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!

Agree that taking straighteners was a complete waste of time one year...
.... And also need to remember to pack swimmers as hotel has pool and sauna...

And sports bras to ski in! Well remembered!!.

And bath salts!! Genius!

Definitely sports bras for the week! The only straighteners I take are my mini ones, as I use those daily for my fringe, even when the rest of my hair is up.

Great thread! So useful - thank you.
Can I ask about Phone roaming now that we've left the EU? I haven't been abroad since we left Brexit. I used to ski with walkie talkies but never found them very reliable tbh.

Also, I'm finding it hard to find snowboarding jackets! Where do I look? Google isn't help me!

I'm on O2, so my Roaming is still included. DH is on Sky, and pays about £2.50 a day (flat rate) to use his phone in Europe. If your phone is set up to Roam, you'll connect automatically and get a text from your provider. Mine looks like the picture, but DHs says something about charges.

Re. Snowboard jackets. I ski, so I could be wrong, but wouldn't you just wear a 'ski' jacket? I couldn't see much difference in clothing between the two camps.

Thanks @RhubarbFairy - I'll check my provider - ee.

DD is trying boarding for the 1st time ever and ditching the skiing for now. I thought boarding wear was slightly baggier?

I'm also looking for fleece balaclavas for teens and a 5 yr old. Used to find loads but not getting very far!

For jackets, Cotswold outdoor, snow and rock, Blacks, Tiso, Mountain Warehouse, Trespass.

My roaming is an add on. I'm on EE. It's def not automatically included and depends on your contract. Worth checking before you go.

Trying to work out pass prices! Is it better for beginners to start on mini passes?!

@BaggyAndWrinkled I think it depends on the resort. Are the beginners having lessons? The ski school should be able to advise on which pass. Fwiw where we've been (port du soleil) once the kid is 6, and is out of nursery, they need a proper pass.

@skilikeagirl I mean when you first go to the shop- you collect ski boots, skis, poles, helmets.
And then have to either carry all of those whilst wearing snow boots, or wear ski boots and carry skis, poles and snow boots back to chalet. My kids just can't carry all that themselves- ikea bag means I carry bag of boots, kids carry skis, DH carries my skis and his skis

Ooh we are going to Avoriaz with our 7yo. First time to Porte du Soleil. Any kid specific tips??

I emailed the ski school re passes and they said they would go with what the children had - though this wasn't ESF, which might be different. I actually think we might end up doing a mix of in resort and whole area passes. A bit more of a faff, but I can't see us doing much in the way of travelling far due to having to be back for ski school at midday. And it does save a fair bit of money.

@MuddyWellyNelly we got the entire Porte du soleil at Christmas for everyone because there was an offer to get a kids one free with an adult so can be worth checking the offers. It was still cheaper than resort specific. If no offers we go resort specific for those having lessons. You can also do a 5 hour / 1 day pass for the wider PdS if you want extra if no offers.

We do ESF ski school and they just advise the resort wide pass once the kids start in Orson level where they start using the lifts. But when mine were five or under they just went with us on lifts anyway with their debutantes pass from lessons.

I also pack a big shopper that folds flat for the helmets (we take back to chalet to dry) but can also be used for groceries. We leave ski boots in the shop with the skis so never having to carry one set of boots and wear the other.

I also like to pack a clothes airer thing I clip all the gloves to when we get back to the chalet and hang it up so they are all (a) accounted for and (b) dry the next morning. We do drive though so it fits under a seat. I have packed it in a suitcase for flyer before.

Karabina for the keys. Chalet / car whatever. It was a big palaver when someone wiped out in fresh powder and lost the whole lot one year.

We've had underfloor heating in the bathroom the last two times we went. I used to lay our gloves on the floor under the sink. Very useful! Also, the same for our swimming costumes.

An ikea bag is handy to have for boots, helmets, etc. But heavy if you're the mug carrying it.

Bumping whilst I'm currently packing

Thank you for the link to the £6 mini backpack it worked really well last week but I forgot to take a soft water flask from my running kit, that would have been really helpful. The best E60 we spent was in renting a heated locker 2min walk from the main gondola -utter heaven walking down from apt. in trainers and having dry ski boots waiting at the locker. It Removed SO much hassle with the kids.

Going to steal both the clothes dryer and carabiner tip.

We're driving this Easter. Wonder if I can fit my heated airer in the car 🤔
Though we found at Christmas that none of us were particularly wet by the end of the day. A combination of icy conditions so nothing wet to fall in, and not being beginners anymore, so falling over less.

Hoping for significantly less ice at Easter!

AND we're back! We had all that we needed (I bought each child a couple of resort branded t-shirts while we were there). Next time we go, I'll take a camelbak for each child.

Where we stayed last week the equipment hire shop delivered it all to the hotel boot room. Never had that before. And picked it up again at the end of the week. And labelled it all with our names.

The hotel also drove our skis to the bottom of the lift for us every morning. Never had that before either.

Nice touches I thought.