New Family Hotel: Schiefergut Flachau
Starting December 3, 2026, when you arrive in Flachau, in…
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Winter Vacations with Kids
A great winter vacation for families depends on two things: a family hotel in a ski resort that’s truly designed for children, and childcare that does more than just watch over them. Original Kinderhotels Europa naturally combine both—and complement them with a wide range of winter sports activities for the whole family: skiing, sledding, ice skating, and playing in the snow are just as much a part of the experience here for young and old alike as ski lessons for two-year-olds. Pedagogically trained staff are a fundamental part of a family hotel on the slopes—not an extra program that costs extra.
Here's what sets our winter children's hotels apart:
- The nearest lift is within walking distance—ideally, right outside the hotel door
- Cross-country skiers will also find plenty to enjoy: classic and skating trails in an area with guaranteed snow
- Skis, boots, and poles are stored overnight in the hotel’s ski room instead of in the hotel room
- If you don’t have your own gear, the nearest ski rental shop is usually just a short walk away
Learning to Ski at a Family Hotel: The Right Way to Get Started, Based on Age
Ages 2 and up
Smiley's Toddler Ski School
A fun introduction: getting to know the snow, the equipment, and the first sensations of gliding—all without any pressure to perform.
Groups of up to 5 children per instructor
Practice slope located no more than 300 m from the hotel
Ages 3 and up
Classic Children's Ski Course
As soon as their motor skills allow, children at the Original Kinderhotels Europa move on to regular children’s ski lessons and work specifically on developing their technique.
Short distances between the hotel, the practice slope, and the ski runs
Child-friendly practice slopes instead of adult slopes
In Austria, helmets are mandatory for children up to age 15
It’s better to rent equipment than to buy it—children outgrow it quickly
Ages 3 and up
Ski Lessons for Adults
While the kids are at the toddler ski school or in a kids’ ski class, you parents can use the time to enjoy your own day on the slopes—whether to brush up on your technique or try skiing for the very first time.
- Courses and private lessons can be booked directly through the local ski school
- Uninterrupted time on the slopes while the kids are well taken care of
- Short distances between the hotel, childcare, and your own practice slope
Family-Friendly Hotel on the Slopes: What This Means for Your Winter Vacation
A family hotel in a ski resort is more than just a hotel with a ski storage room. It determines how much of a ski vacation with children is actually spent skiing—rather than traveling back and forth between the hotel and the valley station. That’s why Original Kinderhotels Europa are deliberately located in ski resorts such as Pitztal, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Gerlos, and Ski amadé, where the distances between your room, the practice slope, and the main slopes are short.
At Smiley's Toddler Ski School, this principle is firmly embedded:
The practice slope is no more than 300 meters from the hotel. This means your ski vacation with kids starts right on the slopes—not after a bus ride to the nearest ski resort.
- Family hotels located right in established Tyrolean and Salzburg ski resorts
- Beginnerslope max. 300 m from the hotel —no transfer to the “diaper” ski school needed
- Short distances save energy that the kids need for the actual day of skiing
Destinations for Your Winter Vacation with Kids
You can currently find family hotels right on the slopes through Original Kinderhotels Europa in two regions—both with direct access to a ski resort:
FAQ: Questions About Winter Vacations with Children
At Original Kinderhotels Europa, children as young as 2 can start at Smiley’s Toddler Ski School, in groups of no more than 5 children per instructor. Starting around age 3, children can join a traditional children’s ski course.
Yes, in Austria, children up to age 15 are required to wear helmets on the slopes. At the Original Kinderhotels Europa, we make sure you can conveniently rent or purchase skis, boots, and helmets right on site.
The internal training and professional development platform of Original Kinderhotels Europa for childcare staff, featuring over 100 courses on pedagogy, developmental psychology, and communication, led by Andrea Ulbing.
A standardized registration system used in all Original Kinderhotels Europa locations, ensuring that care teams have quick and consistent access to the most important information about each child.A standardized registration system used at all Original Kinderhotels Europa locations, ensuring that care teams have quick and consistent access to the most important information about each child.
Age, group sizes, daily schedule, and a complete list of all current partner hotels for the Windel Ski School are detailed on their own page. kinderhotels.com/unsere-highlights/windelskischule.
A family hotel on the slopes or in a ski resort is located so close to the ski facilities that children can reach the practice slope or the lift without a long walk. At Original Kinderhotels Europa, this is clearly demonstrated by Smiley’s Diaper Ski School: The practice slope is no more than 300 meters from the hotel, so a ski vacation with children begins right on the slopes instead of at a valley station.
The network is bound by a certified quality seal: Each member hotel must pass strict, recurring quality inspections to be eligible to display it. In the winter program, this is reflected in two unique components that aren’t found in every family hotel partnership: the network’s own Kinderhotels Competence Academy, with over 80 training courses, and Smiley’s Diaper Ski School, which introduces children as young as 2 years old to snow and skiing right at the hotel.
