of car
[ ] hairbrush
[ ] hairdryer

[ ] hair elastics.
[ ] Hair clips
[ ] painkillers - paracetamol and ibuprofen
[ ] Ibuprofen gel
[ ] germolene
[ ] blister rub stuff
[ ] plasters

Clothes

[ ] PJs
[ ] Underwear * 12 (I always run out with multiple changes and washing by hand isn't as naice as having it ready clean)
[ ] Socks * 8
[ ] at least one pair of thick socks for slippers
[ ] bras * 1 plus the one you're wearing
[ ] trousers * 2
[ ] t shirts/ thermal t shirts
[ ] Thermals for legs
[ ] Vests
[ ] jumpers * 2
[ ] cardigans * 2

Shoes

[ ] presentable flats
[ ] hiking trainers
[ ] Yaxtrax

Sports clothes

[ ] sports bras
[ ] swimming costume/bikini
[ ] Skiing socks * 3 at least
[ ] snowpants
[ ] buff
[ ] skiing gloves
[ ] normal gloves
[ ] normal hat
[ ] Scarf
[ ] Light fleece
[ ] Ski boots
[ ] Goggles
[ ] Helmet

Electrical:

[ ] Charger for phone
[ ] Plug converters
[ ] Monster portable recharger
[ ] A 4 plug gang if not too much to carry - handluggage?

Nice face cream, hand cream for when you get back in the evening.
Swimsuit & big towel for sauna.
Liner gloves for inside waterproof ones, maybe with touch screen fingers so you don't have to strip off every layer when using phone/camera.
Maybe a few pegs to hang up socks and gloves on coat hangers if no easy radiators.
Spare thin fleece/jumper because you might only need one layer for skiing, but you'll need a second for lunch and apres ski.
Possibly a (head) torch if going out for dinner? The kids might have fun with it even if you don't actually need it.

I put adult gloves on leashes or elastic too! Although there can be issues with elastics getting caught in lifts. Leashes better for this reason.

If you are in a hotel your kids will need clothes for dinner - Chalet maybe not.

Children's weight in kilos as they will ask for ski hire...

And their height in metres.

In case they havent been mentioned already:
Sunglasses or goggles for kids.
Vaseline for sore and chapped bits, not just lips.
Swimming goggles and armbands if you need. Swim hats if you are going to France.
Not an item as such, but tell credit card company you're going so they don't block your card when you spend £££ on skis hire and lift passes and lessons all in one day.
I always take my own teabags as Lipton are crap and proper ones expensive in that there forrin.

Headphones if you like music on lifts.
Some colouring stuff to occupy kids in a quiet moment.
LOTS of ibuprofen tabs. Expensive and often only available from pharmacies in European mainland.
Download TripAdvisor app for checking out restaurants while away.

in case they haven't been mentioned: Sunglasses or goggles for the kids

Fooooookin hell, now you mention it!

mycav I'm sorry but this made laugh.

Wow, thanks all!

We had a great time and now I'm trying to get through all the washing.

Will resurrect this thread next year so that I can use the lists again.

Just bumping to use these lists again this year - thought it may be useful for others.
Happy skiing all!

Very grateful for these lists so though I’d add a few items i think not yet mentioned:

• glasses cleaning cloths/wipes to clean sunglasses and goggles
• sunglasses and ski goggles
• non-leaky drinks bottles (just leaked tea all through my non-waterproof rucksack) or buy disposables at the local supermarket.
• ski helmet, ski hat and also headband, which is cooler than a hat but keeps your ears warm.
• thin hair bands for tying plaits that fit under helmets so that hair doesn’t fly in DDs hair during skiing. All the Italian girls here have chic “Charlotte Casitaghi ski-plaits” as I call them.
• we were at a chic but family friendly place near st Moritz, and were pleased to see that our blue IKEA bag was one of five used to transport ski shoes and etc from car park to piste. If using the local buses it is also more comfy to walk in normal shoes than ski shoes.
• normal socks/shoes for day and evening, ski socks for skiing, obvs
• “ski reins” for teaching little ones to ski to stop them tumbling down the slope (only at the very beginning of course). We couldn’t find any to rent so had to buy, but they really helped.