Family friendly skiing holidays

Family skiing holidays are more affordable than ever with special offers such as free lift passes, free ski hire and accommodation discounts bringing costs down even further.

Lynsey Devon, Inghams Public Relations Manager, says, “To describe a resort as family friendly serves as a great guide but to what extent depends on several factors such as the ages of your children and their skiing ability. Certain resorts are best enjoyed at different stages of their childhood and the following suggestions will keep your kids entertained from the cradle to the ‘Youtube’ generation.”

Inghams top 5 family friendly deals are:

• Inghams’ families can enjoy the brand new Snowstar Clubs in 15 resorts, where qualified staff provide a fun and safe environment for parents to leave their children.
• Kids Ski Free: In most resorts one or more of the following are free for children: skis; snowboards; boots; ski school; lift passes.
• Many hotels offer savings of up to 35% for children sharing a room with 2 adults.
• Under 2’s travel for £32 on European flights and £85 on USA, Canadian, Japanese scheduled & charter flights.
• Inghams recommend the use of ski helmets, which can be pre-booked through Inghams or some resorts offer free helmet hire.

INFANTS – Baby comes too…

Where?
Having a family changes your lifestyle, but don’t let it interfere with your family life, take the meaning Baby on Board to a new level and enjoy a ski holiday with baby too. The traditional Savoyard town of Morzine in France is the perfect destination. New for 2007-8 Inghams have introduced pre-bookable Snowstar Clubs’ in Morzine to make the concern of childcare as safe and uncomplicated as possible, so parents have chance to hit the slopes. The Snowstar club takes babies from 3 months, from €7/hr at the Hotel le Petit Dru. In addition the resort’s Day Kindergarten (Creche l‘Outa) takes babies from 2mths-6yrs.

How much?
The 3* Hotel Le Petit Drû is perfect for those with babies and toddlers. Seven nights on half board starts from £583 per person, infants cost £32, including flights from Gatwick and resort transfers. Flights are also available from Stansted, Bristol (+£25), Exeter (+£25), Birmingham (+£25), Manchester +(£26), Newcastle (+£36), Glasgow (+£42), Edinburgh (+£47), Belfast City (£47). View the e-brochure & book online at Inghams.co.uk or see your travel agent.

TODDLERS – On the run…

Where?
With bags of energy giving their parents the run-around toddlers need a ski resort where they can do just that. With an excellent kindergarten, free lift passes for children and English speaking instructors, Arinsal in Andorra is one of the best all-round family resorts. It also offers great hospitality and some of the best value skiing anywhere in Europe. The funnel-shaped ski area makes the resort ideal for keeping an eye on the children, whilst beginners and those needing to rebuild their confidence will thrive on the well-prepared, open pistes.

Inghams new pre-bookable Snowstar Clubs’ in Arinsal costs £74 and caters for little ones from 1 - 4 years who can enjoy the indoor crèche and snow play park, 4 - 8 year olds can discover the magic of winter by building igloos and snowmen in the Snow Park as well as carving those first turns whilst older children can join the children’s ski school

How much?
Stay for 7 nights at the 4* Hotel Magic La Massana in Arinsal, with prices starting from £447 per adult and from £335 per child. Price also includes all flights from Gatwick and resort transfers. Flights are also available from Stansted (+£10), Bristol (+£25), Birmingham (+£25) and Manchester (+£26). View the e-brochure & book online at Inghams.co.uk or see your travel agent.

CHILDREN – Doing it for the kids…

Where?
The ski resort of Seefeld, in the heart of the Austrian region of Tyrol, is a good all-rounder and a long time favourite with families. It is the combination of the short airport transfer from Innsbruck, teamed with the gentle slopes, good humoured ski instructors and other attractions on offer that make it so great for kids. Off the slopes the kids can enjoy a sleigh ride, bowling, curling or ice-skating as well as splashing around in the indoor and outdoor pools at the Olympia Sports Centre.

If your child aspires to be the next Eddie the Eagle, then why not visit the Bergisel ski jump located close to Innsbruck. You can walk right to the top of the jump and look down to the terrifying scene below…a graveyard at the bottom!

How much?
Stay 7 nights at the 4* Ferienhotel Kaltschmid, which offers free kindergarten for children from 3-8yrs and free drinks with dinner. Prices start from £2288.30 for a family of four in a family room, including 25% child discount, flights from London Gatwick and resort transfers. Pre-bookable child care services are available at our ‘Snowstar Kids Club’ run by Inghams qualified staff.

Flights from Stansted (+£19), Southampton (+£23), Bournemouth (+£38), Cardiff (+£38), Exeter (+£38), Birmingham (+£39), Manchester (+£40), Leeds-Bradford (+£41), Newcastle (+£47), Edinburgh (+£55), Bristol (+£38), Humberside (+£43) and Belfast (+£51) are available at a supplement. View the e-brochure & book online at Inghams.co.uk or see your travel agent.

TWEENS – Childpower…

Where?
Children grow up quicker than ever and from age 10 they are well into their tween phase, they want it and they want it now. Without transforming them into Peter Pan, suppress their yearning to grow up by enjoying a ski holiday in Tremblant and hold on to the child inside them. Tremblant, less than 6 hours away by plane, offers Canadian skiing with a certain "Je ne sais quoi”.

Equipped with state of the art ski lifts, including a heated gondola for the kids, it whizzes you to the summit, where you can take your pick from the 94 slopes on four mountain faces which are all ideal for skiing and snowboarding. Experience a snow mobile adventure over freshly fallen snow, bounce down the hill on an inflatable inner-tube, strap raquets to your feet for a snow shoeing adventure in the wilderness, ascend on a zip wire through the trees at night, don your ice skates, or let a team of huskies pull your sled through snow-dusted trees.

How much?
Stay 7 nights at the 4* Plaza Saint Bernard Intrawest apartments with prices starting from £2016 for a family of 4 including flights from Heathrow, resort transfers and free access to the Aqua club "La Source". Flights are also available from 12 regional airports via Amsterdam with KLM. When parents pre-book their ski & boot hire and lift pass they receive free child ski packs. There is a locally available ski kindergarten, ‘Kidz Club’, taking children from 3 yrs starting from £55 per day. View the e-brochure & book online at Inghams.co.uk or see your travel agent.

TEENS – Teen dream…

Where?
Keeping teenagers happy on holiday can seem like ‘mission impossible’, so keep all members of the family in good spirits while they’re away by choosing a teen savvy destination. Whistler in Canada is geared up for just that. By this stage teens have often left their parents behind on the slopes so check them into freestyle classes where they will learn progressively on Freestyle Terrain.

Teens love to jump and land using natural terrain features outside of fun parks and pipes and once they have mastered this they start classes in the Terrain Garden on Blackcomb. When they are confident of their skills, they head to the Nintendo Park and finally, the ultimate park on Blackcomb. If they complete the course they will have used all levels starting with S and ending at XL rated features.

How much?
Stay 7 nights at the 4* Hotel Coast Whistler with prices starting from £2864 for a family of 4, including flights from Gatwick or Manchester, including resort transfers. Flights are also available from Glasgow, Heathrow and a choice of 14 regional airports. View the e-brochure & book online at Inghams.co.uk or see your travel agent.

KIDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS - Talking ‘bout three generations……

Where?
If you think Lapland is only for young children eager to meet Santa and Rudolf then think again. The new trend is that it isn’t just the parents and kids going away but grandparents are enjoying a piece of the action too. In the depths of the arctic wilderness, Levi creates lasting memories where you can experience the most magical family holiday ever.

Enjoy the delights of snuggling up in a reindeer sleigh with your very own Rudolf & co heading into the wilderness, lead your own playful huskies through crisp, virgin snow or head off into the snowy forests on a family snowmobile with a heated trailer for the little ones. For an extra special treat indulge the kids with a visit to Santa’s secret home.

How much?
Stay in a 4 room chalet, with 3 bedrooms, for 7 nights with prices starting from £304 per person at the 3* Hotel Levilehto Chalets. Price includes flights from Gatwick, Bristol (+£25), Manchester (+£19) and Birmingham (+£19) and resort transfers. Kids under 7 have free lift pass & free equipment if wearing free rental helmet. View the e-brochure & book online at Inghams.co.uk or see your travel agent.