Your first ski holiday starts well before you put on a pair of boots. The most useful decisions are simple: who is travelling, who wants to learn, how many days you can give it and what you want to do when you are off the slopes.
Club Med brings many parts of that holiday into one booking. This guide helps you see what still needs a decision, so you can arrive ready to enjoy your first morning on snow.
Start with your people, then choose your mountain
Write down each traveller’s age on the travel dates, skiing or snowboarding experience and priorities. A family with a toddler needs a different arrangement from a couple learning together. An experienced skier and a complete beginner can share a holiday without needing the same lesson group.
Use our resort finder to narrow the choice, then compare the actual room and programme offered for your dates. Do not choose on snowfall photographs alone. Beginner teaching, childcare, access arrangements and your flight timing matter just as much.
What is included, and what needs a separate budget?
The standard ski package combines accommodation, meals, selected drinks, group ski or snowboard lessons and lift passes. Eligible children’s clubs, entertainment and activities form part of the offer where available. Premium drinks and optional services can cost extra. For Asian ski resorts, Club Med currently describes the included lift pass as valid from the day after arrival through departure day. Your own booking confirmation remains the place to check the precise entitlement. Club Med Malaysia FAQ
Room: Occupancy, bedding and whether connecting rooms are confirmed
Group lessons: Age eligibility, discipline, level and the first session you can join
Lift pass: Valid dates and the ski area covered
Ski equipment: Rental package, sizes and the items included in the rental price
Winter clothing: What you will bring and what can be hired locally
Children’s care: Age band, opening days, places and any paid care
Flights and transfers: Whether each is included, and whether the transfer fits your flight
Optional experiences: Private tuition, spa, excursions and any dining supplements
Ski or snowboard rental is a separate cost, including equipment such as boots and helmets. Club Med also advertises jacket and trouser hire in Japan and China; ask about availability and sizes rather than assuming every item will be waiting. Club Med equipment and package guide
See our fuller all-inclusive ski holiday guide before comparing quotations.
Give your first lesson room to breathe
Treat arrival as a settling-in day. Locate the ski room, complete your equipment fitting, confirm your lesson meeting point and check the next morning’s programme. Arriving late and trying to organise everything just before class can turn a manageable first day into a rushed one.
Be honest about your experience when registering. “I have never skied” is useful information, not a disadvantage. Ask how beginners join the programme, especially if you are considering a short stay or arriving partway through a lesson cycle. Keep your first few days flexible instead of scheduling sightseeing around every lesson.
Club Med’s pre-arrival service can collect information to help organise equipment and lessons. It does not make chargeable rental free. Club Med first-time skier guide
Travelling with children: three ages to check
A resort’s minimum guest age, a children’s club age band and a lesson minimum age are different rules. A child being welcome to stay does not mean that supervised care or ski lessons are available for that child.
For example, Kiroro Grand accepts guests of all ages, while Kiroro Peak welcomes guests aged 12 and above. Check each child’s eligibility before selecting a room or paying for flights. Kiroro Grand · Kiroro Peak
Ask what parents should do during settling-in, what children need to bring and how collection works. Our children’s club guide is a useful next step.
Match the transfer before booking the flight
A flight arriving at the nearest airport is only part of the journey. Check the onward transfer’s operating days, last departure, meeting point and luggage allowance before you choose an airfare. Keep the return transfer in mind too, particularly for an early flight.
For Kiroro, Club Med warns that collective transfers do not cover every arrival and departure. Transfers may be included in a fly-and-stay package, whereas separately booked flights can require a paid transfer. Kiroro transfer information
A practical packing checklist
Separate your packing into three groups:
- For the slopes: base layers, insulating layers, waterproof outerwear, ski socks, gloves, goggles and the equipment you are not hiring.
- For the resort: comfortable indoor clothes, swimwear if relevant, and suitable shoes for walking outside.
- For the journey: booking documents, transfer instructions, chargers and a change of essentials in your cabin bag.
Before shopping, get the rental list in writing. This avoids buying bulky items unnecessarily or arriving without a small but essential accessory.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to ski before booking?
No. Choose a resort and arrival pattern that support complete beginners, then register at the correct level. There is no need to promise yourself an advanced run by the end of the week.
Should everyone in our family learn the same sport?
Not necessarily. Check age eligibility and lesson arrangements first, then let each person choose. Different groups may meet or finish at different times.
Can a non-skier come along?
Yes, provided the resort suits what they want from the trip. Review the non-ski programme for the actual season rather than assuming summer activities will run in winter.
Is a short stay enough?
It can provide an introduction, but travel, fitting and lesson start times take a larger share of a short break. Compare usable lesson days, not just hotel nights.
Plan your first ski holiday with Travelution
Send us your preferred dates, departure city, group size, children’s ages and everyone’s experience level. We can help you compare the resort, room, lesson arrangements and full trip cost together.
Guide checked 21 October 2026. Inclusions, schedules and eligibility can change; confirm the arrangements for your booking.