Why go during half term?

A snowHead

Just planning our trips this year with the family and trawling the forums for all the good advice. It looks like we will sneak a week before Christmas this season. We have a youngish family 10/12 year old and have now been for 5 family trips, the kids love it and would now rather go skiing than a sun holiday given the choice.

It got me wondering after reading through the forum why families bother to go during Feb Half Term. Endless threads about traffic, no ski school, crowded pistes and lift queues.

I have only been a couple of times in Feb it wasn't half term and wasn't with kids but after both trips we said we wouldn't go again; snow wasn't great (I know could be the same at other times) it was very busy in both places we have been and was more expensive than other months. We have had great trips at Easter time which was perfect with the children when they were younger as it wasn't so cold. We also have had some of the best snow in April. Without kids we chose to go in January as was much cheaper.

Last year we had a great trip in early December, cheaper lift passes and accommodation, quiet slopes (and roads) , ski school wasn't open but were fortunate enough to get a decent deal on private lessons for the kids and even had a decent amount of snow while we were there.

Given that you can ski in December and April holidays , what am I missing with the obsession to go over half term?

A snowHead

Mid-season so aurguably the best snow?
Some families might not want to tkae thir lids out of school or may be wary of the school fines if they do?
Better time for some than Christmas/New Year or Easter

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

December is a hit and miss in terms of snow coverage, as it's early-ish season. You therefore have a dilemma: high altitude resorts with potentially bad weather and dull landscape, but good chances of snow, or lower resorts with a tree cover but potentially little or no snow, even snowmaking doesn't always help if it's too warm.

HT is statistically as good as it gets snow wise, so you have a lot more nice tree level resorts to choose from. But - expensive and busy.

If you want some snow magic during the dull UK winter and stick to the school holidays, those are you choices.

On top of that Xmas/NY gives you a chance to spend 2 weeks in the mountains, rather than just one. For us this is the deciding factor - first week passes very quickly with lessons, the second week we can relax and ski as a family all day.

For just one week I would probably prefer HT.

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Many people simply have too much going on at Xmas/NY to go skiing.

I don't get why more people don't ski at Easter though.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Our kids are about the same age as yours and we have been to Skiwelt in Austria and Grindelwald in Switzerland in half term. We’ve had mostly great weather so February give you a bit more daylight and a better chance of good weather. It hasn’t been too busy, probably due to both locations being quite big ski areas and with wide runs.

I’ve just come back from Hochgurgl Austria and it was extremely quiet during the week on the slopes. I can see the appeal in December. I think the downsides could be less light, I did the last run down at 4pm and the sun had gone down and at 4:10 it was starting to get dark. I think in December there will less light.

Also when I was in Hochgurgl not all runs were open yet. I think come mid season almost everything is open.

I have also done a new year trip in Austria and remember there being a lot of rain or sleet, some strong winds also closed the lifts up on Karpun. They sounded air raid like sirens to let you know to get off the mountain Shocked

Mind you, I’ve also experienced white out days and rain/sleet at half term. But it’s definitely mostly been glorious sunshine Very Happy

So half term for us equals longer days, better weather, more slopes open. We can also get into the hotel outdoor pool at 5pm with a bit of daylight left. That’s quite a magical moment.

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@therock, We like going in Feb half term as the snow is usually at its best at this time of the year and we don't have to worry as much about going to a high resort as if we were going over Christmas or NY. Also, we usually see family over Christmas and NY and want to celebrate these holidays at home in the "normal" way. We are not interested in going skiing in the Easter holidays, as we like to go to a warm country instead at this time of the year (e.g. Morocco or the Mediterranean), as summer is usually soon on its way and it would feel strange to go back to winter and skiing then in my opinion.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Motherofthree, Easter isn't winter its spring in the mountains and the best time to ski.
We ski xmas and new year, Feb half term and Easter 2weeks and the Easter weeks are the best

After all it is free

If you are going to skive off from school, I would suggest you make it a surprise trip just before half term, so the kids can't blab about it.
You could send an email to the school saying you have Covid or something.
Then all you have to do is make sure they put enough sunscreen on so they dont have "Goggle Marks"
Shocked

Because it’s the most likely best snow conditions, extended family commitments may preclude Christmas and the timings of Easter differs every year so may or may not coincide with the end of/post skiing season.

Also, if your kids are at public school, you simply won’t be able to take them out.

Personally I’m happy to take my kids out of state school to go the last week of Jan.

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We'd rather not go over Christmas and prefer that at home. Plus, snow can be hit/miss, colder and less daylight hours.

February half term is a pain but we tolerate it by leaving Thursday night to get ahead of the driving crowd. Yes, it stretches the travel out but we're up in resort very early and get kitted out while rental shops are empty. The lift queues are what they are.

Friends only go at Easter with the kids but split time between skiing and spring activities. We went this year and loved it. However had to go high and didn't enjoy the crusty starts in the morning. But it's a good trade off to crowds and traffic plus kids don't have to go back to school knackered.

We'd definitely do Easter again but have GCSEs next year so can't. Will do the following year though. Bit disappointed we didn't try Easter sooner to be fair.

However, while Easter is cheaper (got a great apartment in Tignes VC this year) the lift pass price is way more than we'd normally pay in a smaller, lower height resort in February. So pretty much equalled out.

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We've done all three with our 2 boys - Christmas, half term and Easter.

Christmas can be hit and miss with snow (currently checking Grand Massif forecasts like a mad woman as we're going on 16th!) and deals can be much better depending how it falls but on the whole, the wider family takes precedent over the Alps.

Half term we try and find a smaller resort for good value and it tends to be low key with just the 4 of us so it's quite nice to have a family break. Yes the traffic can be horrible but by staying in a smaller resort means they're not as busy as the mega resorts.

Easter invariably has been a Bash so fabulously sociable for us and the kids. Tends to be a much easier drive as the roads are mainly clear of traffic and it is lovely sitting apres in the sunshine.

They all have their pros and cons, main deciding factor each year is our time commitments and available deals.

snow reports

Regularly ski Feb HT busier but never really a problem generally lifts a little busier but higher lifts not busy at all and still found myself alone on pistes. Also ski at HT because that is the school holidays and the law suck up or don't ski.

OP’s question never proposed taking kids out of school - they just queried why most folk go at half term rather than Dec holidays or Easter holidays.

We’ve always had lovely times at Easter and it would be my pick over half term definitely because of the crazy busy restos, pistes et al.

In Tignes we’ve had a few good years at Dec time with good conditions but the short days suck - I’d probably stick half-term at the bottom of the priority pile and Easter at the top.

You know it makes sense.

@Grinning, But the OP did mention that they went in early December, which would usually mean taking kids out of school.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

There will be more of the semi rich not going at half term with the cost of living I reckon

A snowHead

@Mother hucker, Thanks for the tip about skiing at Easter, I would be up for trying it one year. The past couple of years we have found Easter a good time to bag an all inclusive deal to a sun destination (cheaper than in the summer school holidays), so we like to use the Easter holidays for a sun & beach holiday. We like to have different types of holidays throughout the year and only go skiing once per year.

A snowHead

We are going Monday to Friday, weekend flight price difference covered tunnel and accommodation for Easter.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Some really interesting points and tips I had never considered.

Light is an issue but the kids usually tired around the time the lifts are closing in December but I’m sure that will change as they get older.

I like the idea of finding some other smaller resorts. We have always tended to go for the higher resorts in December /April for the snow reliability. Feb obviously opens up other options which we have always been interested in

I am not taking mine out of school just fortunate that our holiday start is a week earlier so have the option and actually noticed a lot of flexibility from accommodation for mid week start and finish in December.

I guess overall it comes down to snow conditions probably being better in Feb and having more options. I’m not convinced it’s enough to make me switch timing for now though and actually re-considering April over December reading all the posts!

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We go at Feb half term because the kids are off school, we all enjoy skiing, and I’m not sure what else we’d do with a weeks holiday in Feb. Yes it’s a bit busier but I think a lot of the problems are overhyped, either by people who remember what it was like 10+ years ago before lift upgrades, or by people who didn’t plan (possibly due to inexperience) so would hit peak congestion on lifts/at restaurants etc.

We ski 8.30am-2pm, with a quick sandwich lunch at 11-1130. That way we avoid the crowds at restaurants, and ski while everyone else is eating. There’s plenty of other alternate approaches (get up late, ski late) as well, that all avoid a9-12,1-3 pattern that the crowds tend to follow.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@Motherofthree, horses for courses. I hate beach package holidays. Sand, salty water, packed in to hotels with embarrassing larger guzzling junk food eating British Chavs. That's my 2 experiences so far,

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We always went in Feb and April when kids were at school. Feb usually had a better snow particularly on lower slopes. April usually had lower prices and quieter slopes, though if the snow was poor low down which it could be at times the upper slopes where there was snow could be even busier than Feb.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Easter can be great but expect slushy afternoons. It can change very fast, even as early as 11 or 12 o clock, and even highest north facing slopes in high resorts can very quickly become slush fests. (A little bit of slush is fine and even fun, but too much is not fun at all). First hour is often very hard underfoot so window period of nice snow conditions can be very short. So for serious skiers you have to accept compromised afternoons.

PS yes it can snow a lot in April but again by 11am, any easily accessible snow can generally hardly be called "powder" after 11am. A good guide should be able to keep you in good stuff till 1 or 2pm though

After all it is free

@Mother hucker, We really enjoy all-inclusive beach package holidays, but then we only stay in 5* resorts where the food and drinks are always good (in our experience) and there are not many British chavs lol.

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Feb HT can be a busy week in France as it often coincides with UK hols and the Parisian week ...

Feb HT in Italy on the other hand - doesn't really exist ? Although it can still be busy in the week Shrove Tuesday falls (akak Carnivale) so beware of when that falls.

Pick a resort in the Aosta valley (as Dolomites resorts will have Germans and Dutch on Half Term hols) and so long as its not pancake day week - you might well be fine!

The bigger issue is the price hikes from TO's.... (and airline prices if DIY).

Always consult the EU school holiday thread - https://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=156939

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@snowdave, Out of curiosity where is it that the lifts open at 8:30?

I ski in Les Arcs a lot and it may be linited to resorts with good public transport links but I've never noticed the slopes being any quieter between 12:00 and 14:00, nor on Saturdays. In fact Saturdays are often busy with various skis clubs out. The quietest time is from 15:00 to 17:00

snow reports

You know it makes sense.

@johnE, I have been to some resorts which had some lifts opening that time and never been to Japan.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

A snowHead

I have done pre-Chrismas when school holidays allow, New Year, Easter and Feb half term. All done to what else is happening in our lives.

Sometimes found Feb horrifically busy (Bansko I am looking at you), but Feb half term just gone foound resort lovely and quiet. Although Geneva was manic.

Following season due to A-Level exams looking at Feb half term again. I have a plan which i am hoping will work out not too busy or expansive

A snowHead

[quote="Gaz_H"]

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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[quote="therock"]

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Serre Chevalier was busy, so wont rush back for half term. Champoluc we in one point we encountered and Esprit ski school group waiting for more adults to appear at lift to help youngsters up and we split up to provide more assistance

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

People in the UK tend to forget that the Europeans also have school holidays and these are more impactful than our own. The majority of Feb is usually a write off for France as any given week is school holidays for a significant part of the country.

People also tend to think Feb has the best snow and completely forget about school holidays.

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Why go during half term?

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