Please help first timer!

[Crispautumn]

Two DC age 10 and 7. We have never been on a skiing holiday and DP and I have never skied other than the odd dry slope as kids.

Ideally I would like to book a short ski holiday where we can all attend ski school, but we don’t need all the bells and whistles that seem to come with the big resorts. Happy to self cater, as long as we can access supermarkets, and happy to relax in accommodation in the evenings. Would like to make it as inexpensive and low demand as possible, rather than spending a fortune on a big fancy ski resort type holiday, in case we all hate it.

Does anyone have any tips please?

What do you call “bells and whistles”? The tour operators do specific beginners resorts with small ski areas but you may sacrifice some of the non ski activities which could supplement skiing if you need alternatives.

Bells and whistles = the evening type entertainment I tend to see on social media. We don’t really need other activities.

You mean apres ski! Very optional especially with kids in tow.

I would strongly recommend getting lessons on a dry slope before you go. Its a very expensive mistake if your family doesn't enjoy skiing. Having some beginner skills will make the holiday more enjoyable.

Even if its just getting the DC familiar with walking in ski boots, carrying their skis and doing a basic glide/stop it will help.

Look for accommodation near the slopes to minimise the walk with heavy gear.

Go at Easter when the weather will be warmer and the resort might have other kids activities on offer e.g. the playparks will not be buried under snow.

I'd look at somewhere like Zakopane in Poland, or Jasna in Slovenia and aim for a hotel with a pool, so you have something else to do (skiing all day is tough on beginners!). Bulgaria is also cheap but getting rather overcrowded now in school holidays.

In my opinion self catering isn't great in ski resorts - choice is limited and prices high (not like all the gorgeous produce you get on summer holidays in Spain and Italy). Better to go half board or eat out in restaurants, but both those resorts are good value.

Bardonnechia in Italy is another good value option if you don't fancy eastern Europe, and you can get the train there from Turin which saves on taxis.

As first timers you should let someone else take care of as much as possible so look at the major tour operators (assuming that you're in the UK, these are Crystal, Nielsen, Inghams, Heidi) and in particular at the resorts that are listed as being ideal for beginners. Unless you are comfortable organising transport from the UK, transfers to the resort, accommodation, ski rental, ski hire and lift passes it is better to book a package from a tour operator.

Presumably you are tied to school holidays, so "inexpensive" is going to be a challenge. Being realistic, I can't see how you would be able to find a week in mid-February for less than around £8,000 for the family and you could easily spend a whole lot more. Easter would be less expensive, and as Easter falls relatively early in 2026 it is a viable option (and the days are longer and warmer than in February).

Most ski holidays are Saturday to Saturday, whether you book with a tour operator or attempt to organise everything yourselves. For example, there are numerous flights in the winter from the UK to Salzburg, but almost all are on Saturdays.

I have no idea what "bells and whistles" you've seen, but there are loads of other activities to enjoy on a winter holiday - e.g. sledging, horse-drawn sleigh rides, swimming and chilling (many Alpine hotels have pools and "wellness" spa areas).

[Edit for typos]

Think long and hard before going for self catering; don't underestimate how absolutely knackered you will all be after a day skiing as a newbie.

I'm pretty fit (run marathons etc, usually do very active holidays) but skiing the first time wiped us all out. I was extremely grateful for having food to come back to at the hotel every evening - where we could just rock up in leggings, our base layers and flip flops etc rather than having to find the energy to either cook or get changed to go out. Skiing is the only holiday where we eat at the hotel too; I'll self-cater everywhere else.

So yes, look for half or full board. You will all need ski school (an extra £1k ish on top for the week for four of you) and lift passes too (another £1k or so !!) Then you'll presumably need to hire your boots, skis and helmets when you're out there so you'll want another £150ish pp for that. Everything else get from Decathlon before you go.

And yes, have a couple of lessons before you go. Won't help loads with the actual skiing but will mean you can put your boots on and walk in skis at least, which means you'll be far better equipped to get to the ski school start point on your first day.

As for apres ski, we tend to all get a bit too knackered for that so can't comment! Best holidays we've ever done though.

I’ve never seen a ski holiday with evening entertainment included! The only entertainment usually is going to a bar which is not included and is not very compatible with kids

Unfortunately there is a lot you do need to ski and it tends to add up. You will need
Flight
Transfer from airport
Accommodation
Ski clothes - second hand is great
Ski and boot hire
Lessons (suggest morning only)
Lift pass - although many resorts have the beginner lifts/slopes for free, so you’d only need a pass towards the end of the week once you hopefully progress past those

My recommendation is to go with a ski package company who will sort all this for you. Crystal or Inghams are a good place to start.

If you want to save money do NOT go at half term, Christmas or NY as prices ramp up. First week of Easter is your best bet (assume you are stuck with school holidays). Somewhere high and snow sure to combat the warmth. Flaine is a decent option - lots of conveniently located self catering apartments. Not glam but very well set up. Short transfer from Geneva. Good beginner slopes. Lots of ski schools. Not busy at Easter (but mega busy at half term).

We have done lots of budget ski trips with the DCs.
Top tips are:
Take the DC out of school for a "cheap week" tend to be 2nd/3rd week of Jan
Drive through France in car loaded with :

1. A couple of homecooked frozen meals eg: bolongaise/stew/ casserolle
2. Cheap english supermarket chocolate/ sweerties for the mountain
3. Tea/Coffee/ Hot chocolate powder
4. A really comprehensive 1st aid kit including all OTC medicines and good selection of dressins ( v. expensive in resort)
5. All toletries
6. Playing cards, board games etc
7. Kids handme down or ski gear incliding 2x pairs of gloves each.
8. Hand warmers
9. Thermous flask

and/or stop at the bottom of the mountain for wine, cheese, beer, fruit and dairy and pasta etc. Also nutella for DCs.

Hopefully then you only have to buy the essentials in resort.

We have used this company for cheap accomadation
https://www.pierreetvacances.com/gb-en

Haven't done it that way for years but was £2500 all in for 4 in 2011.

We went Les Coches and Serre Chavalier this way. Les Coches is articularly good because it is ski in ski out.

The only place I've taken children skiing is Isola 2000 (South of France). It is very built-up, highly commercialised and I've heard it's getting quite shabby these days. However, it was purpose-built as a family resort which would be good for you as a beginner family. There are alternatives to skiing, which proved invaluable when I had a kid who would not ski, but turned out to love the sledging! (Same for me, actually, so I left the skiing child to her parents' expert guidance.)

You can get a bus from Nice airport and it isn't expensive as ski holidays go. I'll leave recent visitors to assess current offerings.

Ah yes, driving can be cheaper than flying (though you may need to factor in an overnight stop) and allows you to take more food from home if s/c.

Yrs we are in Kent so can do it in one long day. Ibis are good for overnight stops ( €39 a room this January)

Lots of good advice from @Neurodiversitydoctor who is obviously someone who has done this before, but for a beginner that level of DIY might be a bit too ambitious.

Things have changed since 2011, not least prices, which have more than doubled in many places in the last 15 years. My approximate costing of at least £8,000 for a week in February is based on a calculation I have done for some friends - also a family of 4 likewise looking to do their first week on skis in 2026. The calculation from @Neurodiversitydoctor also presumably excludes ski rental and ski school, which can easily add another £1,600, and lift passes alone can cost a family of 4 another £1,000+ (these are included in my costing).

Absolutely take basic first aid items and OTC medicines - even Paracetamol can cost £8 a pack in resort instead of 25p in the UK - and your favourite tea and coffee. Homecooked frozen meals are a no-go - since Brexit these are prohibited, with big fines if you get caught. Unlike in France, supermarket food in Austrian resorts is the same price as in the larger towns. First-timers should beg, borrow or steal ski clothes from friends and neighbours - or go to Decathlon for reasonable clothes at inexpensive prices. And take lots of gloves!

Agree on getting a package deal. Self catering and transfers are a big ask for first timers. And also not convinced they save you much money overall. I know someone who ended up paying £1000 for transfers for family of 5. Half board can work out okay.

Also agree with go at Easter much better not having to deal with tired and cold kids. Also cheapest out of possible holiday times.

We've done family of 4 for about £6000 at Easter. £4,500 for package hol £1000 for lift passes £500 for ski hire. £300 for a few private lessons.

Lift pass will be cheaper for smaller ski areas so target smaller resorts for your first time. Maybe 50 to 100km of piste.

If all of this is making you baulk I do have a slightly left field suggestion - Winterberg in Germany. It's very small - 27km of piste - and very low. These are hills not the Alps. But it's very easy to drive to and surrounded by self catering holiday parks including a centre parks so many bells and whistles! Might be enough to find out if you like it.

Self catering is a big ask.

the shops in resort are generally very expensive and geared towards snacks and beer and wine not full on meals.

We also used to pre-cook and take frozen meals with us. The cooking facilities are generally pretty basic as well. Very basic in fact. Think caravan or yacht sort of basic.

also you will be absolutely knackered from the ski-ing.

I wouldn’t recommend self catering for your first ski holiday.

Those costings do include ski hire for 3 and lift passes for 4- DC in ski school. Pre book ski hire on line, we use this site :

https://www.slopefox.co.uk/en/ski-rental

Nowhere near £500.
Breakdown is something like ( this

Ferry/Shuttle £200
Peage/petrol £300
Accommodation £500
Lift passes £600
Food £250
Ski school £300

I am guessing you could do it now for £4,000.

For me £8,000 gets you to the Rockies or Japan- I wouldn't spend that much getting to Europe.

As others have said Italy and Austria are cheaper one you are there. The Aoste valley is acessible by road but will add another hour to the journey time each way.

Problem is we are having to make assumptions - for all we know perhaps the OP would be confident booking everything separately after a bit of advice and research, or they might not be...

@Crispautumn what is your budget? Are you happy to go at Easter? (As others have pointed out, that is generally the cheapest time, but should go high up for better snow) Are you happy to book all the different elements separately, or would you rather do a package for ease?

You could hold your nerve and try and get a last min deal for Easter. It’s nicer skiing then, good snow and usually sunny.

Italy is cheaper than France. Andorra cheaper again. I hated Bulgaria and Friends went to Poland and would not recommend.

If you self cater then you should drive. Much much cheaper then fly/transfer.

Sunweb is a good place to look for cheaper deals. Lift pass is included in their prices.

Self catering for a week including absolutelyeverything—-I would say can be done for 4/5k

Another option OP, if you just want to try skiing, is to do a multi stop where you do a few days of skiing combine it with a another location(s). That way if you don't like skiing it's just part of the holiday! Easter is ideal for this as then you get warmer weather. We have done a few of these trips at Easter (in addition to our main ski trip which we tend to do before Christmas, as we love skiing). Ones we've done are:

• Sierra Nevada ski resort in Southern Spain, combined with Granada and a beach resort on the south coast

• Jasna in Slovakia, combined with a tour of castles and national parks

• Arosa in Switzerland with city break in Zurich plus hiking day trips (food & drink is expensive in Switzerland though)

• Utah (skiing in Park City) followed by various national and state parks, finishing off in Las Vegas (not a cheap trip but an amazing one!)

Obviously these are logistically a bit more ambitious than a week's ski package with Inghams tho! So may not be what you're after

Thank you for all the tips! Lots of seasoned skiers here - I’m in awe!

@TheWonkYes your Center Parcs type suggestion for Winterburg is actually really interesting. That is the sort of thing we need - a holiday which if we all hate skiing, isn’t a huge waste of thousands of pounds. I’ll look into the CP type places near Winterburg. Do you know if I would be able to book a few days of Ski school there, for adults and DC, English speaking instructors?

@StaringAtTheWater yes that’s exactly what I’m looking for/picturing. More than happy to do Easter, and not adverse to taking DC out of school either. The locations you’ve suggested I could probably only dream of on the budget we are aiming for (ie very little!).

Keen to drive to keep costs down too and make taking stuff easier!

Don't underestimate the pain of walking in ski boots, cajoling small kids to walk in ski boots and probably carrying yours and their skis. One of the most important things I found when my kids were younger was to check exactly how far it is from your apartment/hotel to ski school/lift. Use google maps to figure out if there are hills/steps. Don't always trust it when they say it's ski in/ski out - this isn't always possible all season and also isn't always possible to ski for beginners.

I have friends went skiing to Sweden and loved it - you won't get the miles and miles of varied terrain that you'd get from the big French ones but you don't need that.

The Sierra Nevada and Jasna are pretty cheap, but of course you would have the flight costs to factor in.

If you'd rather drive, I think your best bet is to drive to France and do a stop off or two to break up the journey. Le Grand-Bornand is a cheap resort, and well set up for beginners, but it might be a little low down for an Easter trip. If the budget will cover Flaine or Avoriaz, the snow will be better there at Easter (and both those resorts offer good value beginners lift passes)

@Crispautumn renting your ski outfits can be a big saver (especially if you're not sure you'll be back for round two!)

I saw some Swiss resorts recommended above - Cirkel Supply deliver your rental ski outfits anywhere in Switzerland (e.g., to your accommodation): https://cirkelsupply.com/

^you can choose from loads of different brands.

Or if you got to the states, Kitlender also has skiwear rental

If your near London for flights we actually did self catering in Norway last year cheaper than the French alps we normally do. Think the exchange rate was good. The flights booked direct to Oslo with SAS and hired car, easy drive to Trysill stayed in a cabin 10min drive but also on free bus route, self catered. Took a bag with pasta, porridge, tea/ coffee, snack bars & dried soup etc which kept costs down. Hired skies in local town not at resort, fab hols. Also like LesGets for beginners great town lovely instructors.