 Poster: A snowHead
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As it says really - looking for destinations that could work with a non skiing partner. If it was just us I’d leave him at home and go on a bash but we have a baby now so I need to bring him for childcare  . Ideally somewhere high enough to have decent snow in easter, as that’s nicer weather for the baby. I’d think we try and get a chalet and persuade others along with us. I’ll probably just ski half days so it doesn’t need to be the biggest resort - a slightly smaller one with cheaper pass (or a local pass option) could work well. V keen for this to work out as it’ll set the tone whether we do it each year!!! Any advice esp from others who have done similar welcome.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@nikki_c, I think quite a few people have done it (maybe search non-skiing partner, or something?) The answers are going to depend on what the non-skiing partner likes to do, other than changing nappies, that is! 
In my case, my partner liked to explore the area. He enjoyed Chamonix, but you need a car there. And the Jungfrau region, where you can get to loads of places (including lovely mountain restaurants to meet the skier at lunchtime) by train.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@nikki_c, what@KSH said...but you could leave the baby with him at home?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You would probably need a car anyway with a baby - and the ton of stuff that goes with them. How old is the baby?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
you could leave the baby with him at home?
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 I guess this is meant to be a family holiday?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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1. Zermatt
2. Davos
3. Lech
4. Gstaad
5. St Moritz
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Could look at Zell-am-See? Your skiing covered by Kaprun.
Or Mayrhofen & you can access the glacier
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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With no idea of age of child, what the non-skier likes doing, or budget....... might as well just suggest Lech and Gstaad, I suppose!
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I would have said Zell-am-See, but Easter you need to go High -- not many high resorts with something good for non-skier :: Saas Fee maybe ?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Here’s an alternative - you do your skiing thing on your own or with friends. Your partner does their thing on their holiday separately. You do family stuff all together on a family holiday.
This topic comes up regularly and the conclusion is usually the same: you have to adapt to changed circumstances.
I tend to ask the OP to reverse the circumstances, and imagine their partner is a keen equestrian, but they can’t even get on a horse without falling off. Would a ‘holiday’ at a riding centre, with your infant, really be a holiday for you? However pleasant the surroundings? Or would it be better to admit the situation and stay at home while your partner goes off and does their horsey thing for a week, or long weekend? Then take your break separately? That way both of you get to do what you love and both get to lift the weight of childcare off the other for a little while.
This doesn’t preclude going away as a family, but it’s a reasonable starting point for planning. Of course, some families happily manage a one-sided activity holiday but at least give your partner the option of what I describe, and see how they feel.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sat 28-03-26 21:34; edited 5 times in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Plenty of people go on holidays with babies and kids of all ages. And dogs. It involves compromise and flexibility but some people don't want to leave their partners/kids/dogs behind.
And besides, this baby might be being breast-fed! It's all completely possible but we need some clues to help us know where to start.
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Plenty of people enjoy wintery holiday in the mountain without bothering to ski.
But do figure out what your non-skiing partner likely enjoy doing first.
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You know it makes sense.
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Bognor?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Courmayer (rent a car/drive over) to allow you to visit other resorts
Levi in Finland. Lots and lots of non skiing activities
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Poster: A snowHead
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What is the partner going to do once the baby starts learning to ski?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
What is the partner going to do once the baby starts learning to ski?
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Sort out her rental boots and skis, take her to the ski lessons and meet her afterwards and go back to the apartment to prepare a delicious meal for the other partner.
Or however they sort out their lives the other 352 days of the year.
There were always lots of babies and small kids in Les Saisies - people clearly cope.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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We have tried a few options...
Going to a traditional resort where there were non-skiing snow activities (snow shoeing etc)
Stayed in Aosta and skied a gondola ride away in Pila while Mrs Z stayed in the city.
Stayed in Granada with skiing 35minutes drive (or bus ride) away at the Sierra Nevada area while Mrs Z stayed in the city.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| nikki_c wrote: |
| V keen for this to work out as it’ll set the tone whether we do it each year!!! |
I sympathise. That was why we went skiing when our daughter was 6 months old, but that was rather different, we both skied and in those days it wasn't difficult to book a room in a chalet with in-house childcare by a nanny.
Assuming your baby is a similar age, at least that shapes the possibilities a bit. First it doesn't really matter what your partner enjoys as an activity, in practice their activity is going to be childcare with a hope of occasionally settling down with a book when baby is asleep. Second you probably want to be based at lowish elevation, our trip suffered because our daughter slept poorly and I think that is common at altitude. A baby isn't old enough that they will enjoy the fun side of being in the snow anyway.
Plus you want Easter which means that not any ski resort will do, it needs one with a valley floor base but access to some high altitude slopes. Options that come to mind are Bourg-St-Maurice for access to Les Arcs, or Brides-les-Bains for access to Meribel. Chamonix would do. I don't know whether Pila (from Aosta) or Sierra Nevada (from Granada) are reliable for a sunny Easter. Do remember though that unless one of you is a teacher, going earlier than Easter, mid-March, is a lot more likely to give decent snow while the valley is pleasant - you wouldn't need the highest of resorts at that point.
Travel and accommodation is another challenge, you will need a certain amount of baby-associated clobber. When we went chalets with childcare were relatively common, and a travel cot was provided plus the nannies had all the kit. I think a few might still exist (people here have mentioned Ski Famille) otherwise a hotel might well have a travel cot to lend. At least there isn't a problem taking a folding pushchair on a plane. But to go self-catering you would need to take stuff with you which means driving.
Good luck!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sierra Nevada not even reliable in February, don’t dream of it for an Easter holiday.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Beware, Courmayeur closes on Easter Monday. Otherwise it is a good option for you. Chamonix also - it has the valley train, Mer de Glace train, you could do the valley blanche and they could meet you at Montenvers for example. Or you can drive to Megeve and they can look round the town and do a walk, or drop you at Les Clusaz and goto Annecy and the lake for the day. Or drop you at Verbier and go to see the St Bernard's in Martigny. The point is, Chamonix avoids lots of hairpin bends to get anywhere.
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Obergurgl or Saas Fee? Or maybe Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Murren/Grindlewald . . ?
Obergurl you could splurge on a nice hotel with full on Spa facilities and visit the equestrian centre etc
Saas Fee just pretty no cars nice shops and cafe bars
Wengen etc has a lovely cog railway that links all the areas so ideal for non-skiers and meeting up the mountain easily and with the baby
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The snow in the Zillertal is awesome right now and Mayrhofen is a big enough town that there’s plenty for a non-skier to do.
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