Plan Now for Christmas at a Ski Resort

If you don’t already own one, it’s time to reserve a family-sized condo to spend Christmas at a ski resort. It’s a trend in winter family travel, growing ever more popular, and for good reason.

Dinner delivered, no roasting pan to scour, gifts stacked beside the fireplace (fireplaces are almost required in a slope-side condo), rosy-cheeked children just in from skiing – what’s not to like?

You don’t even need to be skiers; most resorts offer plenty of other activities for a winter vacation. Skating rinks, snow tubing hills, mountain coasters, winter canopy tours and cross-country and snowshoe trails beckon families to play outdoors. For those who prefer indoor entertainment, there are swimming pools, luxurious spas, game rooms and activity centers.

How do you carry Christmas presents in that SUV full of bulky winter clothes and ski equipment? Wrapping them after you arrive not only means you can pack them more efficiently, but also means sneaking off to wrap presents in secret adds to the pre-Christmas anticipation.

What of big gifts? Snap a picture and gift wrap it. This is a good excuse to use those colorful gift bags and a package of red tissue paper for wrapping. The bags pack flat and come with their own gift tags.

Don’t overlook doing a bit of Christmas shopping once you arrive. Sweatshirts with the resort logo will bring back happy memories of sitting around a bonfire drinking hot chocolate and making s’mores with new-found ski buddies.