A family ski trip can be an expensive holiday, however, the rise in popularity of all-inclusive ski packages is proving savvy skiers are finding ways to avoid the mounting extra costs of ski schools, lift passes and equipment hire that come with a holiday on the slopes. APH has therefore put together a guide on the best all-inclusive ski packages available this spring to help families choose the one most suitable for their needs.
The research compares the all-inclusive packages available from companies such as Alpine Elements, Club Med and Scott Dunn.
Whilst the majority of tour operators included in the research were found to package all-inclusive ski holidays for seven-nights, Scott Dunn also allows guests to choose from stays starting from five-nights to those lasting for over a month for families not tied down by term-time. And of the 10 all-inclusive ski packages that APH has compared, six operators including Crystal Ski Holidays, Inghams and Ski Famille, include the cost of flights and transfers to and from the airport in their packages, whereas flights are not included in packages booked with Club Med and Robinsons and only with select packages booked through the tour operator Sno.
For adventurous families wanting to travel further afield than traditional European skiing-hotspots such as France, Austria and Switzerland, Scott Dunn offers luxury ski breaks to Argentina, Canada and even Japan, as does Sno.
All of the tour operators offer accommodation close to ski-lifts, gondolas and even the slopes themselves and where this is not possible, Robinson provides guests with transportation to ski-lifts for no extra cost. Families looking to book an all-inclusive ski holiday have the choice of staying in a chalet or a hotel when they book with Ski World, Sno, Alpine Elements and Scott Dunn and when booking with Club Med and Snow Finders, skiers can expect to stay at four or five-star hotels.
Money-savvy families wishing to save on mountain cuisine, will find that all meals are included when booking all-inclusive holidays with Alpine Elements, Club Med, Crystal Ski Holidays, Ingham’s, Robinson, Ski Famille and Snow Finders. Furthermore, Scott Dunn offers half-board and full-board options for those staying in their chalets but not in their hotels and resorts, whereas Ski World and Sno’s full-board packages are only available in select hotels, whilst their chalets are self-catered.
However, travellers looking to make the most of the ‘Après-Ski’ should be aware that alcoholic beverages are not included in all of the all-inclusive packages. Alpine Elements and Scott Dunn only provide wine in the chalet accommodation and Ski World don’t include drinks at all.
Finally, for families wishing to embark on a completely hassle-free holiday, Alpine Elements Club Med and Snow Finders are amongst the seven companies who offer guests ski-lift passes included in the price of their booking. Furthermore, Snow Finders and Club Med’s all-inclusive packages also include ski lessons, as does Robinson’s packages except for at Robinson Club Alpenrose Zuers in Austria. And for families who wish to keep their luggage to a minimum, Ski World, Alpine Elements and Ingham’s include ski equipment hire in their deals.
LOCATION
• France
• Italy
• Switzerland
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Flights are not included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Hotels (4 and 5 Star)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: Yes – for adults and children in villages that have a children’s club
• Lift Passes: Yes – a 6-day area lift pass
• Kids Club: Yes – available for children ages 4 months-7 years
• Equipment: No
• Meals: Yes – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinks: Yes – the open bar includes hot beverages, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits
• Entertainment: All of the hotels have indoor pools and spas, lounges and bars. Evening shows and live bands are put on at each hotel
LOCATION
• Andorra
• Austria
• France
• Italy
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Flights are included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Hotels (2–5 Star)
• Resorts (2–5 Star)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: No
• Lift Passes: No
• Kids Club: No
• Equipment: No
• Meals: Yes – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinks: Yes – the open bar includes hot beverages, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits
• Entertainment: Select hotels and resorts offer wellness facilities such as indoor pools, steam rooms and fitness centres. Select hotels and resorts offer lounges and bars. Select hotels and resorts offer Après with live music on the terrace
LOCATION
• France
• Switzerland
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Return flights are included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Hotels
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: No
• Lift Passes: Yes – a 6-day area lift pass
• Kids Club: Yes – at Village Club du Soleil hotels for children ages 3months-17years old
• Equipment: Yes
• Meals: Yes – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinks: An open bar is included from 10am-10pm at Hotel Le Mottaret and includes soft drinks, hot drinks, beer and wine and spirits from 6-10pm. An open bar is included only with dinner at Hotel Princesa Parc & Spa and includes wine, beer and soft drinks. Wine is included at all of the hotels
• Entertainment: The Princesa Parc has a pool, sauna and steam room, bowling bar, piano bar and games room. An Après bar and entertainment is available at Hotel Le Mottaret which also has an outdoor jacuzzi
LOCATION
• Austria
• Switzerland
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Transport to ski lifts are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Hotels
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: Yes – at Robinson Club Amadé, Robinson Club Arosa, Robinson Club Landskron and Robinson Club Schlanitzen Alm. Not at Robinson Club Alpenrose Zuers
• Lift Passes: Yes – at Robinson Club Amadé, Robinson Club Arosa, Robinson Club Landskron and Robinson Club Schlanitzen Alm. Not at Robinson Club Alpenrose Zuers
• Kids Club: Yes – ski courses are available for children ages 4 and above and snowboarding courses are available for children over 10
• Equipment: No
• Meals: Yes – breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Drinks: Yes – the open bar includes hot beverages, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits
• Entertainment: All of the hotels have pools and WellFit spas. Evening shows and live bands are put on at each hotel. Robinson Club Schlanitzen-Alm has an off-site golf course a 20-minute drive away from the hotel
LOCATION
• Argentina
• Austria
• Canada
• Finland
• France
• Iceland
• Italy
• Japan
• Spain
• Switzerland
• USA
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 5-33-night packages
TRANSPORT
• Flights are included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Chalets
• Hotels (5 Star)
• Resorts (5 Star)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: No
• Lift Passes: No
• Kids Club: Yes – at select hotels
• Equipment: No
• Meals: Yes – on a half-board or full-board basis in chalets. No in hotels and resorts
• Drinks: Yes – on a half-board basis or full-board basis in chalets. No in hotels and resorts
• Entertainment: Select chalets feature a combination of swimming pools, steam rooms, spas and saunas. Hotels boast swimming pools, spas, bars and lounges
LOCATION
• France
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Flights are included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Chalets
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: No
• Lift Passes: No
• Kids Club: No but Ski Famille offers In-Chalet childcare as a holiday add on
• Equipment: No
• Meals: Yes – breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner with aperitif and canapés
• Drinks: Yes – hot beverages, soft drinks and wine are included
• Entertainment: Entertainment is not included
LOCATION
• Austria
• France
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Flights are included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Apartments
• Chalets
• Hotels (2–5 Star)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: No
• Lift Passes: Yes – a 6-day area lift pass
• Kids Club: No
• Equipment: Yes – silver level ski / board and boot hire
• Meals: Chalets and apartments are self-catered. Hotels vary between bed and breakfasts, half-board and full-board
• Drinks: No
• Entertainment: Select hotels boast indoor pools, spas and steam rooms. Select hotels offer Après ski terraces and bars
LOCATION
• Andorra
• Austria
• France
• Italy
• Japan
• Switzerland
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Flights are included in some packages
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included in some packages
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Chalets
• Hotels (4 and 5 Star)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: Yes – at select locations
• Lift Passes: Yes – a 6-day area lift pass
• Kids Club: Yes – at select hotels
• Equipment: Yes – in select packages
• Meals: Chalets are self-catered. Some hotels offer half-board, and some offer full-board
• Drinks: Yes – in hotels that offer full-board. No – in hotels that offer half-board and chalets
• Entertainment: Select hotels and chalets have Jacuzzis and steam rooms
LOCATION
• France
• Italy
• Switzerland
LENGTH OF TRIP
• 7-nights
TRANSPORT
• Flights are included
• Transfers to and from the resort and airport are included
ACCOMODATION TYPE
• Hotels (4 and 5 Star)
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
• Lessons: Yes
• Lift Passes: Yes – a 6-day area lift pass
• Kids Club: Yes – at select hotels
• Equipment: No
• Meals: Yes – breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks between mealtimes
• Drinks: Yes – the open bar includes hot beverages, soft drinks, wine, beer and spirits are included
• Entertainment: Evening shows and live bands are put on at each hotel. Select hotels boast night clubs and all-night bars. All of the hotels have swimming pools and select hotels offer spa services and saunas