Words can’t explain the excitement I felt when I received the email last September to let me know I had made the Mega Sno’n’Ski famil for 2024.
And that was just the beginning. The months that followed featured a stream of communications to engage and get us prepared for what would be one of the best famils I’ve been on in 20 years.
The day finally came to board our flight to Canada. With 15 people from Sydney and 17 from Brisbane, we would meet in Vancouver and transit to Calgary.
Like all the best-laid plans, we were delayed out of Sydney and had to sprint to make our connection – we made it, but our luggage didn’t. Thanks to some very helpful Air Canada ground staff, our bags were delivered to our Banff hotel.
BEAUTIFUL BANFF
First stop was the Sunshine Village ski resort in Banff, famous for Canada’s best snow and three diverse mountain terrains, from double blacks to easy greens (more my style!).
After an easy transfer from Banff and a day’s skiing, you can head back for a hot tub and hit the bars and restaurants or, if you’re looking for something more luxurious, head to the Fairmont for dinner, which I can highly recommend; what a stunning hotel.
We spent our first night at the newly renovated Hotel Canoe & Suites before heading to the Banff gondola. It offers a view words again can’t explain but put it on your must-do list.
Next day we were up early to head to Lake Louise for first tracks. Was it worth it? Oh yes! Probably the most picturesque mountains in Canada and what a privilege to be the first to hit the slopes. A huge shout out to Ski Big 3.
After a morning of skiing, we headed to Chateau Lake Louise. After a hot chocolate, it was time to explore. If you’re not a diehard skier, don’t worry, the list of things to do is almost endless. Ice skating on the lake, a spa treatment, a sleigh ride, or the famous high tea with a view.
RAVISHING REVELSTOKE
It was time to leave Alberta and head to British Columbia. Revelstoke is home to the most vertical terrain in North America and at 5,620 feet it is a skier’s paradise.
I was thinking this was not the resort for me, but it was my favourite. Why? For so many reasons: ski in ski out, incredible Après and the small-town-charm-with-big-town-personality we experienced at the Village Idiot Bar & Grill.
STUNNING SUN PEAKS
Nursing a hangover, I climbed aboard the bus for our next stop, Sun Peaks. What followed was an amazing drive through the Rockies and on arrival we were in Canada’s second-largest ski resort.
It offers deep steeps, powder-choked glades and lovely wide runs. As an added bonus we enjoyed two perfect bluebird days.
WONDERFUL WHISTLER
Our final stop was Canada’s favourite family resort among Australian visitors and Whistler didn’t disappoint with something for everyone – if you can’t find something to make you happy in Whistler, you’re hard to please.
Incredible boutiques, art galleries, bars, restaurants, the best kids’ ski school in North America and a huge variety of accommodations, from apartments to hotels in the heart of the village.
If you’re as lucky as I was, you can also lay your head on one of the famous Fairmont pillows. Why not upgrade to Fairmont gold, where you will feel like royalty?
I still can’t believe I got to meet 31 amazing people, ski five resorts and be hosted by the most generous wholesaler in the world – thank you Sno’n’Ski, until next year.
If you’re reading this and wondering how you could experience all this in 10 days, sell Sno’n’Ski.
Sno’n’Ski Holidays have announced they will be running their Mega Famil in 2025 to Colorado for 30 agents. The incentive period runs from May 1 to September 30.
