The 5 best Landal resorts for family ski holidays in Europe

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If you like the comfort and space of a holiday-park stay, but want the fun of a proper winter sports holiday, the Landal ski-friendly resorts are a brilliant option for family holidays in Europe. They offer self-catered apartments, great facilities for kids and direct access to family-friendly ski areas without the hectic feel of the bigger Alpine towns. You can even enjoy activities like ice-skating, tobogganing, sleigh-rides and all sorts nearby. Below are five of the best choices for UK families – each with an overview, travel details and a handy Frugal Mum tip to help keep costs down.

1. Landal Resort Maria Alm, Austria

Landal Resort Maria Alm sits in the beautiful Hochkönig ski region and is one of the most family-friendly spots for winter holidays in Austria. The resort is surrounded by gentle slopes and the ski school in Maria Alm takes children from around 4 years old. Apartments are modern and spacious, giving families the flexibility of self-catering and plenty of room for drying wet layers at the end of the day. Off the slopes, there’s an indoor swimming pool, a spa and lots of snowy walking paths. The Maria Alm Resort area also offers horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating and toboggan runs – the kids will love it!

Flying to Salzburg Airport is likely to be the easiest way to reach Landal Resort Maria Alm, with a transfer time of around seventy minutes. If you’re visiting over the festive season, plan a trip to the infamous Salzburg Christmas market too. When it comes to cost, Austria tends to sit in the mid-range price bracket with Maria Alm offering solid value compared to the larger French resorts. Frugal Mum Tip: Check out their offers – when renting from the on-site Intersport, kids under 10 go free when both parents rent ski equipment. And, you can save 5% on the children’s ski school by booking more than 30 days in advance. For more information, up-to-date offers and prices for your dates – click here to check out Landal Resort Maria Alm on the Landal website.

2. Landal Winterberg, Germany

Landal Winterberg is a great choice for family ski holidays without the bigger price tag or the long transfers of the Alps. The slopes in Winterberg are smaller but perfectly suited to beginners and young children, and English speaking instructors are common. This Landal resort has a simple layout with easy access to chairlifts and gentle pistes – it’s situated right on the Winterberg ski slopes which makes it perfect for hassle-free family holidays. Plus, the holiday park format means you get spacious apartments, an indoor pool, play areas and lovely snowy walking routes. Nearby, the kids can enjoy activities like tobogganing and snow-tubing, and there’s even bobsleighing available if you fancy something a bit different!

To reach this resort, you can fly to Dortmund, Cologne or Frankfurt (they have fabulous Christmas markets too!) and travel onwards by car or train. Or, cross to France via ferry or Le Shuttle – it’s around a 6 hour drive from Calais. Winterberg is one of the best value ski options in Europe for families and ideal for short breaks. Frugal Mum Tip: Look for midweek stays if possible – Winterberg tends to be busier at weekends when local visitors arrive from nearby cities. For more information, up-to-date offers and prices for your dates – click here to check out Landal Winterberg on the Landal website.

3. Landal Katschberg, Austria

The Landal Katschberg Resort is ideal if you want to roll out of bed and straight onto the slopes – the apartments are right next to the ski area, which is brilliant for family holidays when you have children carrying helmets and skis. The Katschberg ski region is known for wide, family-friendly pistes and a dedicated children’s area, and many ski schools take little ones from age 3 or 4. Non-ski activities include the holiday park’s swimming pool, a long toboggan run, horse-drawn sleigh rides and winter walking trails. You can take part in the Katschberg Adventweg trails on selected dates across November and December.

To reach Landal Katschberg, fly into Salzburg or Klagenfurt Airport – the drive time from both airports to the resort is around 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you’re visiting over the festive season, this would also be a great opportunity for a trip to the infamous Salzburg Christmas market. Families can usually find good value here because Austria remains more affordable than the French Alps during peak school holiday weeks. Frugal Mum Tip: Book your equipment hire online before you travel – prices are usually cheaper and you’ll avoid queues on your first morning. For more information, up-to-date offers and prices for your dates – click here to check out Landal Katschberg on the Landal website.

4. Landal Vierwaldstättersee, Switzerland

Landal Vierwaldstättersee, based near the Morschach-Stoos ski area in Switzerland, is perfect for relaxed and scenic family holidays over the winter season. The children’s ski land is ideal for beginners, and Stoos offers gentle slopes with stunning lake and mountain views. This Landal holiday park has excellent facilities with things like indoor pools, a children’s splash area, bowling, soft play, VR and more. It’s perfect for families who don’t want to ski every day, and for fun in the evenings when you want to escape the cold. Nearby, you’ll also find ice-skating, sleigh rides, dog sledding and a toboggan run – what more could you want from a winter getaway?!

For stays at Landal Vierwaldstättersee, fly into Zurich Airport which is about an hour’s drive from the resort. Switzerland is at the pricier end of the scale but staying in a holiday park apartment instead of a traditional Swiss hotel can bring the cost down significantly for families. Frugal Mum Tip: Self-cater most meals – Swiss restaurants are lovely but can be very expensive. For more information, up-to-date offers and prices for your dates – click here to check out Landal Vierwaldstättersee on the Landal website.

5. Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria

Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim is set in the beautiful Carinthian mountains and gives families direct access to a lovely ski area with plenty of gentle slopes. The resort is well known for its excellent ski schools, with lessons available from around age 4, and the area is especially popular with beginners and improving children. The nearby Römerbad thermal spa is a huge bonus and perfect for a relaxing afternoon when you want a break from skiing. The holiday park offers spacious self-catered apartments, a swimming pool on-site, easy access to the lifts and lots of winter walking routes to explore as a family. Nearby, you’ll also find an ice-skating lake, tobogganing and sleigh rides.

The easiest way to reach this resort is by flying to Klagenfurt Airport – it’s then around an hour’s drive to Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim. Prices in this region are often more affordable than the big French resorts, making it a solid choice for families. Frugal Mum Tip: Check for Bad Kleinkirchheim’s special “Kids for €1” lift pass days – it can bring the cost down massively if your dates are flexible. For more information, up-to-date offers and prices for your dates – click here to check out Landal Bad Kleinkirchheim on the Landal website.

What makes a ski resort family friendly?

Choosing the right resort for your family ski holidays can make or break a getaway with little ones, but the Landal winter sports holiday parks are all designed with families in mind so they’re a great option if you’re heading to Europe over the colder months. When you’re selecting the best resort for your family skiing trip, look for:

Plenty of gentle beginner areas with magic carpets and easy lift access
Good quality ski schools that offer lessons for different age groups
Short transfer times so you are not stuck on a long journey with tired children
Accommodation close to the slopes, ideally ski in and ski out
Affordable lift passes and child discounts
Non-ski activities such as sledging, sleigh rides, tubing, ice skating or swimming
Safe and walkable villages where everything is close together
Self-catering facilities to keep costs down

I hope that this article has helped you to choose the best Landal Resorts for your family ski holidays in Europe. These are 5 great options for winter getaways with the kids, with good facilities both on and off the slopes. You’ll find Germany and Austria more budget-friendly than Switzerland – and you can click here to head to the Landal website for even more fabulous options for family ski holidays. Or, for details on all inclusive packages, check out this article: Are all inclusive ski holidays worth it for families? Have fun! 😊