So, you’ve booked a ski holiday but what do you take with you? Here at Chalet Floralie, skiing runs in our veins and with over 10 years’ experience dealing in luxury hospitality, we know what is essential for your first time on the slopes and what is not. Listed below we have detailed a ski holiday checklist, from essentials to fully enjoy your ski holiday, to what to wear for après or when chilling in the chalet, meaning all you need to do is check each item off as you pack and you can be sure you’ll have everything you’ll need! You will, of course, need to remember to pack all the usual holiday items yourself but you don’t need us to remind you to bring an adaptor or enough underwear!
SKI WEAR ESSENTIALS
Within this first list are the true essentials for any skiing holiday and without these, you can’t ski. The following items can always be rented from the resort but if you’ve been bitten by the skiing bug, it might be worth investing in your own. One thing to remember, whether you buy or rent, is to ensure you’ve got a good fit as there is nothing worse than a wobbly helmet or loose salopettes and regardless of how un-wobbly your helmet is, and how stable you are on the slopes, remember to bring your travel insurance documents.
– Helmet (can be rented in resort)
– Ski boots (can be rented in resort)
– Skis/snowboard (can be rented in resort)
– Ski poles (can be rented in resort)
– Travel insurance (with printed info)
WHAT TO WEAR SKIING
From things you’ll find you won’t be able to live without on the mountain, to the extras that will just take up space in your suitcase, there’s a huge variety of items to wear skiing. We’ve listed the essentials. These items are all about keeping you warm, safe and protecting your body/eyes.
Salopettes, ski jackets and ski goggles can sometimes be rented in resorts – but as you’re going to spend most of your holiday in them, it can be nice to have your own. Ski jackets in particular can be pricey additions to an alpine trip, but the savvy-shoppers out there can find bargains in shops such as TK Maxx, Decathlon or Trespass.
- Ski jacket (new: £150-500).
- Salopettes (new: £50-300).
- Ski goggles (new: £15-50).
- Thermal ski socks
- Thermal leggings, long-johns or thermal tights (not cotton, as it absorbs moisture)
- Thermal long-sleeved tops (lots of layers is crucial, not thick jumpers)
- Scarf or neck warmer
- Good ski gloves
- Thermal inner gloves
- Hand warmers
For boarders:
- Wrist guards
- Shorts with bum pads
WHAT TO TAKE SKIING
It’s not just about what you wear on the hill – there are also a whole host of items to take with you when you go skiing. For instance, the sun reflects heavily on the snow and so without sun cream you’ll end up with traditional ski goggle panda eyes! Tissues and pocket snacks are also handy for chilly, runny noses and sugar lows.
- Sun cream
- Lip balm
- Hand cream
- Tissues
- Pocket snacks
- Hip flask (well, why not?)
WHAT TO WEAR FOR APRÈS SKI
When you come off the hill, there’ll be nothing you want more than a hot shower and some comforting clothes. Remember, you are on a mountain, surrounded by snow, so take lots of warm layers, a hat and thick, warm boots. Bars and restaurants get hot, so make sure your layers are easy to remove once you’ve had a vin chaud or a hearty meal!
While some resorts and chalets are very casual in the evenings, in some, people like to get a little dressed up. Saint Martin de Belleville does offer some après ski bars but they do not require you to be too chic. Chalet Floralie is your home for the week and so when relaxing in the evening we invite you to wear whatever you are most comfortable in, whether it be jeans and a T-shirt, or something a little more formal.
- Fleeces and thin jumpers
- Warm gloves
- Beanie Hat
- Snow boots or decent footwear with good grip
- Sunglasses
- Swimming costume (most resorts have an indoor pool or a spa)
- T-Shirts
- Warm socks
- Jeans/trousers
- Slippers
- Ear plugs (for nights when you don’t want to party but others do!)
SKI HOLIDAY CHECKLIST
These items are the most subjective of the whole ski packing list! There are certain things that you’ll definitely need – painkillers and plasters – and others that you can probably do without, but they do make the overall holiday smoother.
First Aid
- Ibuprofen gel
- Plasters
- Blister packs
- Deep heat
- Painkillers
Useful Items
- Pocket snow wax
- GoPro/other action camera
- Lift pass holder
- Money for food on the go and change for tips
- Torch
- Fold-away shovel and snow chains (if you’re driving)
Home Comforts
- Flask
- Power bank
- Portable speaker
- Multi-tool (especially useful if it has a bottle opener!)
- Books
For inspiration, be sure to check out our blog for our top five books about mountains you have to read this winter
Do you have any ski essentials you can’t live without on the hill? Let us know in the comments on our Facebook or Instagram pages!
