Half Term Ski Holidays

Why is Half Term So Busy?

One of the most popular breaks, ski holidays in a half term break are probably the busiest time in European resorts as all schools break up over a four or five week week period. Think France, Germany, the Dutch and Austrians for starters.

Think busy pistes and long queues at lifts if you don't go to the right resorts.

Varying half term breaks across European countries means there's often up to 5 weeks when flights will be busy, pistes will be more crowded than usual and prices for chalets, hotels and other accommodation will be much higher than surrounding weeks.

Tips for Getting a Great Deal

We've got three simple points that may help you to grab a great deal during a half term break.

• Book early (6 months +) to get the best choice and 'early bird' savings
• Consider resorts close to airports for shorter transfer times
• If with children, make sure you can get them in to ski school i.e. check availability and book

Some Ski Resort Ideas

Méribel is a great choice and favoured by many British families. As it sits in the middle of the Three Valleys ski area, with a huge 600km you should be able to find some space on the slopes. There is a great choice of accommodation here, with chocolate box chalets, modern apartments and good nightlife.

42 lifts get you to 85 pistes and as mentioned you also have the Three Valleys on your doorstep. It is also very British, which is attractive to some as it feels like home from home but may make it unattractive to others. For families there are picnic areas, children’s themed evenings, torchlight descents, fireworks and face painting.

Relaxed Italy?

If this all sounds too busy for you check out Sestrière in Italy. The beauty of this choice is that Italian school children don’t have a February half term holiday so the slopes are a bit quieter than their French equivalent. And it’s only an hour and a half from Turin airport so the transfer times are good.

It’s also cheaper than many of the French resorts so well worth looking at. A lot of the accommodation here is ski in ski out and you can access the Milky Way with 400km of slopes to keep you amused including the resorts of Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana, Claviere and Montgènevre. For children there’s also ice skating, paintballing and a playground on the slopes.

Portes Du Soleil?

Morzine is well known to British families at half term, as it is just so convenient. Only an hour from Geneva airport the transfer is a doddle and with great child care facilities here it really is so well set up for families. It also offers great ski schools and beginner slopes. In fact it’s so well set up for families it has the Famille Plus award from the French Ministry of Tourism.

But let’s not forget about the skiing,  it sits at the very centre of the Portes du Soleil ski area offering 12 interconnected resorts which opens up 650km of terrain and 7 snow parks. So you won’t get bored here, your children will be well catered for but you will have to accept that it will be very busy and full of British families.

USA and Canada?

If the thought of sharing the pistes with loads of other Brits leaves you somewhat cold then check out Breckenridge, in the USA. Set in Colorado you could only really consider this if your children get longer than a week’s holiday but it’s incredibly family friendly.

This is a great American experience, a huge ski area with 2,908 acres of ski runs and access to Vail, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Northstar and others. Great ski schools are here but the biggest plus is the lack of other Brits….

In Summary

If you only have half term to ski the options are huge. Try to choose a resort with a short transfer check out resorts where the local schools aren’t also on holiday or if you can choose further afield.

By Will Smith