Going on a ski vacation with 10 people… Good idea or bad idea?

Feb. 5, 2024

Assuming you’re reading this article, it’s probably because you’re interested… but a little worried! Let’s take a look together at the pros (and things to watch out for) of group vacations. And check out our tips for a successful trip with 10, 12, 14, or even 18 people!

@LaRosiereTourisme

When is a good time to plan a group ski vacation?

There are many opportunities to go on a group ski vacation:

- A group of siblings who decide to bring their spouses and children along for a big family reunion;
- Longtime friends who “promised to meet up again in 10 years” and decide to celebrate on the slopes. In memory of the not-so-distant days when they moved heaven and earth (and especially snowflakes) for the BDS (Sports Office) at their business school;
- A desire to bring together all the generations of the same family in an apartment for 18 people—grandparents, children, and grandchildren included…

Going on a ski vacation with 10 or more people fulfills the desire to get together as a group in adestination prized for its wide-open spaces and the variety of activities available there: the mountains!

Group Vacations: Who Should You Go With? Who Should You Avoid?

The success of a group vacation depends mainly on the people in the group (more than on the destination). Ask yourself this question: Do the people I’m thinking of inviting on a ski trip share the same mindset as I do? If you’re envisioning an active vacation but your friends or siblings swear by sleeping in until noon (and vice versa), you might end up getting on each other’s nerves…

Listen to your friends or family when they talk about their past vacations. Do they plan everything well in advance, or do they take things as they come? Do they prefer to do things on their own, or do they prefer to do everything as a group? Do they have any particular constraints—or quirks—that, on second thought, would be hard to put up with for an entire week?

Going on a trip with six people who are lactose intolerant when you’re dreaming of a week of raclette and fondue can be very frustrating… On the other hand, going on a trip with beginner skiers when you’re dreaming of freeriding can be a blast: they take their ski lessons during the day while the two of you head out to carve your own lines; and everyone meets up at 5 p.m. for après-ski. No need to worry about who gets to enjoy the powder first.

As you can see, you don't necessarily have to travel with people who share your passion. Travel with people who share your vision of a vacation.

@LaRosiereTourisme

Find a date that works for everyone

This is the hardest part of planning a group ski vacation! That’s why it’s essential to start planning well in advance—so everyone has time to make arrangements… and to give yourself the best chance of finding an apartment for 10, 12, 14 people—or even more!

Our tip: Narrow down your options to three possible weeks based on who you're traveling with (during or outside of school breaks? In the middle of winter or in the spring? Check out our comprehensive guide to ski vacations to help you choose the best time to go).

Then use a simple voting system to see which week works for the most people. For example, you could create a “2024 Ski Vacation” group on WhatsApp and use its poll feature. Or you could use the free scheduling tool Doodle, which is also very easy to use.

Lodge des Glaciers

Book a comfortable apartment for 10 people (or 18!)

“This is my space, this is your space.” This iconic line from *Dirty Dancing* applies to the accommodations you choose for your group vacation. Nothing like living in close quarters to put even the strongest friendships to the test…

Choose a large apartment with separate bedrooms (so that each couple or family can give free rein to their neat-freak or messy tendencies without annoying the other vacationers). Avoid “palm-offing” the couch on the only single person in the group, who deserves to sleep in a real bed just as much as everyone else. Consider a duplex or triplex to offer a little privacy (and peace and quiet) to families with young children.

Large picture windows are also ideal for further enhancing the feeling of space (in addition to the square meters of floor space, which you’ll have taken care to verify).

Another factor not to overlook: the number of bathrooms and toilets.

That's the advantage of a group vacation: when you travel with 10, 12, or 14 people, you benefit from economies of scale and can treat yourselves to a spacious, ultra-comfortable apartment for a lower cost than if you were traveling with just 2 or 4 people.

Group Vacations: All Together… Or Not!

It’s perfectly fine to go on a ski vacation with 10 people, but you may end up splitting into small groups of 2, 3, or 4 people for much of the trip. Don’t take it personally if some members of the group feel the need to spend time alone at times to recharge (a family with a baby, for example, or a couple who decide to treat themselves to a romantic evening at a Michelin-starred restaurant). Similarly, don’t apologize for needing a little time to yourself—to go get some bread, for example—even if you were the one who organized this big group vacation.

Vacations with 10 or more people are an exciting but exhausting experience. Talk it over before you leave to avoid upsetting or disappointing the more sociable members of the group (maybe even you?). Make sure everyone understands that there will be times when you’re all together, and other times when each person can do an activity they enjoy on their own, quietly by themselves. Allow yourself to be “ambiversional”: a perfect balance between extroversion and introversion, depending on your mood at the moment. All with kindness.

@LaRosiereTourisme

Activities to enjoy together, even when not everyone skis

Ski resorts, such as La Plagne, La Rosière or Tignes, are getting increasingly creative to help skiers and non-skiers alike enjoy activities together. How about a trapper camp evening? A long snowshoe hike to spot chamois from a distance with binoculars? Or perhaps a sledding or snake gliss ride? Feel free to ask activity providers for advice on organizing a group activity: some of them, like our partner Évolution 2, for example, specialize in hosting groups and seminars. Suffice it to say that organizing an activity for 10, 12, 14, or 18 people is no problem for them…

Even more ideas for non-skiers: check out our article “What to Do on a Ski Vacation… When You Don’t Ski? ”

Let's sum it up: going on a ski vacation with 10 people is a great idea… if you go with the right people and book the right apartment! So, make a list of your dream travel buddies, and we'll take care of the rest ;)

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