Though lots of fun and very rewarding, skiing with children means you have so much more to organise before you take to the slopes.

Sometimes taking the kids can seem more like a military operation than a family holiday. In addition to flights, accommodation, insurance, ski hire and lift passes, you need to consider going to a child-friendly resort and whether the kids should attend ski school, as well as the availability of childcare facilities and aprés-ski activities.

When to go is another important factor, as prices rise and slopes become crowded during school holidays.

Tour operators

Tour operators endeavour to take much of the strain away, by ensuring packages cover every aspect of a ski holiday with children.

Most tour operators that specialise in skiing with children have a range of childcare options. Some are as follows:

Some have deals on family holidays or single parent discounts, and/or discounted child places, lift passes and equipment hire.

DIY holidays

Arranging your own flights, accommodation and childcare gives you more flexibility and can work out cheaper, especially if you are able to avoid peak weeks. However, this type of holiday lacks the consumer protection that comes automatically with a package holiday.

Low-cost airlines are increasing their routes and number of flights to airports serving ski resorts, so more people are opting to organise the individual components of their skiing holiday. Consequently, child-care facilities, ski schools and child-friendly chalets are now abundant in Europe and North America.

The following companies offer childcare in the French Alps, for example: