Why go?
The Czech Republic isn’t the first destination that springs to mind when you think of a family ski holiday. Yet Lipno is a top winter resort and just 20 minutes from Austria – a great place to introduce your kids to the slopes. Plus, you can combine it with a city break in Prague (a three-hour drive) or the historic town of Cesky Krumlov (with real brown bears in the castle moat).
Where to Stay and Eat
Families can stay at the resort in Chata Lanovka self-catering apartments right at the base of the ski lift from £6 per person per day.
There’s a self service restaurant in the ski village and a café and a more scenic restaurant at the top of the slope.
The lowdown
Ski pass prices:
Adult 19-60 years: £18
Child 6-15 years:£12
Child 16-18 years or student up to 26: £14.70
How to get there: easyJet flies from London Gatwick to Prague from Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester from £58.98 return per person.
Car hire from Prague airport with Sixt or Avis costs from around £80 per day
More info: czechtourism.com
Activities
Ski School
A non-intimidating slope is home to the Fox Club for children and novices of all ages. One on one or ski schools are available with friendly, English speaking instructors. When I took my daughter Scarlett aged 10 and her brother Fin aged 7, their smiley instructor Thomas was clad in bright red ski suit and devil horns on his black helmet! He was patient and soon had the kids skiing with stops, slaloming and even skiing Harry Potter style with a broom between their legs.
They loved the moving walkway, which Fin fell off a couple of times in his quest to hit Thomas with some sneaky snowballs. There are larger slopes for when you and the kids are ready with easy ski lifts. From the Fox School and the main slope by it’s side there’s a great view of the lake and the snowy mountains beyond.
Non-ski Activities
The great things about this resort is there are plenty of other activities to entertain the kids. The dry bobsleigh run is great fun for over 6s. (below 140cm, £1.80, above 140 cm £2.40)
There’s also an award winning treetop walk (adult £5.70, child 3-15 £3.60, family of two adults and up to four children up to 15 years £13.20) which has been built in harmony with the forest and gives breathtaking views over the 10km lake which can be ice skated down when frozen. The best bit about the treetop walk is the curly shoot that you can whizz down to descend. There’s also a fabulous woodland playground for kids with impressive wood carvings of foxes and other woodland creatures.
If your kids tire of the great outdoors, head inside to the Lipno Aquaworld with its trampoline, bouncy castle with a big cat mouth that closes on your squealing kids and best of all, an indoor pool.