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If you're dreaming of a white Christmas, why not whisk your children off to a real winter wonderland in the snow? Going skiing with young children can be an enjoyable family experience, and certainly doesn’t have to be stressful. Researching and choosing your resort carefully are key factors in making sure that your holiday goes smoothly. Here are a few tips to help you get started. Start with the Basics 1. Firstly, – and this may sound obvious – make sure that there will be snow! Consult snowforecast.com and check snow levels, which is a particularly important step if you choose to ski off-peak. 2. Avoid far-flung destinations, as youngsters are bound to get irritable on long flights. As a result, it’s advisable to choose a resort that’s no more than an hour and a half away from the airport. 3. Ideally, the resort that you choose should be big enough to have a wide range of shops and restaurants, but small and quiet enough for young children. A small village close to a big resort is an ideal option. 4. A good ski school and lots of nursery runs are essential for younger children – particularly if they’re still working on their skiing technique. Make sure that the ski instructors are well qualified and child-friendly. 5. For days on which you feel like hanging up the skis, don't forget to take the resort’s off-piste activities into consideration, such as ice-skating, relaxing in a pool and tobogganing. Still looking for ideas? No problem. Have a look at our list of the top four family-friendly ski resorts! La Plagne, France With ten villages to choose from, you'll be spoilt for choice in La Plagne. Each village has good ski schools, nursery runs and intermediate runs for more proficient skiers. There are also five terrain parks to keep older children entertained. Montchavin is a picturesque and traffic-free village, making it ideal for families with young children. Ylläs, Finland For a refreshing alternative to crowded Alpine resorts, Ylläs is the place to go. The gently sloping Arctic runs are excellent for beginners, and the unique off-piste activities will keep young ones entertained when their weary little legs are tired. Where else can you go husky sledding and snowshoeing? Oh, and if that doesn't enchant them, then a reindeer sleigh ride definitely will. Alped'Huez This lively resort is the perfect choice for families, offering plenty of green runs and some blue ones for confident children. There are also many self-catering apartments, which are ideal for families on a budget. What’s more, there’s an excellent hotel for families with young children: the ski-in ski-out Club Med Alped'Huez La Sarenne. The hotel boasts its own ski school, which provides lessons in skiing and snowboarding. There is a children's activity club for when your little ones would prefer to do something creative, as well as a heated indoor pool that the whole family will love. Alpbach, Austria This charming resort is tucked away in the Austrian Tirol, and has something special in store for everyone. With two child-friendly ski schools, sunny nursery slopes and a few intermediate ones, this compact village is a popular choice among young families. Chalet-style hotels dominate the accommodation scene, some of which are located closely to the slopes. For weary little skiers' legs, the village boasts an lovely indoor swimming pool... or, if they’ve still got some energy left, an outdoor ice-rink. And Lastly… Last but certainly not least, don't forget about opting for comprehensive skiing travel insurance. With little ones in tow, it's extra important to choose a policy that will keep you covered in case of any eventuality. Investing in skiing travel insurance will not only protect you and your tots while you’re swishing down the slopes, but will also allow you to enjoy yourselves to the fullest! Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of InsureMore, an award-winning team of specialists in global single trip, annual, family and skiing trip insurance. Besides offering great deals on travel insurance, Patrick also collects and shares the best free travel competitions to help his clients get the most out of their holidays.
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