How to Make Your Christmas Ski Vacation Run Smoothly

The holidays are here. You have some vacation time from work. You have decided to take your whole family and maybe some friends on a week-long ski vacation. Around the Christmas holidays ski resorts are very crowded. Read this article for tips on how to make your ski vacation easier despite the crowds.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Time
• Patience

1. Find Time. A good ski vacation should be about a week. This gives you time to spend time skiing and explore many of the other outdoor activities frequently offered in ski towns.
2. A place to stay. Hotel or Condo? Hotels will often be cheaper. Condos, however, offer the convenience of a kitchen and a living room. During the crowded holidays you may appreciate the ability to come home after a long day on the slopes and make your own dinner. Otherwise you may find yourself waiting in line at a restaurant after a long day on the slopes- your children will probably not find this fun.
3. Location. Now that you have decided between a hotel or condo you need to decide where in town you wish to stay. What conveniences do you want? Do you want a quiet condo? -try the edge of town. Do you want to be close to the night life? –choose a place near the middle of town. Do you want to be close to the slopes? -try a slope-side condo.
4. Transportation. How do you plan to get to the mountain in the morning? If the mountain offers free public transportation to the mountain in the morning you may want to think about renting a place near a bus stop. Also, if you choose to drive to the mountain you may end up parking far away from the lodge and you may have to take a parking shuttle.
5. Clothing. You are going to the snow and you need to dress appropriately. If you find yourself in cold weather every year, then you should probably invest in a set of warm clothes. First, look at the average temperature at the ski resort. Then, look at the average wind-chill on the mountain. After you figure out how cold it will be, go to the store and buy an appropriate jacket and snow-pants. You can ask the store attendant how warm the jackets are. Do not buy a jacket only because of the design- you probably will not care how good you look if you are freezing cold. Buy a good layer to wear underneath your ski clothes as well. Under-layers are frequently expensive, but well worth your money. You also need to buy a waterproof pair of gloves. You will also need to buy a hat. Remember that ski clothes may look good but really serve no practical purpose keeping you warm. Find something nice looking AND warm.
6. Your Eyes. Buy a pair of goggles. If your eyes are really sensitive to the sun, consider investing in a pair of goggles with a lens especially made for bright days. Good goggles will always be a good investment if you take proper care of your goggles.
7. Your Feet. If you snowboard, buy a pair of warm “snowboarding socks”. If you ski, buy a really thin pair of ski socks. You need thin socks to fit your boots properly.
8. Equipment. If you ski often, consider purchasing a pair of skis. You should also consider purchasing a pair of boots. If you buy boots you may appreciate your investment when you discover how much more comfortable your boots are than rental boots. Otherwise, if you have to rent equipment, rent equipment at the resort or nearby in the town. It may seem more convenient to rent equipment at home before you leave, but then you do not have the option of switching equipment if your boots are uncomfortable or you discover you wish you had shorter skis.
9. Equipment storage. First, rent your equipment for the entire week. Second, try to find a locker or a place at the lodge to store your equipment. Your trip will be much easier if you do not have to drag your equipment with you to the mountain everyday- especially if you have children.
10. Food. Food at the lodge will most likely be very expensive. Bring lots of money for lunch. Also, if you are in a resort town over the holidays, either make reservations or plan to wait a long time for a table. Better yet, try making your own food at your condo a few nights to save yourself the hassle.
11. Preparing the kids. Whether you plan to put your kids in ski school or plan to ski with them all day, there are precautions you can take to make things easier. First, make sure your kids are dressed warmly. Remember that your kids may need more layers because they will probably get colder faster than you. Also, kids are usually more sensitive to exposed skin in really cold weather. Buy a neck warmer or a face mask just in case. Get your kid a helmet. Attach your child’s gloves to your child.
12. Water. Try buying a camel back [a mini backpack filled with water that you can drink while skiing]. This way you will avoid dehydration.
13. Wet clothes. Remember to dry everything the night before you ski.
14. Lessons. Consider putting your children in ski school. It is very difficult to teach your own children how to ski.
15. Babysitting. Want a night out on the town but your regular babysitter is not with you on your ski vacation? Ask at the local high school, ski school or at your hotel or condo about babysitters.
16. Snacks. If you have children, bring a small snack in your pocket while on the slopes. Skiing can be tiring and the lodge may be crowded at lunch. Prevent your child from getting grumpy because he is hungry and keep snacks on hand.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to have fun.