If you’re looking to jet off on holiday with friends or family, you may be considering something a little more adventurous, like skiing. The thrill and excitement you get from gliding down natural pistes only to head out for entertainment in the evening is an experience like no other.
The thought of organising a ski holiday with a large group can seem like a mammoth task, especially when heading abroad; however, doing so is much easier than you think – even if you’ve got to accommodate beginners to the sport. Our complete guide will take you through every step to ensure you organise a group ski holiday to remember.
Choosing a destination and resort
The biggest challenge you’ll face is finding a resort that’ll cater to the needs of your group. Initially, you should establish everyone’s skiing ability. This could range from never having stepped foot on the slopes to seasoned professionals so you may need to find a location that offers a mix of green, blue, and red slopes – or black if you consider yourselves experts.
If you’re thinking of organising a ski holiday in Austria for your group, Zell am See is a solid choice due to its variety of intermediate and beginner-friendly pistes. The olde-worlde town centre also comes alive at night and acts as the perfect base for exploration. Other notable resorts include Tignes in France and Pas de la Casa in Andorra.
Deciding when to book your trip
An equally important step is to choose the dates for your ski holiday. An adults-only group will have much better flexibility, with the added bonus of finding better deals and quieter slopes. Since weather conditions can have a real impact on your experience, aim to go between December and April when snowfall is almost guaranteed.
If you’re travelling with your extended family, you’ll likely be bringing the little ones with you too. Obviously, doing so will limit the dates you’ll be able to hit the slopes. While you can go during Christmas or February half-term, the Easter holidays are the best choice. Prices will be slightly higher but you have the benefits of quieter ski schools and warmer weather, making it a more enjoyable experience for all involved.
Arranging your transportation
When travelling as a unit, you’ll want transport to be as easy and efficient as possible. If you’re all able to catch a flight at the same airport, great. If not, try to find flights that end with you all at your destination around the same time to avoid long waiting periods.
Travelling to and from the airport can be the most difficult part to organise depending on the size of your group. When departing, aim to book several taxis or a minibus ahead of time – this should arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before to check in your skiing gear.
Check to see if there are resort transfers available for when you land as this will ensure you make it to the right place and that there is enough room for all members of your party.