So you have all the brochures out, websites bookmarked and your best buddy, who has pretty much skied the world, is recommending all the big name resorts, but has forgotten that you have children in tow. All the marketing blurb is telling you that, every resort, and every accommodation is family-friendly but when you try and call the tour operator to get a bit more info, you’re held in a queue. When you finally do get through, the person on the other end hasn’t visited the resort or accommodation and can only repeat what the brochure says. It can all be very confusing!

So what we’ve done to make it easier is compile our top 5 tips in how to plan your perfect ski holiday.

Don’t try and do it alone

That’s fine for couples and seasoned skiers but any money you might save booking your own flights, accommodation, childcare and ski school separately is a false economy. Small things will invariably go wrong and it’s very comforting when you’re travelling with children to have tour operator staff in resort when this happens.

Choose a proper family ski specialist

There are plenty of tour operators offering some type of childcare but they’re not genuine family specialists: travelling with older children this is fine, but with children aged eleven or under you really should look for a genuine family specialist, who can answer any trivial-sounding question related to children, travelling and snow.

Expect a personal service from start to finish

Phone! You will get a feel for the company straight away. You want to speak to a real live skier who knows the resort and accommodation and will help match your needs honestly. If the reservations staff are knowledgeable, friendly and you feel you are being looked after, then this should normally be matched in resort. If you feel you are just another number waiting to get through – what more can we say!

If you don’t have time to do the research yourself then contact a specialist ski agency

But be careful – there are now many on-line ski agencies. They can be great for the adult market, but are not always so knowledgeable about the intricacies of family skiing. We can recommend www.snowfinders 01858 466888 who will actively encourage you to chat to one of their friendly team and help you tailor a holiday specific to your family’s requirements.

Book early

Finally, all the best family accommodation fills quickly. For school holiday dates you need to be thinking of booking a year in advance. Booking early you will not only get the pick of the accommodation but there are usually early-booking discounts and added value extras included.