Checklist for a Successful Ski Holiday: What to Pack

The destination is booked, the ski lessons are reserved. Now comes the trickier part: working out what actually goes in the suitcase.

Between ski kit, après-ski clothes and the question of whether the children still fit last year’s salopettes, packing lists have a way of spiralling.

Here is what actually matters.

Dress in layers

Staying warm on the mountain comes down to layering. Start with a technical base layer, add a jumper or fleece depending on how the cold affects you, then your ski jacket. Layers let you adjust to the weather without ever restricting movement, and you can always shed one if the sun comes out.

Bring your own ski socks too. It is a small outlay, but one you will not regret, and they earn their keep in trainers long after the ski season ends.

After a day in ski boots, your feet want one thing: to be dry. Pack a pair of warm snow boots for the evening, trainers will be soaked through in minutes, and cold feet make for a short walk to dinner.

Protect your eyes and skin

Goggles shield your eyes from glare, wind and blown snow. If you prefer sunglasses, choose a pair built for mountain light, category 3 at minimum, and keep them within reach for the brightest days.

Gloves or mittens are the easiest thing to forget, and cold fingers by mid morning are no fun. A spare pair covers you if the first goes missing, and thin under-gloves add warmth on the coldest days.

A neck warmer, scarf or snood keeps the chill off and the cold at bay.

Sunscreen is not optional, even under cloud: altitude increases UV exposure. Lip balm rounds out the kit and saves your lips from the wind.

What goes in the backpack

A small backpack is enough to carry your belongings, a water bottle and a snack. Skip the large volumes, a compact size is far more comfortable on a chairlift and easier to carry all day.

Water matters: eating snow will not keep you hydrated. Pack a snack too, winter sports burn through energy faster than expected, especially for children on the slopes all morning.

Après-ski and before you leave

The dress code in a ski resort stays relaxed. The same layering principle works for the evening: comfort comes first.

Check your insurance cover before you travel too, home, bank card and personal liability policies can all be relevant. You will usually be asked about cover when you buy a lift pass or hire equipment, so it helps to have already thought it through.

The bonus for cosy evenings

A pack of cards changes a winter evening. Snow falls quietly outside the window, and a game brings laughter, even for the bad losers.

Ready to go

A well packed suitcase makes for a calmer holiday.

If your kit needs topping up, ski and snowboard rental can fill the gaps once you arrive. If lessons are not booked yet, take a look at our ski lessons.

Then all that is left is to choose your dates.