Family skiing made simple
- Emma Hartfield
Published: October 14, 2026 at 10:48 AM
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With two teenagers in tow, find out how Good Food health editor Emma Hartfield found her first family snow holiday
The undeniable admin of a family ski holiday means I entered our first attempt with trepidation. The requirement for warm, waterproof clothing, physical exertion and early starts weren’t ticking many boxes on the holiday hit list, particularly for two teenagers. However, our 10 days of Scandi skiing were joyous, freeing and bonding, even for a family that usually seeks out the laziest, sunniest escapes they can. And, happily, very little organisation and lugging about of hefty kit was needed.
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The first unexpected success was what must be the world’s most convenient airport: the Scandinavian Mountains Airport on the border of Sweden and Norway is shiny, modern and spacious, and just a 20-minute drive from our first destination, the Swedish ski resort of Sälen. There are direct flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester.
Sälen
We arrived during a blizzard, so we were thankful for the minimal transfer. Plus, the fresh layer of snow saw us through our sunny week, right at the end of the season. Sälen is one of five SkiStar resorts within 40 minutes of the airport, and a ski pass from any of these allows slope access to all. There are even ski lifts and a free bus service connecting neighbouring resorts, so there are endless runs for skiing.
The SkiStar experience is designed to make your trip smooth. Everything you need is on site, from a variety of restaurants and bars, to equipment hire and storage lockers. If you’re staying in the main hotel, you can head down to the breakfast buffet in the morning, then walk to the changing rooms to pick up skis and boots from your personal locker and ski straight out to the lifts. It couldn’t be easier – and, even better, there’s no need to cart wet or heavy gear around. Handily, there's also drying cupboards in rooms and the option of a pre-arrival grocery order (for those staying in chalet accommodation). When you’re skiing with children, these built-in conveniences make all the difference.
We also took a snowmobile ride to try local speciality waffles with cloudberry jam – crispy, light batter topped with whipped cream and jam made from the native berries, which are similar in appearance to raspberries, but with an orange colour and milder flavour. They provided a well-needed calorie boost for skiing. Other popular toppings include prawns, or for richer fuel, try potato rosti with lingonberries and bacon.
The free bus service means it’s easy to travel to restaurants around the resorts. So, while there's plenty of solid family fare available without leaving the compound, a short exploration can lead you to something special. Via the bus from Sälen – Sweden’s largest ski resort – are several restaurants included in the renowned White Guide, an independent guide to the best eateries in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Particularly recommended are the immaculate meats at carvery Lammet & Grisen; Appetito's high-end Italian, run by the charismatic Ulf, a Swede obsessed with classic Italian food and wine; and Frö, which serves hyper-local foraged fine dining. Finally, for classic Swedish dishes in a 17th-century dining room – including more cloudberry waffles – is Gammelgården. The wine and spirits can be a little pricey, but these are all excellent spots.
Trysil
We also visited the sister resort at Trysil, a short drive across the border into Norway. Here, there are tougher slopes, but still plenty that are suitable for children – from wide, gentle nursery slopes with button lifts, or the ski school that takes children from age three to nine, at all levels. As with the other SkiStar resorts, there's also a spa with a swimming pool, saunas, steam rooms and jacuzzis to relax in after your day on the slopes.
It was all a revelation to novice skiers, and somehow our very active holiday was also a very relaxing one.
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A seven-night trip with SkiStar, split between Sälen and Trysil, is roughly £4,700 for a family of four, including a family room, half-board, ski passes and equipment hire.
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