Skiing With Teenagers

Posted by - Juliet Clemett on Wed 5th September 2012

Skiing with young children can be easier than skiing with teens. Younger children are happy to trot off to ski school every day, giving parents time to themselves. In the evening, you can make use of babysitting services so that you can have an evening or two out enjoying some après-ski.Teenagers are likely to have their own opinions on what kind of ski holiday they want, and will want to explore the resort and the slopes on their own terms. Finding the balance between keeping them safe and giving some of that freedom can be tricky. But it can be done – giving you the fun, family ski holiday both you and they want.

When choosing a resort, look carefully at the facilities. Particularly if you have older teenagers, research into the nightlife, so if you do allow them to head out alone you can have some idea what sort of activities they will be getting up to. Make sure that there are plenty of distractions other than the bars and clubs– many resorts (especially the large French resorts such as Courchevel) have cinemas, bowling alleys, indoor pools and the like which should help keep them busy once the lifts close.

Luxury ski hotels often have great facilities on-site for teens, such as games rooms, pools and an array of other distractions. Luxury ski holidays in North America are especially well-suited to teenagers- Canadian resorts generally cater far more to the teenage market than their European counterparts (they also have far tighter alcohol regulations).

Teenagers will also benefit from the larger rooms and suites – a family suite with separate but connected rooms is the perfect way to give teens some space while keeping the family ski holiday together.

Look at ski schools in the resorts you are thinking about heading to. Some will offer specialist lessons for teenagers, rather than putting them in with smaller children, something which is never likely to go down well. These specialist groups can also be a good opportunity for them to make friends to hang out with off the slopes.

For those teenagers who have reached a high level of skiing, and are perhaps pushing for something more daring, hiring a private guide is a great opportunity to indulge this desire for adventure, whilst also ensuring their safety. The ability to go to parts of the mountain which few other skiers ever reach will ensure this is a luxury ski holiday they will never forget, and will go someway to quenching their thirst for independence.

Finally, consider allowing teenagers to bring a friend on your family ski holiday – especially if you only have one teen. Or if you are friends with a family with teens of a similar age, then book a joint holiday. Having a friend or two around will provide more entertainment for them, and mean that they can be given a bit more freedom to explore while staying safe.