Our Director, Edward Byrne, son of Powder Byrne founder Rory Byrne, shares his passion for skiing and the mountains. With two young children of his own, planning their introduction to skiing was a proud and important milestone for him.
Drawing from his experience at Powder Byrne and his journey of introducing his family to skiing, Edward offers his top tips for families booking their first luxury ski holiday.
Common Questions for First-Time Skiing Families
- Ideal Age to Start Skiing: What’s the best age for children to begin?
- Family-Friendly Luxury Resorts: Which resorts are most suitable for families while offering a luxury experience?
- Luxury Skiing: What is a luxury ski holiday?
- Powder Byrne Ski Programmes: What can children expect from these programmes?
- Childcare Options: What does Powder Byrne offer for babies and toddlers?
- Ski Time for Parents: How much ski time can parents expect?
- Options for Non-Skiers: What can non-skiers do?
- Combining Luxury with Family Needs: How to achieve a luxurious experience with your family?
These questions are frequently asked by families planning their first luxury ski holiday. Whether you’re a family of complete beginners wanting to learn together, or parents who are avid skiers eager to share their passion, Powder Byrne excels in finding the perfect ski solution for every family.

1. Advice for Parents Booking Their First Luxury Family Ski Holiday
Planning a family ski holiday involves considering how much time you want to spend together. Avid skiers are drawn to the mountains for the thrill of skiing and exploring, which can be challenging when you have young children. It’s no surprise many people take a break from skiing when they start a family.
Ensuring you have the right support in place is crucial. Powder Byrne has excelled for decades by offering tailored services that can be planned well in advance. As the saying goes, “Happy kids have happy parents.” There’s nothing worse than compromising your holiday because you’re worried your children won’t enjoy it.
Reduce stress by speaking to a specialist who can cater to each family member’s needs. You don’t necessarily need to be in a top-named resort. Sometimes, a gentler introduction with quieter slopes can boost children’s confidence before progressing to busier resorts.
Be realistic about your objectives for your first luxury ski holiday. While there are many DIY and budget options, they often involve compromises. Get it right, and your children will be begging to return, setting the stage for a lifetime of memorable skiing experiences.
2. Choosing the Right Resort for Your Family
There are many fantastic resorts, but only a few will be perfect for your family at a specific time.
Most of Powder Byrne’s destinations are hand-picked because they are suitable for first-time skiers. The exclusive services and local teams make all the difference in your experience. As a British-Swiss brand, we naturally recommend Swiss resorts, but there are also wonderful options in Austria and the Italian Dolomites with excellent properties and Powder Byrne services.
Top ski-in/ski-out hotels are rare without compromising on the property itself. Travelling with Powder Byrne means that whilst the best properties may sometimes be a short shuttle away from the slopes, with the luxury shuttle service (loaded with your skis and bubbles), this process is completely seamless.
Consider what programmes are available for each family member. Powder Byrne offer exclusive Learn to Ski in Style programme for adult beginners all the way through to the pb Creche and Yeti Primer for the youngest clients.

3. The Right Age for Kids to Start Skiing
Children develop at different speeds, so it’s about finding the right age for your child. Some children have natural coordination and are ready from a young age, while others benefit from a gentler start and will develop when the environment is right.
Parents know their children best. There is no ‘perfect age’ to start skiing. The first experience is crucial, and for those ready at three years old to take their first tentative steps on the slopes, our Yeti Primer programme provides the ideal start. Over four decades, it has been tried, tested, and developed by our most demanding clients—the toddlers, of course!
4. Make It Fun and They’ll Build a Lifelong Love of Skiing
Our famous Yeti programme, for 4-9 year olds is designed to create a fun environment where children feel safe, supported, and can learn at their own pace. We avoid calling it “ski school”; instead, as a Yeti, they enjoy fun and games throughout the ski day, skiing in small groups of friends, and participating in organized activities and supervised supper back at the hotel. This relaxed atmosphere with lots of encouragement and support ensures they’re not even aware they’re in ski school!
The high quality of instruction is ensured by small group sizes and the additional support we provide, allowing the instructor to stay focused on skiing. Each Yeti group is led by a qualified instructor, supported by a Yeti assistant who offers encouragement, hands out biscuits when energy levels dip, and handles comfort breaks to keep lessons on track.
The Yeti week culminates in a demonstration on the final morning, where Yetis showcase their new skills by racing through gates to the applause of proud parents.
As their skills improve, we introduce more structured technical sessions, encouraging strong skiers to explore new skills and disciplines. Our SnoZone and PB Ski Academy programmes build on mountain awareness and safe skiing, offering structured group instruction through the teenage years, ensuring they become well-rounded skiers in all conditions and terrain.
5. Peace of Mind for Those Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
For decades, we’ve been supporting families traveling with babies and toddlers through our dedicated PB Crèche service, designed to give parents peace of mind so they can enjoy the sport they love. Adhering to UK childcare standards, our crèche managers are fully qualified NNEB or equivalent nursery nurses. We welcome babies from 4 months old, and toddlers up to age 4 will be engaged with indoor and outdoor activities from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, six days a week.
While providing a great crèche environment filled with fun and stimulating toys and games is essential, our pre-travel service is perhaps the most critical element in ensuring a seamless experience. Traveling with very young children presents challenges, but with the right plan and support, none are insurmountable. Our Client Concierge team will provide every detail in advance and arrange a call with our crèche manager before you travel to discuss all the specifics.
We offer a pre-travel purchasing service for all your baby essentials, having them ready in your room upon arrival—one less thing to worry about when packing! We provide necessary baby travel seats for transfers, buggies in our crèches, and can arrange for microwaves, bottle warmers, and puréed food with the hotels. In short, everything has been anticipated, and our team is ready to take away all the hassles. Our team is also available for evening babysitting so you can fully enjoy your holiday. Additionally, we offer a private nanny service alongside our crèche programme.

6. Don’t Forget It’s Your Luxury Holiday Too—We Ensure You Make the Most of It
A luxury family holiday should be tailored to your preferences. With Powder Byrne, your precious time is maximised without any hassle. Our resort management and exclusive ski guiding for adults create the ideal environment for parents to ski in small groups, hosted by amiable Powder Byrne guides. These guides ensure everyone skis at a comfortable pace.
Our guides organise your ski day, plan beautiful lunch stops, find the best snow and quietest slopes, and use their local knowledge to enhance your experience. They’ll even carry your skis, coordinate shuttles, and handle logistics so you can focus solely on enjoying your skiing. One client aptly described it as ‘leave your brain at the door’ skiing, which perfectly captures what a holiday should be.
7. Plenty of Mountain Activities for Non-Skiers to Enjoy
Non-skiers or casual skiers are well taken care of at Powder Byrne. We recognise that a ski holiday is about more than just downhill skiing. Our Client Concierge will discuss options for non-skiers before you travel, and our Mountain Host programme offers a range of activities unique to each destination. This ensures you don’t miss out on the mountain experience or the social aspect of the guides’ lunches.
Most of our properties feature world-renowned spa facilities for you to enjoy at your convenience. Our team can make any arrangements in advance so you can truly relax.
8. Bring the Grandparents and Make It a Real Family Affair
More clients are traveling with multiple generations, and our luxury apartments in Arosa are especially popular for larger families. These accommodations offer privacy, space, and multiple bedrooms with ensuite facilities. Big family celebrations are a tradition at Powder Byrne, and we work with clients to arrange bespoke festive celebrations that delight kids and grandparents alike.

9. Cherish Family Holidays and Make the Most of Your Time Together
As parents, we understand that family holidays are increasingly significant, allowing everyone to pause and create memories together without screens and distractions.
There are many options available, but also many pitfalls to avoid. Clients trust Powder Byrne to take the hassle out of planning and preparation, ensuring things run smoothly. We’re here to share ideas and help you create the perfect family holiday.
10. Don’t Leave It Too Late—Plan Ahead to Secure the Best Options
Planning is crucial as skiers tend to secure their arrangements throughout the year, often more than 12 months in advance, to ensure they get the accommodations they want.
It’s never too early to start discussing your plans with an expert Travel Consultant. This allows you to explore all options and make important decisions well in advance, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable holiday.
For more information, call one of our Travel Consultants on 020 8246 5300