What's it like skiing at Christmas

[TeetotalKoala]

DH and I were discussing next year tonight. We can't go in February half term next year, so are thinking Christmas 2021 instead.

What's it like? Our DC will be 8 and 10. We've never been away for Christmas before, other than to stay with family.

It's fab! Perfect ages, if you are going to a catered chalet..then no cooking, lots of great food, snow, cold and it's just so beautiful and festive.

We took small gifts and had our house sitters put the gifts around the tree at home, so we had two gos at Christmas.

I'd recommend a resort to look at for all skills and it's beautiful at Christmas which is Zell am see in Austria. The people are so friendly, food is amazing and there is a gin bar 👍

Sorry, got excited just thinking about it on your behalf.. meant to say zell has a glacier so even if snow is rubbish you have a guaranteed go at skiing.

Also lots of british instructors and private instructors aren't silly prices either

@justkeepmovingon Funnily enough, we're planning to go just down the road from Zell am See, and go to Rauris. We went this year for the first time and loved it. Couldn't agree more about your comments on the food and people. I know Rauris is quite low, but they seem to have an excellent track record for snow at Christmas, though I'll be watching the webcams like a hawk this year.

I like the idea of having someone put the gifts around the tree. DH and I don't buy for each other anyway, so it's only the DC. I love the idea of being away for Christmas but have been reluctant in the past because of that 'Santa's been' moment. But next year I doubt DS1 will believe (last year was iffy, with lots of questions and I think he talked himself back into it) and DS2 will probably be questioning too. I was thinking that if he did still believe, then I could leave a note with the small gift.

Do ski schools run on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? I know that Christmas Eve is the main day on the continent.

Ski school runs every day even Xmas eve and Xmas day. My kids are 9, 6 and 4. What we do is write to Santa in early December and ask if he can come a different date because we will be away and we can’t take the gifts home in our cases.

Then when we are home from the holiday we have 1-2 days to unpack and get ready. Then we do “Xmas eve” traditions and Xmas traditions absolutely exactly as tho it were dec 25th but in reality it’s about dec 30th!

On the real Xmas day we just ski as normal.

We skied at Christmas last year, but in Italy. We took small presents (stuff that could be used while there, like a book each, slipper socks, top trump cards, new PJ's). The hotel was decorated, but it wasn't OTT. Ski school was still everyday.

(Although Christmas is Friday this year I think? I know when we skied in Austria Friday was the quiet day for ski school, it usually ran Sunday- Thursday)

Yep, it's a Friday. Which means that next year it's a Saturday, which scuppers my plans for Saturday to Saturday (to be in ski school Sun-Fri). However the ski school also start on a Monday too so I'll look at Sun-Sun. Or try to convince my husband to do Friday to Sunday.

I've had a look at flights for this year, and it seems to be the cheaper option, with flights being similar to what we paid the week before half term this year (about £300) rather than the insane £3k prices I was getting back for February half term.

@Pollyputthepizzaon That's a lovely tradition. And I'm loving the idea of skiing on Christmas Day. Makes a change from falling asleep in front of the newest Julia Donaldson adaptation (every bloody year, I can't keep my eyes open).

We did an amazing thing one christmas, and hired a chalet in Lapland, I would strongly recommend you choose this option!

We went skiing every day - as we choose a place next to a ski slope, but had the added bonus of reindeer rides, huskies, amazing skidoo rides in the national park and of course a visit to the 'real' Father Christmas.

My dc STILL talk about it even now (much older teens)

I can not recommend it enough, best fun we have ever had for a winter holiday :)

I think as a holiday at Christmas it’s great - cosy and festive and it’s fantastic to be away at that time of year. Fewer presents and less stress! Skiing wise it’s not so good - the weather is colder and darker, days much shorter and the snow can be iffy. In some resorts it can be one of the most expensive weeks despite these things. I love to do as much skiing as possible and skiing and lunching in the sunshine are a huge passion of mine so it’s February or Easter for me every time as I’m more likely to see more of both when I go then .

Been a few times now to Italy for Christmas week, booked to go to Austria this year. We dont use ski school as we want to be together as a family on Christmas Day etc, children have a couple of private lessons the other days. We pack a little fake Christmas tree, lots of fairy lights, stockings etc and most presents - you just have to be a bit more inventive. Love it. Resorts are festive, lots going on, usually book something special for Christmas Eve (e.g. mountain restaurant accessible only by skidoo - children were in awe) and nice lunch on Christmas Day. Stayed at home last Christmas, was an endless cycle of hosting, cleaning, entertaining. Booked skiing holiday 2nd Jan

Love the idea of a mini fake tree! I said to DH last night that Lego would be a good present to take. Once you ditch the box, the bags take up no space, just need to dismantle it again before coming home.
@Talklessmilemore Valid points raised. We went in February and it was glorious being outside all day. We were all tired and ready to be out of our ski boot by about 4pm as we'd been skiing since 930, (well, maybe not DS1, he'd have gone on all night), so I'm okay with shorter days. Prices seem to be okay for Christmas, but jump for New Year.

Love the idea of a mini fake tree! I said to DH last night that Lego would be a good present to take. Once you ditch the box, the bags take up no space, just need to dismantle it again before coming home.
@Talklessmilemore Valid points raised. We went in February and it was glorious being outside all day. We were all tired and ready to be out of our ski boot by about 4pm as we'd been skiing since 930, (well, maybe not DS1, he'd have gone on all night), so I'm okay with shorter days. Prices seem to be okay for Christmas, but jump for New Year.

Christmas tends to be cheaper the New Year, due to demand

Snow can be a bit hit and miss, especially in lower resorts

We were surprised that shops, cafes, ski school were all open as normal on Christmas Day

I love skiing at Christmas. We're booked in a hotel in Tignes this Christmas (as someone else up there said - we had Christmas at home this year and booked skiing on 27th December!).

Confused about what to do this year though. Should we cancel? Should we postpone? What will the resorts be like in terms of bubbles and chair lifts? Tricky.

Ski resorts have announced that masks are compulsory in the queue for the lift and the lift but NOT when skiing.

It’s just the 14 day quarantine that’s the problem. We are booked already for Xmas but can’t do the 14 days isolation with work and kids etc.