Spending a vacation with kids is always fun-filled, and the fun gets multiplied when it involves snowy adventures. A trip from Singapore to the Alps, in Austria’s St. Anton am Arlberg, is the perfect choice for your next family vacation. The memories you will make while enjoying the winter activities in Austria will be worth traveling from Singapore.
Apart from the activities and amazing slopes, ski holidays in St. Anton offers much more for your family. Read on to get on the right track for planning a ski trip with kids.
Why Choose St. Anton Ski Holidays?
This Austrian gem is not only ideal for skiers and snowboarders but is very much family friendly too. Boasting more than 300 kilometers of pristine runs and a lot more in the backcountry, on one hand, St. Anton never fails to impress global adventure lovers. Its beginner-friendly slopes and exciting non-ski activities make it a perfect holiday getaway for everyone, even the grandparents!
Picking The Right Timing
The first thing to be considered while planning a ski trip with kids, is choosing the right timing. Grab the calendar and mark the dates — keeping in mind the kids’ comfort because that is what matters the most!
St. Anton’s ski season starts early December and runs till the end of April. High season begins during Christmas and over the New Year, when most accommodations are fully booked in advance. For Singaporean families, you can make use of the year end school holidays and be there during the second and third week of December to avoid the crowd, while also enjoying the Christmas festivities. The Chinese New Year holiday in February is also great timing.
For spring skiing and warmer weather, March and April is a good time. This skiing paradise witnesses 5 metres of snow annually thus ensuring great conditions throughout the whole season.
Travelling From Singapore To Austria
Long distance trips with kids can be more stressful than fun for the parents. But the family-friendly amenities offered by Austrian Federal Railways, will surely make the journey tolerable. Some train carriages are dedicated for families, with a cosy play area to keep kids entertained during the ride. Don’t forget to reserve seats that face each other, which comes with a table in the middle.
The easiest way to get to St. Anton is to take a direct flight to Zürich, Switzerland, and then a 2.5 hour train ride to the final destination. Alternatively, you can also book private taxis to save you from all the headaches dealing with the luggages.
Booking Accommodations
Every year, thousands of people come to enjoy the winter activities in Austria. To ensure comfort at this international ski destination, many hotels and chalets with great amenities operate there.
If you are planning a ski trip with kids, you don’t need to worry about your options because there are ample family-friendly choices available. Other than hotels with an indoor playground and babysitting services, you can also find those with facilities like heated pools, dedicated family apartments with bunk beds, and more. To enjoy a good deal, be sure to book at least 6 months in advance.
Ski Training For Kids
Now that you have booked your tickets and accommodation, it’s time to think about ski or snowboard lessons.
Are you worried because your kids have never skied before? Please don’t! St. Anton is home to many reputable ski schools dedicated to teaching kids.
The skilled and friendly instructors use fun games to build confidence in the kids. There are even schools where kids can start as early as three years old and have special facilities for young kids to learn. Who can resist watching your kids at their first ski race at the end of the week? Of course, the earlier you start learning how to ski, the more confident you will be when you are older. So drop your worries and start gearing up for St. Anton ski holidays.
Winter Activities In Austria
We get it that you are mostly planning for a ski trip with kids, why not add more excitement to your trip after the lifts have closed? Apart from skiing, the entire family can participate in other fun activities like ice skating, day or night tobogganing, swimming, indoor trampoline park and more. The 9-pin bowling alley even has smaller bowling balls for kids! If you like to have a break from the slopes, dog sledding and snowshoe hiking are ideal for the whole family.
More Planning Tips
To help you manage the trip like a pro and minimise hiccups, here are some extra tips for you.
Since the weather will be very cold, it might be a little tough to adjust when coming from the tropical weather of Singapore. To make sure you and your family remain fit and fine, do not forget to bring heat packs. Carry thermal top and pants, waterproof and windproof jackets, scarves, woolen socks and gloves for all. Some sport shops do rent ski jackets and pants for adults, but not for kids.
Apart from winter clothing, also carry energy snacks and thermal flasks with warm water or tea so that the harsh winter won’t make your kids dehydrated and tired easily. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Also, bring along a general first-aid kit, lip balms, sunscreen and sunglasses. To avoid mix-up of items at the ski schools, label belongings with your kids name. This hack will save you from the extra stress.
Explore Beyond The Sports
Holidays are not only for relaxation but also present great opportunities for learning. Make the most of it and learn some German phrases so that when you come back from the vacation, you can greet everyone with “Guten Tag!”or even “Grias Enk!” (Austrian dialect) instead of a simple “Hello”.
If you are planning the trip in December, you can also spend some amazing time exploring the Christmas markets. While you immerse in Austrian culture, do not forget to try their signature traditional dishes like Schnitzel and Kaiserschmarrn.
The Takeaway
A vacation with kids is a chance to strengthen your bond with one another as a family. It doesn’t matter if your kids are already ski trained or it’s their first time on the slopes, the memories you will make together will be worth every hassle. Also, make full use of the babysitting services to get you the much-needed couple time to recharge.
By choosing the right timing, packing the essentials and arranging the lodging well in advance, you can make the most of the St. Anton ski holiday that your family will cherish for the coming years.
What are you waiting for? Start planning today and take your family to enjoy a vacation in the beautiful Austrian Alps. To make your planning even easier, get in touch with professional ski trip planners like Alpenature. With their expertise of over 20 years of experience, you can get rid of all the worries and fully enjoy your time in the snowy wonderland — the holiday you truly deserve!
