New Year skiing

Looking to plan your holiday or a short winter sports break? If you have children and your schedule allows, why not take advantage of the school holidays to go skiing? With these tips, we’ll show you the best times of the year to hit the slopes during the school holidays…

Skiing during the school holidays: the key periods  

Did you know that nearly 5 million skiers hit the French slopes each year? Over 60% of them choose to go during the school holidays. So, skiing over the school break is always a great option — especially during the Christmas holidays or when snow conditions are still ideal in February. Picking a date will likely be your biggest challenge, and it mainly depends on your personal preferences, needs, and experience with winter sports. Indeed, winter is a busy season on the slopes: depending on the flow of holidaymakers, you may find yourself in a quiet period — or right in the middle of peak season.

Choosing the right time of year to go skiing is essential! If you plan your school holiday ski trip during a high-traffic period, prices are likely to rise sharply. If you're looking to make the most of your holiday budget — to enjoy a nice meal out, for instance — it's better to go when only one school zone is on holiday. In most cases, this can help you save between 5% and 10% on the total cost of your ski holiday! Managing your budget well might even allow you to plan a second ski trip — from February right through to the Easter holidays! With flexible, à la carte packages, anything is possible.

The benefits of skiing during the school holidays 

Think there are more downsides to going away during your children’s school holidays? In fact, it’s quite the opposite! High season is actually the time when you’re most likely to have full access to all facilities and services — especially for your children. For instance, the Christmas holidays — usually from 19 December to 4 January — and the February holidays — from 4 February to 5 March across zones A, B, and C — are naturally busy periods, meaning resorts are running at full capacity!

Skiing During School Holidays : Periods to Avoid !

If you truly want to enjoy the best of winter, try to avoid going skiing during the spring holidays. This is a time when you’re not guaranteed to book the accommodation you want in a mountain resort, and some slopes may no longer be skiable.

In other words, winter and the school holiday periods remain ideal for learning how to ski, whether you're an adult beginner or a child. In fact, ski or snowboard holiday camps welcome children as young as 6 years old, teaching them to ski at their own pace. Certified ESF or ESI instructors supervise groups of children and teenagers. In some resorts, the most enthusiastic can even practise alpine skiing or snowboarding throughout their mountain holiday.

In any case, if you’re planning to go as a family during your children’s school break, opt for a family-friendly resort, many of which can be found in the Hautes-Alpes or Savoie. It’s a win-win: your children will have a great time, and you’ll save money with all-inclusive packages.

You can also go skiing outside of school holidays and enjoy the slopes and snow with far fewer people around.