25 Things to Consider When Planning a Family Ski Vacation

East or West? Europe or USA? Your vacation experience is highly influenced by geographic location, as cruising around the Alps can be a whole lot different from packing the family into the suburbs for a weekend in New England.

If you know which location, but are not sure which resort, check out our list of best ski resorts in East US or West US.

Massive resorts have the family vacation figured out. If you're going for a total resort feel, big places like Breckenridge Ski Resort and Vail Ski Resort are your best bet. For something more personal and less intimidating, smaller resorts like Solitude Mountain Resort are the way to go.

Consider appropriate lodging for your family, whether you'd like slopeside or in town, a rented house, or a fully inclusive hotel experience. Hot tubs, cozy fireplaces, and après chill-out lounges are good characteristics to look for.

All resorts these days have appropriate terrain for all abilities, but some resorts cater to intermediates while others have terrain suited for experts. A solid beginner area is important for those just learning how to ski or ride.

If you plan on taking lessons, look into ski and snowboard school lesson options, such as group lessons, specialty camps, privates, and semi-privates. A first ski school lesson will likely make or break a kid's experience if they are new to skiing!

If you have little ones who won't be skiing (but you will be), make sure there are appropriate childcare options that are age-appropriate, fun, and affordable. Some resorts also have babysitting services available for nights.

There will be excellent dining options no matter what…that said, it's helpful to check out what restaurants and cuisine are at and around the resort, and making reservations ahead of time for popular eateries is a must.

Off-snow options are important for those not skiing, and if you're taking a longer vacation and want rest days. Ice skating, snow biking, and tubing are examples of a few non-skiing activities; check out specific offerings of each resort for more.

Special festivals and events are great ways to have an exceptionally special vacation, so look at resort event calendars for things like fireworks, torch light parades, concerts, and more.

Is it better to rent, or bring your own? Do you have enough layers for the bitter cold, or sunglasses for that bluebird glare? Have appropriate gear for the whole family to ensure an enjoyable vacation.

It's helpful to consider the layout of your vacation destination, and the public transportation that will be available (or private, if inclusive of a hotel or resort). Major hotels sometimes offer free airport pickup and transport between the resort and town area. Otherwise, look into public buses if traveling without a car.

Some ski vacationers don't care to leave the bubble of the hotel/resort, which is totally cool. However, it can be useful for those who have more of a sense of adventure to check out what the town is all about, and check into everything that local life has to offer – yoga classes, happy hours, and cutesy shops, for example.

Crowds are inevitable at most ski resorts, and it's helpful to be prepared for them, but also useful to know how to avoid them. Midweek skiing is substantially less crowded on the slopes, and modern resorts with a lift infrastructure to support large amounts of people generally have shorter lift lines