That's La Plagne
The Dos and Don'ts of Planning a Self-Drive Ski Holiday with Kids
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The ultimate guide to driving to your ski holiday with kids
With the rising cost of flights and the ongoing train strikes, both in the UK and throughout Europe, a self-drive family ski holiday is looking more and more appealing. Driving to your next ski holiday might be one of the best options for you and your family. But it is also true that planning a road trip with kids can be a daunting task.
Don't panic! With a little preparation and some helpful tips, a self-drive family ski holiday can be a fun and memorable experience for the whole family. From packing the right snacks to choosing the right activities, here are some dos and don'ts to help you plan the best family road trip to the Alps with your kids.
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Is a Family Road Trip to a Ski Resort Worth It?
One of the biggest pros of taking a self-drive family ski holiday is the quality family time you'll get to spend together. Road trips provide a unique opportunity to bond with your loved ones, as you'll be spending hours in the car together, playing games, singing songs, and enjoying each other's company. Once you arrive at the ski resort, you'll have even more opportunities to bond over skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities. Plus, you'll create memories that will last a lifetime.
Do make the most of the extra space, but don’t over pack!
It’s one of the biggest questions that people ask me: what to pack when driving to a ski resort with family? One of the best things about self-drive family ski holidays is that you have more space to pack and bring items from home. You aren’t constrained to one bag or a weight limit. However, don’t let this space freedom catch you out! My absolute top tip when packing for a ski holiday is to look at all the items you plan on bringing and then half them! Trust me, pack light. You’ll spend the majority of your time in your ski gear anyway!
Have a look at my family ski holiday packing checklists, where you can also download some tick lists for the whole family.
TOP TIP: If you're planning a holiday during Christmas, there's plenty of room in the car for all the presents for your family. So, hit the road and enjoy a stress-free journey to your winter wonderland!
Do enjoy the scenic route
One of the biggest advantages of driving to a family ski holiday is the opportunity to enjoy the scenic route. Flying can be a rushed and stressful experience, with little time to appreciate the beauty of the journey. However, driving allows you to take your time and enjoy the scenery along the way. You can stop at scenic viewpoints, explore charming towns, and take in the natural beauty of the landscape.
Do avoid airport hassles and delays
Driving to a family ski holiday can save you from the stress and hassle of airport delays and cancellations. With driving, you have more control over your schedule and can avoid the long lines and security checks at the airport. It’s also fair to say that these lines have been incredibly long and time-consuming post-Brexit at both Geneva Airport and Grenoble Airport. These are the 2 main airports for getting to the main ski resorts in the French Alps. But there are other airports close to La Plagne, have a look at the best airports to fly to La Plagne in my recent article.
Do think about a rental car for your ski holiday
Renting a car in France for your family ski holiday can be a great decision, offering numerous advantages and flexibility. Firstly, in a ski resort, weather conditions can be unpredictable, and a rental car provides a safe and comfortable way to travel, and you know that the car will be fully equipped with all the local legal requirements. This is often a cause of stress, especially when traveling with children. It allows you to travel at your pace and provides an ideal retreat after a day on the slopes.
I have even had friends where it has been cheaper for them to rent a car for their ski holiday that to service their own car, buy snow tyres, increase their car insurance etc etc! So it is well worth checking into. Read this article with all my top tips on where to find the cheapest car rental for your ski holiday.
Renting a car in France for your family ski holiday grants you the flexibility and convenience needed to create cherished memories together while enjoying the winter wonderland of the French Alps.
TOP TIP: Check out DiscoverCars.com to compare prices of cars across loads of different car rental services. I love DiscoverCars.com because they pull information from small car rental services you might never had heard of. And I'd always recommend checking directly with the supplier to compare prices, but I've yet to see a car being rented cheaper elsewhere than DiscoverCars.com.
Do plan ahead and map out your route
Planning ahead and mapping out your route is crucial when travelling with kids. Make sure to research rest stops, petrol stations, and restaurants along the way. It’s also a good idea to plan for any potential detours or traffic delays. Using Google Maps can help you avoid traffic jams and delays. If you are taking a self-drive family ski holiday, you can also choose to avoid toll roads, reducing the cost of your journey, but it will increase the time it takes by up to 4 – 5 hours. By planning ahead, you can reduce stress and ensure a smoother journey for everyone.
Do consider leaving very early
One big tip for driving to your ski holiday is to start your journey early in the morning. Depending on where you are travelling from in the UK, booking a Eurotunnel crossing for the early hours can mean your kids can sleep through the night in their car seats. Booking these late-night crossings can also help you save money with off-peak rates.
When we drive over from the UK, we usually book a Eurotunnel for around midnight to arrive in Calais at around 1 am. We can then drive comfortably through the night and plan to stop around 630 / 7 am for a good breakfast somewhere.
Do have a budget for your self-drive family ski holiday
One of the biggest pros of a family ski holiday road trip is the potential cost savings compared to other holiday options. However, it’s important to budget carefully to avoid overspending. Consider factors such as fuel, lodging, food, and activities when planning your trip. Look for deals and discounts on accommodations, and of course, pack your own food and drinks to save money on meals. With careful planning and budgeting, a family road trip can be a fun and affordable vacation option.
Additionally, by driving to your destination, you can choose to stay in more budget-friendly accommodations, such as cabins or vacation rentals, rather than expensive hotels near the airport.
Don't forget to pack snacks
One of the most important things to remember when planning a road trip with kids is to pack plenty of snacks and entertainment. Hungry and bored kids can quickly turn a fun road trip into a nightmare. Pack a variety of healthy snacks like fruit, granola bars, and trail mix, as well as some treats like cookies or crisps. We always try to give the kids their own snack boxes or bags so they can access them easily. It also helps them to understand that once they've eaten everything, it's all gone!
We will also have a couple of larger reusable water bottles in the car to decant into the kids and our bottles on the journey.
Do get the kids involved in the entertainment
One of the most regular concerns or questions I hear is how to entertain children on long car journeys. From our experience, we have several go-to options. We bring along books, colouring books, and small toys to keep the kids entertained. You can also download movies or TV shows onto a tablet or laptop for long stretches of driving. However, we find that some of the old-school games are the best! With eye spy often going on for hours on our road trips!
We also try to get the excitement going about the ski holiday, so we will pack snow and ski holiday-themed books and games whenever possible. These are some of our favourite ski holiday kids' books, and awesomely, some of them are from local La Plagne writers!
The top entertainments we have found are:
- Puzzle books
- Colouring in books
- Small and travel toys and games
But of course, the big winners are the screens! So we will have an iPad for each kid, ready to go with pre-downloaded episodes. But we’ll try to encourage a longer film to take up more time on the journey. We have headphones that can connect to the same iPad so the kids can share but also separate out if they need some “alone” time.
If you need technology but want to avoid the screens, then podcasts and audiobooks are great options. You can find podcasts for free that the whole family will enjoy. Or if you want to give your kids some independence, then Pinna is a great idea to let kids navigate around age-appropriate audiobooks.
A top tip we have learned is to let the kids pack their own activity bag, a small rucksack, and they have control over what they bring – if they can pack it and carry it, they can bring it! It also helps them understand that if they don't pack anything, or forget something, then they will be bored. And I'm ok with that! After a long, fairly boring road trip, they won't forget the second time!
You can find my kids’ ski road trip entertainment shopping list here.
Do schedule regular breaks for stretching and bathroom breaks
It’s important to remember that kids have shorter attention spans and smaller bladders than adults. Make sure to schedule regular breaks for stretching and bathroom breaks. This will not only help keep the kids comfortable but also prevent any accidents or meltdowns. Use these breaks to let the kids run around and burn off some energy, which will make them more relaxed and content during the rest of the journey.
If you can check the weather along your journey, there are lots of outdoor options throughout Europe that you can stop at. For example, throughout France, there are hundreds of Aires with bathrooms, restaurants, and often kids’ play areas.
My top tip would be not to rely on the food from French service stations. Whilst in the UK it's normal to see Marks & Spencer food or a Pret, in France you can expect a ham and butter sandwich. And vegan and veggie options are pretty much non-existent. So make sure to pack accordingly!
Don't rely solely on technology for navigation
While GPS and map apps are incredibly helpful for getting you from point A to point B, they can also be unreliable. Make sure to bring a physical map, or at least a list of checkpoints, as a backup in case of technical difficulties or poor signal.
Additionally, you can involve your kids in the navigation process by letting them help read the map or follow along with the GPS. This can be a fun and educational activity for them during the trip. My boys love following the map and will sit quietly following the progress towards the checkered flag finish line for hours.
Do involve the kids in the planning process and make it a fun adventure for the whole family
Planning a self-drive family ski holiday can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Involve your kids in the planning process by:
- letting them help choose the route
- pick out snacks and activities
- help pack the car.
This will not only make them feel included and excited for the trip, but it will also help them understand the logistics of travel. Make it a fun adventure for the whole family by incorporating games, music, and other activities that everyone can enjoy together.
Do always expect the unexpected
With kids, one of the biggest things I have learned when planning family self-drive ski holidays or planning family road trips is to always expect and plan for the unexpected! From traffic jams to vomit, have a backup plan in place and an emergency bag within arms reach.
Since our boys were little, we’ve called this the “oh crap!” bag. And as the kids get older, the contents change, but the idea remains the same: when we need those emergency or essential items, I can lay a hand on them immediately.
It might be worth having several of these bags and often doubling up on them for ease. Here are some that we always have in the car with us when we are driving to or from the ski resort.
First aid
- Plasters
- Antiseptic wipes
- Small scissors
- Micropore tape
- Gloves
- Small bin bags for disposal
- Bonjela teething gel
- Paracetamol
- Calpol travel sachets
For pees and poops!
- Nappy bags – scented if possible!
- Wet wipes
- Alcogel hand sanitiser
- Spare toilet roll
- Change of clothes – pack outfits together rather than separately.
- TOP TIP! A change of top (and clothes for you!), you will end up covered in vomit or poo.
Baby or toddler bag
- Nappies
- Nappy bags
- Spare comforters
- Dummies
- Teething necklace or ring
- Second blanket
- Formula
- Pre-made up bottles
- Boiled, water
- Thermos if needed, warm
Adult emergencies
- Car insurance documents
- Health insurance documents
- Any prescription medication
- Cash
- Credit cards
- Emergency contact numbers
- Booking documents and your accommodation details
- Phone chargers
- Portable battery pack
Do have some surprises in your pocket
When it comes to kids and driving to your ski holiday, one thing I have learned the hard way is that kids are entertained by “new”. And by “new”, I mean new to them! Have some surprises in your pocket. From some secret snacks to surprise toys or games – or even stops along the route, something unexpected can distract and lift the mood of tired little people! Especially if you end up lost or stuck in traffic.
That’s La Plagne and how to plan for your self-drive family ski holiday
Now you know all the do’s and don’ts of how to drive to your family ski holiday, all you need to do is get that holiday booked, and away you go! Driving with our kids has always been our preferred way of travelling between La Plagne and the UK, so I hope you’ve found this useful. My next step will be to get an electric car so we can make it more environmentally friendly.
How about you? Do you have any questions about how to drive to a ski resort? Let me know in the comments.
Check out my driving to ski resort top tips. I’ve pulled together everything I’ve learned from driving to ski seasons for over a decade as well as asking locals and regular drivers to La Plagne.
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