ni Plan carefully for fun family ski outings A FAMILY ski vacation, like parenthood itself, can be one of life’s most memorable and satis- fying adventures — or a potent argument for celibacy. located? Is lunch included, or is it available at additional cost? @ Jf your child is old enough to begin skiing, is rental equip- ment included in the cost of a lesson? Are lifts? e@ ff your child needs equip- ment, is the rental shop readily accessible? Can equipment be stored overnight at the ski school? e@ If your child is already a competent skier who would like to ski with siblings or friends, is the ski terrain easy to figure out? @ if your child is old cnough to wander around town after ski- ing, is the resort compact? Is there a supervised facility with soft drinks, games and other youngsters? Reprinted with permission from Skiing. Distributed by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. By Claire Walter . Contributing Writer The right place at the right time will offer an experience that makes a. lifetime of wonderful memories. The wrong one guaran- tees a nightmare. .. .There’s no single best family ski “resort, ‘but ‘there are many ex- . ‘cellent ones. A place suitable for a © souple with an infant may not be . Tight:-for a family with lively _ school-age children or vaguely an- | ., tisocial teen-agers. -+ The decision where to ‘go can be «tough in- this age of his/hers/ theirs: families, two-career couples - with busy. schedules to juggle and ‘sophisticated . children _ who are. equally at home in the air, on the Slopes and under a palm tree. “There .are some general : /_ Parameters. Adults, who after all ‘aye paying. the freight, are entitled “to have the kind of skiing experi- © ence they would select if they were Kiing. solo, but-the success or - ailure of ‘a family vacation can - hinge on show suitable a place is "parents like to ski with cir children, : while others prefer . QO put them in ski school. Since . teaching one’s own child is prob- — ably the world’s second-worst idea “right after. teaching one’s spouse ‘how to drive, enrolling beginners -in ski school is a good tactic. Six- to. 12-year-olds need classes -designed to accommodate’ their ability to learn fast and stay inter- ested. Children sometimes: no longer wish to be with their parents — _ teens who have been skiing since ‘they were tykes (and may outski | their parents) enjey skiing with . their peers in fast-moving classes, :, usually, taught by young instruc- ‘tors who won’t spend a lot of _ time talking or. drawing pictures in | *.-the snow with a pole. ___ Skiing is the force that drives the. vacation, and the terrain ought : 'to..be® right for’ everyone. - The ideal resort will be within driving - distance of home or easonably close to an airport. : Choice: family resorts will have ‘a quick, easy commute to the . -Slopes by foot or by free, regular- . = Ty scheduled shuttle buses. Skiing families usually prefer ‘> condos. for their spaciousness, privacy and the avaiiability of a kitchen, laundry facilities and enough bathrooms. ‘ . Whether you prefer a condo, a hovel or..a. casual lodge, you'll want to make sure there are ample opportunities for children to amuse themselves after the lifts shut down. Most major resorts now have a central reservation service (often with toll-free mumbers) that can be mined for specific information about nurseries, children’s ski schools, accommodations and resort layouts to help you narrow your selection. Here are some questions to ask. @ If you ace traveling with an infant, how young a baby will the nursery accept? Are reservations required? Is a deposit necessary? Is it refundable if you have to cancel? @ If you have a pre-skiing child going into a nursery, what is the ratio of caregivers to charges? Where, exactly, is the nursery omethings you just can’t do half way. But then : skiing is like that. 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