Thinking about a couple of weeks in Banff with a 4 year old and a 2 year old...

[FairyBasslet]

Has anyone any experience of Banff with small children?

DH and I have been to Banff three times pre kids and loved it, but we're sorely tempted to take the plunge before DS starts school in September. We'd be looking at end of Feb/beginning of March, so a bit warmer for the little ones (and us!).

Any advice appreciated.

[MrLSG]

Not Banff, but we've taken ds1 to Canada skiing every year since he was born, and ds2 will be coming too this year: Ds1 will be in ski school (again) for 4 hours/day - he'll ski with use the rest of the day, and Ds2 will be in the daycare.

What are you planning on your kids doing?

[nailpolish]

lol

i thought you meant banff scotland

[nailpolish]

which is very good for dolphin and whale watching

[Totallytrue]

show off

[Lolski]

We have been to Banff pre DS (he is four) but now we go to Whistler as the trouble with Banff is that you have to drive to the mountains to ski. I don't know how old your little ones are but I would find it difficult all having to finish at the same time and not being able to take DS back to the hotel if I wanted to. Whistler is ski in ski out which we find much easier with a young one. It is also all pedestrianised which is great with kids. Our DS loved it last year. There is also loads to do if you don't ski. I tended to go sledging most days with DS while DP went off skiing !!!

[Lolski]

Sorry...just read the title again and seen that your little ones are two and four. I would definitely go for Whistler as opposed to Banff.

[FairyBasslet]

Well, we've booked it now so we'll just need to see how we get on.

Lol Nailpolish - DS would love Banff, Scotland as he adores whales and dolphins (and any other type of wildlife you care to mention).

Sorry Totallytrue, but I'm so excited - we went to Canada 5 years in a row between 1998 and 2002 and absolutely adore the place so it feels like some sort of homecoming

Lolski, we have also been to Whistler a couple of times pre kids as well and loved it too but we've always had better luck with the snow in Banff and Banff came up with the best deal for us atm. Maybe Whistler next year

We don't mind the ski buses to get to the slopes and I think the kids will be just as excited about them as the snow.

Will try DS on skis and see how he takes to it. I can't say I'm hugely comfortable putting the kids in ski school/day care every day so I think there will be lots of playing in the snow, swimming (hotel has a pool) and general exploring of the town. We'll also do our usual and hire a car to head to Calgary for a spot of shopping.

Where have you been in Canada MrsLSG? I always wanted our kids to start learning to ski there as I've done loads of ski school there in the past and the instructors are just superb ime.

Some friends (3 couples but no children) are planning a European trip but when we costed that, it was coming out at the same for a week as two weeks in Banff so for us, it was a bit of a no brainer.

[MrLSG]

MrsLSG? Sorry, but it's MrLSG. MrsLSG (under a different but related name) is around regularly, but the 'G' is a hang-over from Xmas a few years ago

We normally go to Big White and Silver Star. They are in the Okanagan, half way between Banff and Whistler - so they get much drier snow than Whistler without the cold of Banff. They are both true ski to/from the door resorts: no buses etc required, and the ski schools are 100% kid-friendly.

www.bigwhite.com
www.silverstarmtn.com

Less than 2 weeks and we'll be there again!

[Pruners]

Message withdrawn

[FairyBasslet]

Oops sorry MrLSG Thanks for the info re Big White and Silver Star.

[LizP]

We are taking our 3 to Sunshine for 5 days this year - after a week in Big White. We skied Banff pre kids, but tbh I couldn't face lugging our skis and their skis on the bus/up the gondola each day and anyway I like Sunshine best for skiing. Just hope we don't go stir crazy being trapped up there at night! Will you be putting the 2 year old in a different child care each day at each resort or is there one at the hotel you could use ? Our 3 year old is getting his first time on skis this year - but thinks he can do it already having seen video of older brothers skiing in the suit he will be wearing - thinks it is him.

[twelveyeargap]

I would do Whistler, even if just because of the altitude of Banff for the little ones.

Whistler is also really family orientated.

Whatever you do, either book childcare in advance, so you can actually go out skiing, or travel with a tour operator which offers childcare packages.