The Ultimate Family Ski Trip Survival Guide

From packing lists to keeping kids happy on the slopes, here are 20 simple tips to make your next family ski vacation fun and stress-free.

I once forgot my 6-year-old’s gloves. Once.

The memory is seared into my brain. The frantic search through every pocket of every suitcase. The look on his little face as his fingers turned red. The $45 I had to spend on a subpar pair of mittens at the resort gift shop.

That was the moment I became a checklist person. A label-maker person. A laminated-itinerary person.

Let’s be real. The family ski trip is a beautiful idea. It’s a cherished memory in the making. It’s also a logistical nightmare that can make you want to sit in the car and cry before you even get to the mountain.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

After ten years of planning these trips for my three kids (now ages 6, 9, and 12), I’ve got it down to a science. A successful family ski trip is 90% planning and 10% actually skiing.

This is my survival guide. My master plan. The secrets I’m sharing so you can actually enjoy yourself.

Part 1: Before You Even Leave the House

The battle for a stress-free vacation is won or lost before you even back out of the driveway.

The Ultimate Packing Checklist

Do not, under any circumstances, “wing it” when you pack.

You will forget something vital. It will be the one thing you can’t easily buy. It will be your son’s favorite thermal underwear that he refuses to ski without.

Use a checklist. A real one. I recommend the family ski trip checklist from REI as a starting point. It’s comprehensive.

But here are my personal additions that you won’t find on any generic list:

A small backpack for each person. This is for their daily essentials on the mountain: snacks, water, an extra layer, sunscreen, lip balm. My kids know their backpack is their responsibility. It teaches them ownership and means I’m not carrying everything.

A power strip for the hotel room. You will have a dozen devices to charge every night. Phones, tablets, headlamps, heated sock batteries. One outlet won’t cut it.

Swimsuits. For the hotel hot tub. This is non-negotiable. The hot tub is the reward at the end of every day. Forget the swimsuits and you’ll hear about it for the entire trip.

A bag of “bribery” snacks. More on this later. Trust me.

Extra hand and toe warmers. The little disposable ones. Kids lose them. They fall out of pockets. Having extras is a lifesaver on a cold day.

A small first aid kit. Band-aids, ibuprofen, blister pads. Don’t rely on ski patrol for minor stuff.

Booking Secrets to Save Your Sanity (and Wallet)

Book everything as far in advance as you possibly can. This is not optional.

Lodging: If you can, get a condo with a kitchen. Eating out for every meal with a family is a fast track to bankruptcy. Having a place to make breakfast and pack lunches is a game-changer.

I know hotels are easier. I know you don’t want to cook on vacation. But hear me out.

A simple breakfast of eggs and toast takes 15 minutes. A packed lunch of sandwiches and fruit saves you $80 compared to eating at the lodge. That’s $80 per day. Over a five-day trip, that’s $400 you can spend on something else. Or save.

Lift Tickets: Buy them online, at least a week in advance. You will save a significant amount of money compared to buying at the ticket window. Most resorts offer 10-20% off for advance purchases. It’s the easiest money you’ll ever save.

Also, look into multi-day passes. The per-day cost drops significantly if you buy a 4-day or 5-day pass instead of individual tickets.

Lessons and Rentals: Book these online too. It saves you from having to do it on the first morning of your trip, which is always chaotic.

Most resorts have a “lesson and rental package” that bundles everything together at a discount. Take advantage of it.

One more tip: if your kids are in ski school, ask about the lunch option. Many programs include lunch, which means one less thing for you to worry about.

Get in Shape (A Little)

You don’t need to be a super athlete, but a little preparation goes a long way.

The worst feeling is when your legs give out on day two of a five-day trip. You’ve spent all this money, and you’re too sore to ski.

For two weeks before your trip, do a simple 15-minute workout every other day. Focus on bodyweight exercises. You can find great, simple routines on YouTube, like these ski-specific workouts.

Focus on:

• Wall sits: To build endurance in your quads. Aim for 45 seconds to a minute.
• Squats and Lunges: For leg strength and balance.
• Plank: For core stability. A strong core helps with balance and control.

It’s a small investment of time that pays off with more energy and less pain on the slopes. Your future self will thank you.

Part 2: On the Mountain

Okay, you’ve made it. You’re here. The bags are unpacked. The gear is sorted.

Now the real fun begins.

Surviving the First Morning

The first morning is the hardest part of the entire trip. It’s where good intentions go to die.

My son, Ben, once had a full-blown, five-alarm meltdown in the rental line. He was hot, the boots felt weird, and he was hungry. It was 9 AM and I was ready to call it a day.

Here’s how to avoid that:

Eat a real breakfast. Not just a granola bar in the car. Sit down. Eat protein. Eggs, oatmeal, yogurt. Fuel up for the day. A hungry kid is an unhappy kid, and an unhappy kid makes everyone unhappy.

Get there early. If you need to get rentals or drop kids at ski school, get to the resort at least an hour before the lifts open. The lines will be shorter, the staff will be less stressed, and you’ll have time to breathe.

I know it’s hard to get everyone out the door early. I know. But the payoff is worth it.

One parent handles the gear, one parent handles the kids. Divide and conquer. Don’t try to do it all yourself. One person stands in the rental line. The other takes the kids to the bathroom, gets them water, keeps them occupied.

Manage expectations. Tell the kids ahead of time that the first morning is going to be a little slow. There will be waiting. There will be lines. But once we get through it, we get to ski.

The Secret to Happy Kids on the Slopes

The secret is not what you think. It’s not about perfect turns or getting them on the black diamonds.

It’s snacks.

A hangry child on a cold mountain is a category-five disaster. Their backpack should be full of granola bars, fruit snacks, cheese sticks, and whatever bribery material works for your family.

A well-timed chocolate break at the top of a run can turn a bad mood around in 30 seconds. I’ve seen it happen a hundred times.

The other secret? Frequent breaks.

Kids get cold and tired faster than adults. Their little bodies burn through energy quickly. Stop for hot chocolate every hour or two. It’s not a waste of time. It’s part of the experience.

Find a sunny spot on a deck. Let them take their boots off for a few minutes. Let them warm up. Then get back out there.

And here’s a pro tip: hot chocolate with whipped cream can solve almost any problem. It’s magic. I’m convinced.

Safety First (The Simple Version)

The Skier’s Responsibility Code is important. You can find it posted at every resort. But for kids, it boils down to three simple rules:

1. Stay in control. If you can’t stop, you’re going too fast.
2. People ahead of you have the right of way. It’s your job to avoid them, not theirs to avoid you.
3. Look uphill before you start. Don’t just pull out onto the trail without looking. It’s like merging onto a highway.

Drill these into them. Make it a mantra. Quiz them on the chairlift.

And helmets. Always helmets. No exceptions. Ever.

What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Because they will. Something will go wrong. A kid will get cold. A kid will get scared. A kid will decide they hate skiing and want to go home.

Here’s the playbook:

If they’re cold: Go inside. Get warm. Add a layer. Get some hot food. Don’t try to push through it.

If they’re scared: Don’t force it. Find an easier run. Go slower. Ski next to them. Remind them that it’s okay to be nervous.

If they’re done: Sometimes, you just have to call it. A short day is better than a traumatic day. Go back to the condo. Watch a movie. Try again tomorrow.

The goal is to make them want to come back. Not to break them.

Part 3: Off the Mountain

The fun doesn’t stop when the lifts do.

Après-Ski for Families

“Après-ski” sounds fancy, but it just means “after skiing.” And it doesn’t have to involve a loud bar.

Some of the best family memories are made after the boots come off.

Look for:

• Ice skating rinks in the village. Most ski towns have one. It’s a great way to stay active without being on the slopes.
• Tubing hills or mountain coasters. These are a huge hit with kids. Pure fun, no skill required.
• S’mores by a public fire pit. Many resorts offer this for free. Check the village schedule.
• The hotel hot tub. The single greatest invention for sore muscles. And kids love it.
• Just walking around the village. Window shopping. Getting ice cream. Soaking in the atmosphere.

A great resource is to check the resort’s own website for a calendar of events. Many have a dedicated “family activities” page.

Budget-Friendly Meals

As I said, a kitchen is your best friend. But you don’t have to cook every night.

Eat an early dinner. Restaurants are less crowded at 5:30 PM, and you can often take advantage of happy hour specials. Plus, your kids are probably exhausted and ready for bed early anyway.

Pizza is always a winner. Find the local pizza joint. It’s the official food of ski towns. It’s cheap, it’s filling, and everyone likes it.

Pack lunches. Even if it’s just a simple sandwich, you’ll save a fortune compared to the on-mountain lodges. A burger and fries at the base lodge can easily cost $25. A sandwich from your condo costs $3.

Grocery shop on arrival. Before you even go to the condo, stop at the grocery store. Stock up on breakfast food, lunch supplies, and snacks. It takes an hour and saves you hundreds of dollars over the trip.

The Takeaway: It’s About the Memories

Let’s be real. There will be a moment when you want to just sit in the car and cry. It’s normal. It happens to all of us.

There will be a meltdown. There will be a forgotten item. There will be a moment when you question why you ever thought this was a good idea.

But if you plan ahead, if you have the right snacks, and if you remember to breathe, you can minimize the stress and maximize the fun.

Because in the end, you won’t remember the stress of the rental line.

You’ll remember the look on your child’s face when they finally link their first turns.

You’ll remember the hot chocolate with whipped cream.

You’ll remember the laughter in the hot tub.

You’ll remember the feeling of being together, in the mountains, away from the screens and the schedules and the everyday chaos.

And that’s worth all the planning in the world.

My Top 5 Takeaways

If you remember nothing else from this guide, remember these five things:

1. Use a checklist. Don’t trust your memory. Write it down.
2. Book everything in advance. Lift tickets, lessons, rentals. Do it online. Save money and stress.
3. Pack snacks. More than you think you need. Snacks are the secret weapon.
4. Take breaks. Hot chocolate is not optional. It’s medicine.
5. Be flexible. Things will go wrong. Roll with it. The goal is fun, not perfection.

Now go make some memories.