Guide to Planning a Stress-Free Holiday Ski Vacation

Between end-of-year deadlines, social obligations and kids' school calendars, finding the time to plan a Merry Christmas for your family can often lead to holiday headaches. Organizing a ski vacation might seem like an added stress, but some savvy families have found that a getaway to the mountains can actually be a sanity-saving maneuver and the key to a perfect Christmas.

Part of enjoying a stress-free vacation is choosing the right vacation planner. Some, such as Luxury Retreats in Canada and Resorts West in Park City, Utah, can take care of everything from holiday decorations to Christmas shopping, so you can arrive to a warmly decorated home with presents waiting under the Christmas tree. Resorts West can even arrange to have gifts, within certain restrictions, sent back to your home.

When reserving holiday accommodations, ask your hotel or vacation rental provider about concierge service and what arrangements you can make ahead of time, such as restaurant and activity reservations. Shipping your luggage ahead of time is one under-utilized trick can allow you to sail through even the busiest airport with relative ease. And you know where your luggage is going.

Reserving ski school well in advance ensures an even more seamless experience. Popular family ski areas like Steamboat and Deer Valley Resort can sell out quickly, and attempting a vacation without lessons for the kids is worse than heading to the beach at noon without sunscreen. Lodging amenities can also make a noticeable difference to your vacation. Choosing a home with ski-in/ski-out access, for example, can mean more time on the slopes and less time on a shuttle to the lifts.

A few less intuitive amenities can also enhance your ski vacation with their simple practicality. Washers and dryers, for example, can be a life saver when you have small children. Full kitchens, stocked before your arrival with your favorite foods, can mean a family breakfast whenever you like. Services like wireless Internet access, daily housekeeping and shuttle service can make your vacation feel just like home, only more leisurely. The ease is in the details when it comes to ski vacations, and when these details are taken care of, your vacation can begin to truly feel like the break you need.

One final consideration when making plans for a holiday ski vacation is the proximity of your resort to the airport. Resort in towns like Tahoe and Park City are less than an hour from a major airport, making them an easy choice for families who are short on vacation time or have small children. A few mountain towns, like Aspen, Colorado and Sun Valley, Idaho, have private airports if your budget allows.

No matter how you decide to spend your holiday vacation, consider that a ski trip with the family doesn't have to be a hassle. When planned in advance with the right accommodations and services, a family ski vacation can be one of most stress-free getaways of your family's year.