Advice please - daughter doesn’t want to ski

[Whowherewhywhat]

Hi - we are a family of 5 - have wanted to ski for years but daughter has never wanted to go. The kids (pretty much adults now!!) will be DS20, DS18 and DD16. We are looking at either Lapland or skiing over Christmas next year - if we went skiing we would look at something like Neilson skiing (we are frequent Neilson summer hol goers) as we will all be skiing newbies - I’ve just mentioned to my daughter and she is adamant she doesn’t want to ski - my question is would there be enough other things to do / people that don’t want to ski to do other things eg sledging etc?
would this be a nightmare hol for her over Christmas - thoughts please or safer to do something like Lapland?

You couldn't pay me enough to skydive. You are one parachute failure away from death, preceded by a period of time between trying to open your parachute and hitting the ground during which you know you are going to die and cannot do a single thing about it.

Think we will stick with Lapland - enough to do for all 😊 I was concerned about going there over the mas period as I think the Santa thing will be too babyish for them ( though I’d love it 🤣) but from comments above and online research looks like you can still do tours without it over the Xmas period - or has anyone booked independently and sorted their own trips etc? Thinking to go via a tour company for first trip as not too sure what to expect, the only place we’ve been that’s cold at Xmas was New York and that was a long time ago 😊

For all of you, book some lessons at your nearest snow dome to see if you all like it. You can do this a Feb half term. you will then get to see a lot more of the resort than just the beginner slope if you can already ski a bit. It's such a waste to actually learn in resort.

And I'd be bored stupid in a ski resort on my own all day at the bottom of the mountain while everyone else was whizzing around at the top.

@Whowherewhywhat

i booked via Santas Lapland because was uncertain about how I would book all the different activities in the resort, however it would have actually been really easy to do.

as mentioned we went to Saariselka (check spelling 🤣) and in the (very small) resort there was a company with whom you could book all trips independently. For northern lights you can just go walk into the Narnia woods and follow the signs to a warming station & observatory type place.

super easy & wonderful !

Independent is fine and easy for Lapland. There are buses from the main airports to various places.

We fly Ryanair to Rovaniemi and then bus. Lots of websites to book self catered chalets etc and you can book trips either online through local providers before you go out just book when you get there.

I’m not sure that I would want to have a holiday in Lapland if it’s going to be dark for 21 hours a day. Just worth factoring that in I think.

I’m dyspraxic. The mere thought of skiing brings me out in hives.

Great that we’re not all the same isn’t it?

OP - don’t take her, you’ll have a much better time (and much less whingeing) doing something that appeals to everyone.

I also have dyspraxia. My ex persuaded me to go skiing against my better judgement. I couldn’t even stand up straight on the skis let alone control how they moved! I was told to remove the skis by the instructor before I hurt myself or anyone else. I’ve been the same with almost every sport that I’ve tried as I’m completely uncoordinated. Some people can’t ski or skate and I’m definitely one of them.

@Whowherewhywhat going to Lapland will be a wonderful family holiday

It's not

@Whowherewhywhat

We have been 7 times. Feel free to DM me.

This was from time and date.com for Rovaniemi today :

Daylight:
10:59 - 13:41
Total:
02:41

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/finland/rovaniemi

@maltravers You might be surprised at how well you adapt to the short daylight hours. I travel in and around that part of the world fairly often. I find I sleep less and I'm actually more awake during the day because my body stops being triggered by the sun coming up/going down. Instead I learn to rely on my body's own signal of when I actually need to sleep.

I know we've moved past the original question, but I HATE skiing and have had a lovely week in a ski resort while DH goes off bombing down double black diamonds. I read tons of books, got some great cooking done, went to a spa, browsed the overpriced boutiques and took myself out to lunch. It was fab.

@ThatMauveRaven You could indeed injure yourself getting out of bed..... but I see more people on crutches in the mountains in winter than I do in summer...

Skiing is a dangerous sport.

Would you say the same thing about rock climbing? Motor bike riding? Scuba diving?

At that age I'd expect them to choose to come along or not, and it's their own responsibility to amuse themselves if they don't enjoy the main hobby on offer. I personally would rather stay home if offered a skiing holiday. Tried it, couldn't stand it. So some people are just not going to be getting excited about winter sport.

There is ice skating and bars/clubs and restaurants and shops in ski resorts, but all very alpine themed. I remember being bored as I just went up the top of the mountain, sat in the very overpriced cafe, then took the funicular /cable car back down again.

I wouldn't force it on someone if they're old enough to stay home or stay at a mates/family members house instead of enduring unwanted snow based 'fun'.

OP if. You'd like to adopt a 43 year old mum of 2 I would happily take her place lol

Trying to get mine to come ski-ing but no interest either. May just be me and dp going in 2026!

We did the 'Santa' trip to Finland years ago, then went back 'proper' skiing twice afterwards and had brilliant holidays. People are weirdly snobby about skiing in Scandinavia tho, apparently it's not real skiing if you don't have to queue for hours for the ski-lifts!

FYI it used to be a 'thing' for wealthy Russians to go skiing in Scandinavia for New Year, so it can get busy at that time, and we found that hotel/slope staff were a bit tetchy because they 'had a lot of difficult customers to deal with'!

Also worth noting that if you like a drink -stock up at the airport! Alcohol can be hard to come by, and is not encouraged at hotels etc

We take the (frankly insane) ski loving kids for a week in the mountains every year and then often to lakes and mountains in the summer too. Every winter week there are a handful of people in plaster or on crutches by the end of it, and pretty much never in the summer!

Personally being somewhere picturesque and snowy, log fires, hot chocolate, a comfy chair and pile of books and my family too busy skiing to bother me would have been my dream holiday as a teen (and now)

The original ice hotel in Swedish Lapland is quite magical. You could do one night in the ice hotel, then stay in one of the cabins. They have kitchenettes and a sitting room so you could put up a few decorations and have a family Christmas (don’t forget most of Europe celebrates on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day). The cabins have sky lights to watch the northern lights. They have husky sledding, reindeer sleighs, ice water swimming, a sauna, wilderness skills workshops, ice sculpting, ski doos, Sami cultural events, northern lights safaris, snow shoeing and cross country skiing and overnight wilderness trips. There is also a small historical museum in the village that has some events. You can get an airport transfer by dog sled 😂

If you want to try a downhill skiing lesson, there is a small slope with a few runs on the way to the hotel from the airport/station in Kiruna. The city of Kiruna has a few interesting museums and festivals. There are a couple of ski resorts in Swedish Lapland too so you could do both!

I am in Lapland now, in Pyha. It’s magnificent and my family are skiing. My son and I are just chilling out.
I have booked all of our trips through Northern Lights Village and the service has been great. I would book to stay at one of their 3 locations as you have everything you need right on your doorstep. It would make for a magical trip.
We have travelled with Crystal ski which has also offered good service. But if skiing wasn’t on the cards then NLV would have been the perfect location.

I should say, we’ve been on a reindeer safari, husky sledding and tonight it’s Aurora hunting in a heated sleigh. We have snowmobiling still to do. The temp is cold though -18 today. The light is magical, hardly any full daylight but lots of beautiful twilight hours. And the northern lights have been out for the last two days which has been very exciting.

Do not bother taking a reluctant skier on a ski holiday.

I have 4 DC who are all excellent skiers but one young adult is currently less bothered, they still insist they want to come, do a couple of hours 4-5 days of the week and then hang around drinking cocktails and getting massages.

It drives me mad!