Total newbie - DH family taking us skiing at xmas

[Meeko86]

Hi all

my DHs dad and stepmum are taking me DH our 2 DC 5 & 6 on holiday to France skiing over Xmas my DHs brothers partners and their teen age kids are also coming. My DH grew up going skiing so has a bit of an insight but this my first ever time and also a new experience for the kids the other wife’s / partners haven’t been either so we are all excited but also in the dark to an extent of what to expect!

so if anyone here had time to help a newbie pleas do and my FIL has kindly booked it all but isn’t great at telling us exactly what we’ll be doing I’m sure that’ll come but I want to prepare!

ski school, he has booked myself and kids onto it I have no idea what to expect! It’s a clubmed resort I’ve looked on the website but can’t find details about how long the classes are so any ideas my kids should hopefully be together they are 5 and 6. And I guess I’ll be in a novice class for adults but how many hours a day can I expect this to take?
our first day is Christmas Day so not sure if ski school will run then? My DH thinks it will but I find it a bit odd that on Xmas day as we will all be in separate classes?! But I am open minded as this isn’t a normal Xmas it’s a new experience.

I’ve heard there’s parties in the slopes you have to ski too but can sometimes get lifts/ walk how child friendly are these or is this something we may have to accept is a no go until the kids are older?

and the biggy apart from ski jacket and trouser dungeree things what do I wear!!?? What do you all wear under them? What do you wear for dinners when not skiing etc do people get dressed up? I’m not really a winter fashion fan I’m a sun and warmth lover so not really had to sort a holiday wardrobe for colder climates and genuinely not sure what people wear, obviously at home for Xmas if we were going out in the evening for parties I’d wear a nice dress heels etc.

anything else anyone thinks I should know as a mum going on this type of holiday with young kids?

thank you to anyone who takes the time to help me 😂

Decathlon is better than Aldi. Way better. Did I say better?

• Buy several neck warmers, and one of the "silky" ones to use as head cover under the helmet.
• buy a couple of the coloured velcro ski ties. Very cheap and it makes carrying the skis so much easier. Also when you stop for a break, it is a lot easier to identify yours, given that half the slopes will have rented from then same place.
• There are ski ties that come with a shoulder strap, depending how far the hotel is from the end of the slope or if you end up (and you will) being the one carrying the skis!
• fake silk or real silk under gloves and under socks. Have two pairs of socks for everyone, so if one pair is forgotten in a ball one evening, it is not wet and sweaty the next.
• When it comes to ski Jackets, the more pockets the better. A chest one near the zip, in addition to classic side pockets. You will need to carry tissues, so pack a packet of those in your suitcase and always have a packet on you
• sun cream and lip balm
• ski googles are far better than sunglasses. You have "all weather" ones. Keep the cover, so they don't scratch.
• No need to buy helmet, you rent if for a few euros.
• After skis boots/shoes are a must.
• In the hotel/ resort, I usually go around with my Birkenstock clogs. There always seems to be a lot of walkings in corridors.
• do the ski/snow insurance
• have a ski map with you. They have them where they sell passes.

You will have FUN!!!!!!

Someone said insurance. Make sure you have proper ski travel insurance that includes helicopter evacuation (e.g. BMC ski insurance). I really hope you won't need it, but if you do there's nothing worse that a long discussion about your credit card limit and insurance details followed by being dragged down a mountain freezing on a bumpy sledge when you've broken something. Helicopters charge per minute so they don't take off until they're certain you or the insurance will pay!

I am a ski instructor, if you have a dry slope near you try and get some lessons before you go. It makes a massive difference to how quickly you will pick it up. Also some conditioning exercises if you aren't overly active, anything on a bike is brilliant and some lower body resistance work will go a long way.

The cost of helicopter rescue varies from country to country.

Cover is usually included in winter sports insurance (make sure that it is) but in some countries, it is also included in the price of the lift ticket or can be purchased for a minimal additional fee at the ticket office.

When you buy travel insurance and add the snow/ski, the helicopter is included, so don't worry about that, just make sure to add the snow/ski extra.

I'd definitely add the slope rescue insurance to your lift pass. It generally costs a couple of euros a day extra. It may well be covered in your travel insurance but if you got injured that badly the slope insurance means you would be rescued whereas I wouldn't trust the French not to just leave you there and charge you for littering the piste if you don't, after experience of being bumped into hurting my back and the medical centre not accepting cards - thank goodness my friends were with me to go to the cash machine.

Ah, that's interesting. I've never skied anywhere where insurance was offered with a lift pass, but it sounds like a good idea because all the resort staff will recognise it immediately. I tend to do day passes on smaller resorts and have year-round mountain sport insurance. I've certainly seen people come unstuck when they've bought cheap travel insurance and not read all the fine print.

If you're skiing in France, Carre Neige is the additional insurance that you can buy with your lift pass for a few euros a day - we always pay for this even though we have specific winter sports insurance - it's available across all French ski resorts - here

Check your insurance carefully - my understanding is that the standard winter sports insurance will cover your medical bills, replacement of hired kit, cover for lift pass if there's no snow etc, but the Carre Neige is what will get you off the mountain (in France) in event of an accident eg. blood wagon or helicopter, depending on what's needed (hopefully neither!), and is immediately recognisable by the piste patrols, so no delays while they check out your insurance or get someone to cough up cash to cover it.

Lots of good feedback on skiwear and practicalities. I would add:

There’s quite a lot of downtime when you are novices. Your DC might do lessons in morning and then be in childcare in the afternoon (very typical for club med style) but as a novice you are unlikely to be out all day.

That means you’ll get time alone or have DC, make sure you have suitable activities for both you and them (books/playing cards etc)

take slippers. Whether you’re in a chalet or hotel room that doesn’t provide them you’ll be grateful as there are always stray bits of ice/snow brought in to get your socks wet!

most hotels/chalets have a pool, hot tub or sauna. Take swim wear.

evenings are very casual - I might wear wide leg velvet trousers and a cashmere jumper if going somewhere very smart (although I’d wear trainers) but plenty of people will be wearing sportswear.

@StamppotAndGravy Which country do you ski in?

In France, the Carre Neige is offered as an add-on to the lift card in all resorts.
In Austria, helicopter rescue (as well as general piste rescue) will usually be included in the price of the lift ticket.

@Havanananana normally Switzerland or Austria. It might well be included and I've just never noticed. I do mountaineering, so my personal insurance is bomb-proof! I don't think rescue is default in all Austrian resorts though, because that's where I've had ski-lesson class mates have insurance- helicopter issues. It might be more standard in family resorts where they have more accidents.

Helmets! Not always thought of but essential for novice skiers. My children did secondary school in Switzerland so ski camp was a given each year. I was so thankful when a new headteacher brought in a no helmet, no ski rule as trying to convince teenagers to wear them when I wasn't there was tricky!