In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it is often challenging to spend quality time with your family. A family ski trip is just what you look for: cosy evenings by the fireplace, exciting moments on the slopes or lots of laughs during game nights.
It was reported in 2016 that 15% of families in the U.S would spend their holiday break by taking trips to ski resorts. Indeed, such holidays are magical, refreshing and healing at the same time. Although skiing with the family, concerning different ages and preferences, has its challenges, but they can’t subdue by the unique joy it brings. Moreover, family members not only have the chance to bond together but could also enjoy themselves individually with diverse activities on or off the slopes available at ski resorts.
In this pandemic year, you may expect the experience to be different but rest assured, snow resorts are opening, and more are about to open. Many additional protocols are applied to keep us safe as well. Let’s have a look at the three best value ski resorts for the family that you could visit this holiday.
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BEST VALUE SKI RESORTS FOR FAMILIES – not based on Ratoong scores!
PANORAMA – SEE MORE
British Columbia, Canada
The resort has just opened on December 21st for 2020/2021 winter. Panorama boasts more than 1,200ha of skiable terrain, over 50% of which suitable for beginners or intermediates. This place is particularly perfect for families as it has a compact base area, including condo accommodation, lessons, cafes and restaurants right alongside the ski rentals. Their ski lessons are organized to suit different ages and ability levels, with the exclusive Snowbird option designated for children from 3 to 5 years old. This resort has a beginner area for starting out or those who prefer easier terrains, and it is possible to buy lift tickets to this area at a reduced price. This makes it even better value for families.
Off the slopes, various activities will keep your family entertained throughout the holiday, from fat tire winter biking to ice-skating or waterslide in hot pools.
LES GETS – SEE MORE
France
This resort is ideal as it has ski slopes on both sides of the village, and Les Gets has announced that they will be open for the festive season. The main area, Morzine-Les Gets, resides in the east and the smaller one, Mont Chery, is reachable by a cable car from the village’s northern end. This Month Chery area is particularly suitable for professional skiers with advanced on-piste terrain, including mainly red and black runs. It is also very quiet and uncrowded there.
What makes Les Gets the best place for families is their simple, friendly and laid-back style. There are several slope-side hotels, a variety of ski schools, and some entertainment facilities for kids (such as electric snowmobiles, chocolate and art workshops). Child-care is also available with two centers designed for children aging from 6 months to 4 years.
FURANO – SEE MORE
Hokkaido, Japan
Furano Ski Resort has just opened on November 27th for the 2020/2021 ski season. The resort is wonderful for the powderhounds and advanced skiers and snowboarders while offering plenty of easy groomed runs together with a good beginner area at the base of each zone.
The resort has almost everything desirable for a family ski vacation. First of all, all kids under 12 ski free! Besides having a good selection of self-catered apartments, Furano also has ski school with group lessons in English. Other than skiing, families can do snow rafting, snow mobiling, and dog sledding. There is a mix of Western attributes with traditional Japanese culture, so you can easily enjoy an essence of a true Japan ski vacation there.
While other entertainment places remain closed due to the pandemic, it is a great idea to take your family on a ski trip this winter as many ski resorts are already open to welcome the new season. Don’t forget to check over all places that could serve the very specific preferences of your own family through Ratoong’s unique search and plan tool HERE.