If you love skiing and want to share your passion with your children, then it is likely that you will be going on a February Half term ski trip.
We want you to be able to enjoy your ski trip no matter what week it is. But we also know that many factors can make a half-term ski trip a bit more hectic.
So whether you’re a teacher, married to a teacher or have school children, we have some handy advice on how to get the most out of a half-term ski trip.
Choose a modern resort for half-term
Firstly you should book a resort with excellent lift infrastructure. Meribel and the Three Valleys is a good choice. The constantly evolving lift system is good at keeping people moving. Currently, the area can move 284,113 per hour uphill.
Go for a positive approach
Remember you are on holiday, and sure so is the rest of the UK but stay with the holiday attitude. It will be busy, but as long as you are prepared for that, you will have a good time.
If you feel negative, you will have a bad time. But if you go with a positive attitude and a chilled-out approach, you will have a much better time.
Start early at half-term
A practical tip is to start early, get to the lower lifts early and avoid the mid-morning rush. 9 am is much quieter than 10 am.
Ski at lunch
A classic tip to avoid queuing in a ski resort is to ski during the lunch window. And it works. Over half of all the skiers on the mountain will be enjoying lunch in a mountain restaurant between 12 and 2 pm.
You can also flip this idea by brunching instead of lunching or having a late lunch.
Baguettes on the lift are the ultimate way to stay fuled and not miss a moment. There are also loads of indoor and outdoor picnic areas dotted across Meribel and The 3 Valleys.
Stay high
Take the lift out of the resort and stay high. Head to the fringes of the ski area. It is incredible how many people don’t explore the whole area. Once you are up out of the resort, stay up high and avoid returning to the main lift.
Try the Olympic chair in Meribel, Point de la Masse in Les Menuires, Chaplets in Courchevel 1650 and La Tania for some possible quiet skiing.
Looping the same run is not a crime
If you find a lift with few people, it might be a good idea to ski it a few times, explore the natural features and push yourself to improve down a familiar face.
Have some fun games to play in lift lines
You will find that you rarely have to queue for very long, and all the hype about waiting hours doesn’t materialise.
But if it does happen, have a few games up your sleeve to keep your children and kidults entertained.
Games like the Alphabet Memory Game “I went on a ski holiday, and I packed…”, 2 Truths & a Lie, or stick Heads Up on your phone.
Interesting queuing fact: The average wait time at Alton Towers is 60 minutes.
Book ahead for the best places to eat at half-term
If you are a planner, know what you want to eat and where to book it as early as possible. You can always ask your resort rep for advice or help.
This also applies to resort activities and limited events.
Get a ski instructor.
Ski schools get priority access to all lifts in Meribel. You could always book an instructor if you want to avoid the lift queues. The downside is when your instructor leaves you, and you have to queue like everyone else.
However, as it is half-term, you may find that instructors get booked up fast, so you may need to plan ahead and book early.
Or…
… ignore all of this, do what you want, go when you like and just be chilled out about what happens. You are on holiday.
