Help! - Snow resort, kids, no lift pass, Europe
Discussion
Could I ask for some help please!
We're looking to go Feb half term to somewhere snowy in Europe. Myself, wife, 5 year old and 2.5 year old.
Ideally a ski resort with things to do, but not actual skiing really. An ideal scenario would be somewhere we don't need to buy lift passes too, but can walk around, do some non ski things with the kids.
Any suggestions of suitable locations would be really appreciated!
We're looking to go Feb half term to somewhere snowy in Europe. Myself, wife, 5 year old and 2.5 year old.
Ideally a ski resort with things to do, but not actual skiing really. An ideal scenario would be somewhere we don't need to buy lift passes too, but can walk around, do some non ski things with the kids.
Any suggestions of suitable locations would be really appreciated!
smifffymoto said:
Lapland is still open.The Finns have Christmas wrapped up and the crowds have gone but the dog sledders,cross country walks and snow mobile rental companies are still there.
Best skiing holiday I ever had was in Levi. Did dog sledding, skidoo trails, ice hotel, and watched the northern lights. Only downside was it got VERY VERY cold at night - 37c IIRC.
That said, I'd wait until both kids are old enough to put in ski school. There's not a lot to do in a ski resort if you don't ski. I was very quickly bored after bruising a rib on day 2 of holiday. You're limited to perusing over priced kit and getting drunk.
Zell am see Austria.
We flew Gatwick to Salzburg last Feb half term with kids, hour coach transfer to the resort then shuttle van to the hotel (we stayed half Bord at the seevilla Freiburg).
The hotel food was pretty fancy which had us nervous before the holiday but they were great if kids didn’t want the finer dining they’d do pretty much whatever they asked or if they liked one of our meals a few days before then they’d cook it up.
Things to do, we weren’t skiing we just wanted a snow holiday.
Day 1, arrival just walked into town had some drinks.
Day 2, went for a walk on one of the hiking trails which went up to the ski resort, grabbed some food and drink and then the family with the children went back towards the hotel and we continued on a slightly longer route. The kids found a public toboggan run on the way home.
Day 3, purchased a couple of cheap toboggans and used the public runs.
Day 4, we got a few inches snow throughout the night and into the morning so we went and made snowmen and had snowball fights much to the locals amusement I’m guessing it’s a very British thing.
Day 5, we got a taxi to Bramberg rodelbahn (toboggan run) I believe it’s the largest in Europe. Hired some toboggans and got a day ski pass everyone travelled up in ski lifts for kids an event in itself and then all flew down on toboggans which took about 30min to get down and repeat. Absolutely amazing fun with or without kids.
Day 6, Klitzenhorn the 2nd tallest mountain in Austria. We purchased a day ticket and that gets you a free bus. Again more ski lifts some amazing views and even at the highest restaurant in Austria the food and beer was good and not inflated prices.
Day 7 home during a blizzard.
We all talk about that as one of our favourite holidays as a family and we will repeat but likely with ski lessons for the kids next time.
We flew Gatwick to Salzburg last Feb half term with kids, hour coach transfer to the resort then shuttle van to the hotel (we stayed half Bord at the seevilla Freiburg).
The hotel food was pretty fancy which had us nervous before the holiday but they were great if kids didn’t want the finer dining they’d do pretty much whatever they asked or if they liked one of our meals a few days before then they’d cook it up.
Things to do, we weren’t skiing we just wanted a snow holiday.
Day 1, arrival just walked into town had some drinks.
Day 2, went for a walk on one of the hiking trails which went up to the ski resort, grabbed some food and drink and then the family with the children went back towards the hotel and we continued on a slightly longer route. The kids found a public toboggan run on the way home.
Day 3, purchased a couple of cheap toboggans and used the public runs.
Day 4, we got a few inches snow throughout the night and into the morning so we went and made snowmen and had snowball fights much to the locals amusement I’m guessing it’s a very British thing.
Day 5, we got a taxi to Bramberg rodelbahn (toboggan run) I believe it’s the largest in Europe. Hired some toboggans and got a day ski pass everyone travelled up in ski lifts for kids an event in itself and then all flew down on toboggans which took about 30min to get down and repeat. Absolutely amazing fun with or without kids.
Day 6, Klitzenhorn the 2nd tallest mountain in Austria. We purchased a day ticket and that gets you a free bus. Again more ski lifts some amazing views and even at the highest restaurant in Austria the food and beer was good and not inflated prices.
Day 7 home during a blizzard.
We all talk about that as one of our favourite holidays as a family and we will repeat but likely with ski lessons for the kids next time.
leemanning said:
That's awesome, thanks for the responses guys.
Your Austria trip sounds exactly like the kind of thing we're after to be honest, so I'll check it out!
not to mention that zell am see is right on a lake, really picturesque! when it freezes over, you can walk on the lake/ ice skate etc….. Your Austria trip sounds exactly like the kind of thing we're after to be honest, so I'll check it out!
zell itself is a fully functioning year round town, that just happens to have ski lifts/ runs too. so usually enough non-ski stuff to keep you busy. where as purpose built ski resorts are sometimes lacking in stuff to do if not skiing
Slovenia is another option - kranjska gora or bohinj. Looked at this for our ski trip but there’s no snow yet so going elsewhere, but looked great. The latter is on the lake but also has a ski area in the national park, day family pass super cheap for the lifts. The former also had an option for having dinner in a cable car, with them changing courses as you pass the bottom station. Kid friendly even if the kid is, well, my age!
You could do worse than come here to St. Moritz (or any of the Engadin villages).
This was the view when walking the dog this morning. Yes, at 1800m the ski really is that colour.
A friend runs one of the big hotels in town. During the winter only 30% of his guests ski. There are many km of walking routes, most with a nice café stop in the middle. There are toboggan runs, horse pulled sledges, ice skating on lakes, snow-shoe walking, nice restaurants from multi-starred Michelin ones down to more rustic ones. If you're not in one of the many hotels with a spa the village has a good public baths with spa and slides (https://www.ovaverva.ch/en/). Depending on when you would be here in Feb there will be horse-racing, polo or a concours car event on the lake (all free to visit)
We used to come up here when my children were too small to ski. We'd fly my parents in - dad would ski with us and mum would have a busy day with our little ones in the valley. There was so much to do she'd be happy.
This was the view when walking the dog this morning. Yes, at 1800m the ski really is that colour.
A friend runs one of the big hotels in town. During the winter only 30% of his guests ski. There are many km of walking routes, most with a nice café stop in the middle. There are toboggan runs, horse pulled sledges, ice skating on lakes, snow-shoe walking, nice restaurants from multi-starred Michelin ones down to more rustic ones. If you're not in one of the many hotels with a spa the village has a good public baths with spa and slides (https://www.ovaverva.ch/en/). Depending on when you would be here in Feb there will be horse-racing, polo or a concours car event on the lake (all free to visit)
We used to come up here when my children were too small to ski. We'd fly my parents in - dad would ski with us and mum would have a busy day with our little ones in the valley. There was so much to do she'd be happy.
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