Where to Ski And Snowboard - Family ski trips on the rise says Club Med

Family ski trips on the rise says Club Med

18th February 2014, by Abi Butcher

The number of families taking ski holidays is up 11% this year from last says Club Med

Half of parents are willing to take their children out of school for a skiing holiday according to a new report by Club Med — which also says family ski holidays are on the rise.

Released last Friday, Skiing Together, Winter Sport Holidays for Families shows that 48% of parents would take their children out of school despite the fact that to do so is illegal and they risk heavy fines from local authorities.

The Club Med report also showed that in the past three years, families have spent more on family ski holidays than any time since the recession — £750 per head over the 2011/12 season, compared to £817 for 2013/14. Bookings are also on the up — with 11% more families had booked by November 2013 than for the same time the year before. Some 406,149 Brits are booked to take a family holiday this season — with more booking possible before the end of April.

More than 40% of the parents interviewed for the survey said they chose skiing because it encourages family bonding, and more than a quarter said they chose skiing because of the physical benefits to their children.

Undoubtedly, price will also be an issue, too, and the Club Med report found that parents are looking at short to mid-haul trips, with France remaining the most popular choice for family ski holidays, followed by Austria and Italy, with Switzerland in fourth pace. In the report, 47% of parents said they would be more encouraged to ski with their family if they found a good deal. The majority of British families choose three-star accommodation.

Interestingly, the greatest increase in the number of families taking ski holidays has been from Northern Ireland (126% year-on-year) and Wales (up 25% year on year). With the number of regional flights also on the increase, this can only be more great news for the ski industry!