An epic Easter family ski trip
Easter holidays are a magical time to make family memories that last a lifetime. This year, the Easter bunny is arriving early, making it a great opportunity for a family ski trip to the Swiss Alps.
Read on for our top tips to ensure an unforgettable family ski holiday with off-snow activity suggestions from Fresh Air Kids.
Family ski holiday planning
Make your holiday a restful experience by booking everything in advance. This will save you time in queues, and avoid the disappointment of missing out.-
Research your destination. Choose the best resort for your family’s skiing level and preferences for after-ski activities. Once you’ve decided, use the resort website, e.g., www.engadin.com, to find the best local deals.
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Travel, accommodation & lift passes. Opt for providers with flexible cancellation policies, who can also organise your ski rental and lift passes.
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Ski clothing rental. Book your skiwear rental on cirkelsupply.com and have it delivered to your hotel anywhere in Switzerland.
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Ski and snowboard rental. Booking with a local ski rental store will reduce the time you need to stand in line. Many ski rental stores also offer delivery to your hotel which will make your ski-day logistics a breeze.
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Restaurants and nannies. Especially during peak holiday periods, it’s essential to book in advance to avoid missing your date night.
- Down days activities. Keep the kids motivated by mixing up the schedule and giving their legs a rest - book in other activities amongst all the skiing and snowboarding.
Essential ski gear
To keep your children safe, warm and dry, be ready with the essential ski gear featured in the chart below. For families travelling from afar, or those skiing just a few weeks each season, we’ve added commentary on which items are better to rent at your destination.
As a general rule, for versatile items that you can use frequently for different activities, it’s better to purchase quality and responsibly made products. But for activity-specific and heavy items, it’s much more convenient and sustainable to rent them on site.
| Essential ski gear | Better to rent | Better to buy |
| Skis, ski poles, snowboards and boots | x | |
| Long sleeve baselayer top, baselayer leggings | x | |
| Helmet, goggles, gloves | x | |
| Sunglasses, lip balm, hand warmers | x | |
| Ski jacket, ski pants, midlayers, backpack | x | |
| Reusable drink bottle, lots of snacks! | x |
Products that are available for rent on www.cirkelsupply.com include: ski jackets, ski pants, midlayers and accessories like gloves and backpacks.
Swiss family ski resorts
Zermatt, Engelberg and Grindelwald are our favourite destinations for families with beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, especially those with younger children. If your kids are thrill seekers who are venturing onto blue and red runs, Crans Montana is a must-visit destination.
Family skiing in Zermatt
Beneath the looming Matterhorn there are plenty of friendly learning areas for your kids to try their first turns. Check out the Wollipark in the Sunegga area.
Fresh Air Kids Zermatt down day activity tip
Strap on your snowshoes and head out on “The Challenge” trail. Don’t let the name deter you! It’s a beautiful and easy 1.7km snowshoeing loop that’s all downhill (allow a bit more than an hour with a bit of buffer time if your children are younger).
Family skiing in Grindelwald
In the heart of Bernese Oberland, Grindelwald offers 50 hectares of impressive terrain suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Fresh Air Kids Grindelwald down day activity tip
The Jungfraujoch is the highest train station in Europe and features amazing views, and of course - cool trains! Just 45 minutes from Grindelwald, this is a showstopping rest day activity. Dress warmly and bring snacks for this excursion!
Family skiing in Crans Montana
Famous for ski holidays drenched in sunshine, Crans Montana is a great resort for your kids to progress to the next level. You will find varied terrain from beginner slopes, to blues, reds and blacks to challenge intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Crans Montana down day activity tip
Alaia Chalet has a great set up including indoor and outdoor skateparks, and a trampoline gym that will keep your kids and teens fired up on adrenaline.
Family skiing in Engelberg
Engelberg is a quiet, family-friendly resort that is an easy train ride from the cities of Lucerne and Zurich. Watch your kids progress as they start out in the Klostermatte area, then take their first runs on the Brunni life, before flying off their first jumps in the Yeti Park.
Fresh Air Kids Engelberg down day activity tip
A morning out cross-country skiing offers a change of pace and scenery. Follow it up with tubing adventures at the Trübsee Snow Park, which is bound to provide a lot of laughter.
Fresh Air Kids - Family guidebooks for Switzerland
In partnership with Fresh Air Kids, we put together an Easter giveaway which is now closed - congratulations to our winner!
Fresh Air Kids was started by two parents, Melinda & Robert Schoutens. They create books that inspire families to make the most of Switzerland's beautiful landscape.
Fresh Air Kids is on a mission to start an outdoor revolution that educates and connects families to the natural world. By breaking down the barriers to life outside, they inspire and encourage more adventure in the lives of families across the globe.
To discover the Fresh Air Kids guidebooks, activities and tips, head to www.freshairkids.com
