Checklist for skiing: What to take on a skiing holiday

The skiing holiday packing list is a very important step in the process of how to plan a skiing holiday, even more important than the first step onto the slopes. To help make it as simple as possible, we’ve put together this guide to the famous skiing holiday checklist, so that you can go skiing in Andorra or elsewhere with peace of mind.

Checklist for a skiing holiday

What to take for skiing?

As excitement builds ahead of your trip to the mountains, it’s time to start looking at the skiing holiday packing list, your trusty guide to what to take on a skiing holiday. For the most part, the checklist for skiing holiday trips will be the same as for any other holiday you go on, but there are a few items that you can’t forget that are specific to the wintery conditions of a ski resort.

In terms of what to wear on a ski holiday, the clothing items you’ll want to include on your skiing holiday checklist are:

  • Long underwear
  • Thick socks
  • Fleece
  • Ski jacket
  • Long trousers
  • Gloves
  • Neck gaiter or balaclava

Also, when deciding what to take on a skiing holiday, it’s best to avoid cotton clothing, as this material isn’t waterproof and isn’t breathable. Wool is fine, though, as are all other waterproof items.

Another part of how to plan a ski trip is to make sure you have all the ski equipment. Most of this can be rented from the ski resort, but, for the sake of this checklist for skiing holiday guide, here is a list of the main non-clothing ski equipment you’ll need:

  • Skis
  • Poles
  • Bindings
  • Helmet
  • Goggles
  • Boots

If the above skiing checklist seems daunting to you, don’t stress. When people ask ‘What do I need for a skiing holiday?’, they really want to know ‘What can’t I forget or leave off my skiing holiday packing list?’. And, the truth is that most things can be purchased at the ski resort if you forget them. That said, boots are one item that it really does make sense to bring with you, so that you can try them beforehand and make sure they’re comfortable.

As for constructing a checklist for skiing holiday for families, it won’t be all that different to the above. The main difference with the checklist for skiing holiday for families is that you’ll have to think about other entertainment for the children, as would be the case on any other holiday.

What do you need to go skiing for the first time?

Creating ski trip packing lists for skiing holidays for beginners isn’t actually all that different from putting together a list for advanced skiers. So, the skiing holiday checklist outlined above works for both beginners and seasoned pros, and everyone in between.

Plus, the good news for anyone unsure how to book a ski holiday for beginners is that most ski resorts have the majority of the equipment you’ll need there on site. You’ll also find ski lockers at Grandvalira, so that you have a place to store many of the items from your skiing holiday checklist.

The only difference if you’re a first-time skier or snowboarder, then, is that you’ll need to have booked up some skiing or snowboarding lessons in Andorra for when you arrive.

What food to bring when skiing?

When packing for your skiing trip, you might also consider bringing some snacks for skiing with you. Of course, there will be plenty of food for skiing on site, but it might be cheaper if you bring a few snacks with you in your luggage.

Which skiing snacks are recommended? Fruit is a good idea, but you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t go off or get squashed during the journey, which is why apples are a better option than bananas, for one example. Granola bars are another favourite food for skiing, and these can quite easily fit in your luggage.

What to wear at night on a ski holiday?

Keep in mind that you won’t be on the ski slopes the entire duration of your ski holiday. In fact, the minority of your 24 hours will be spent off the slopes. So, pack some nice evening attire for when you explore the Andorra restaurants, or some comfortable casualwear for when you’re experiencing the famous Andorran après-ski.

What other activities do you do on skiing holidays?

 Following on from the above, one key piece of advice for how to plan a skiing holiday is to keep in mind that there are many more activities other than just skiing and snowboarding. As well as the social activities after a day or skiing, Grandvalira also has various other Andorra winter activities, from snowshoeing to trying out a zip line to mushing.

These all, of course, require certain gear. While a lot of it will be the same as what do you need for a skiing holiday that only involves skiing, some of these activities will require additions to your skiing holiday checklist.

Given the beautiful scenery of Andorra, you might also fancy exploring the principality via a nice walk or a cycle, weather permitting. Again, this might require different gear, especially different footwear, so keep that in mind when packing for your skiing holiday.

Insurance for skiing holiday

Having seen all this information about what to take on a skiing holiday and the other activities you can try out, you might be wondering how much is a skiing holiday per person and the cost of skiing holiday experiences. You might also be wondering if you need insurance for skiing holiday.

Budgeting is, of course, an important part of how to plan a skiing holiday, but the answers to these questions will vary greatly from one family to the next, depending on whether you normally take out insurance for your holidays and on your specific needs.