The five easiest options for a family ski holiday this half term
While British skiers have been celebrating the lifting of restrictions on travel to France, allowing us to flock to much-loved ski resorts once again, there are easier options for those looking for a half-term ski holiday with minimal faff for the family.
While I’m not suggesting France is a bad option – the mega resorts, convenience and familiarity will always pull the crowds – the testing is onerous and the expense significant compared to some other skiing nations. Daily testing to use ski lifts and access to restaurants, as well as pre-travel, could at an extra £400-£500 onto the price of a half-term trip to the French Alps for a family of five – let alone wasting time.
Compare that with Switzerland, which has now dropped all pre-travel testing, or Austria and the US, which offer free Covid tests in resorts, and the temptation to try another destination right now has never been stronger.
And now that Boris Johnson has confirmed today that holidaymakers who are fully jabbed will no longer have to take any Covid tests upon return to the UK from February 11, another hurdle has been removed.
With all that in mind, here’s the lowdown on the easiest options for a family skiing holiday this half term.
Switzerland
Switzerland should be top of our lists right now because it is currently the easiest country in the world to access for families wanting to ski – not to mention the pull of short and easy resort transfers by rail, a good choice of airports and authentic ski villages. It’s a winning combination.
Last Saturday (January 22) Switzerland dropped all pre-travel testing requirements for vaccinated travellers and those with a Covid recovery certificate [infection must be within the past year, but on January 31 reduces to within nine months]. Unvaccinated travellers aged 16 and over are still permitted to travel to Switzerland, but must show a negative PCR [no older than 72 hours] or antigen [no older than 24 hours] on entry. Children under 16 are exempt from all regulations both when travelling to and entering bars, restaurants and hotels in Switzerland. All travellers must complete an entry form before arrival (https://swissplf.admin.ch/formular)
Book it: Sno (020 7770 6888; sno.co.uk) offers seven nights’ half-board at the three-star Hotel Belvedere in family-friendly Wengen, just five minutes’ walk to the lift, with children’s playroom, for £1,687pp, departing 19 February and including flights and transfers.
Austria
After some ups and downs – including a disaster when planeloads of Brits were turned away from Innsbruck on Boxing Day – travel to Austria is getting easier now the UK has been downgraded from its position as a ‘virus variant region’. From today (January 24), British travellers can show either proof of recovery or two vaccine doses, and either a negative PCR taken within 72 hours of travel, or a booster, on entry. When you’re in resort, adults must show proof of vaccination within nine months or recovery within six months to buy a lift pass and to access hospitality. While kids under 12 are exempt, children aged 12 to 15 must take three Covid tests (two PCRs and one antigen) during a week-long holiday. Although this isn’t great news for kids who hate Covid tests, both PCRs and antigen tests are free in ski resorts – just ask your accommodation for details.
Book it: Inghams (01483 945731; inghams.co.uk) offers seven nights at the centrally located, family-run Hotel Edelweiss in Kitzbühel, scene of Dave Ryding’s historic World Cup win last weekend, for £1,089pp, departing 12 February. Price is based on four sharing, including flights from Birmingham and transfers.
USA
With a fantastic choice of ski resorts, where the pistes are groomed to perfection, the hotel rooms spacious, and eating out is great value (and always served with a smile), the US is a good bet for skiing this half term. Although there is jet lag to factor in, the travel regulations are easy to navigate for families provided parents are vaccinated (proof of recovery is not accepted). Anyone aged 18 and over can visit the US a fortnight after their second dose (no mention yet of boosters), so long as they can provide a negative Covid test taken in the 24 hours before boarding. If partially jabbed or unvaccinated children under 17 are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, they must take another PCR test between three and five days after arrival – but with these tests free of charge and easily bookable in resorts, this is substantially less onerous and costly than some European countries.
Book it: Ski Independence (0131 243 8097; ski-i.com) offers seven nights at the central and atmospheric Wort Hotel in Jackson Hole departing February 12 from £1,595pp. Price passed on two adults and two children sharing a Deluxe Room (B&B), including flights from London Heathrow to Jackson Hole (via Chicago) and shared transfers.
Bulgaria
It might have a reputation as a destination for boozy skiing holidays, but with no Covid regulations for children aged 17 and under and great prices, the pull of Bulgaria as a destination for family holidays has never been stronger. Consistently voted the cheapest place to ski in Europe – research from the 2021 Post Office ski report estimated a one-week cost of £427.17 per person last winter – Bulgaria looks to triumph again this year. Some testing is required – everyone aged 12 and over must take a PCR within the 72 hours before their flight and there’s the chance you’ll be selected for random testing on arrival (though this will be free). Anyone who has recovered from Covid can visit Bulgaria, too, as long as their recovery certificate is between 11 and 180 days old.
Book it: Balkan Holidays (020 7543 5555; balkanholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights’ half-board at the four-star Hotel Strazhite, one of the best hotels in Bansko, just 300m from the main gondola with swimming pool and bowling alley, departing 19 February for £825.50, including flights and transfers.
Norway
With its pristine and atmospheric wilderness, great snow and child-friendly facilities, skiing in Norway is well-suited to families looking for a half-term break. All adult (18+) travellers who are either fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid within the past six months must take a test in the 24 hours before travelling to Norway, and then again on arrival. Children aged 15 and under only need to be tested on arrival — and if this starts to sound expensive, it’s worth noting all tests within Norway are free. All visitors need to complete an entry registration form before arriving in Norway (https://reg.entrynorway.no/).
Book it: Ski Solutions (020 3797 1846; skisolutions.com) offers seven nights in the authentic Bardola log cabins in Geilo with log fire, sauna, hot tub and swimming pool, from £995pp, based on four sharing. Price is based on 13 February departure, including flights, rail transfers and self-catered accommodation.
