Overpacking is definitely better than underpacking, but given airline restrictions, it’s better to make sure you aren’t bringing too much. Work out what you’ll need for each day and see what you can whittle down. Emergency replacements never come cheap! And save room for shoes! Flip flops will be handy for roaming around the hotel, and spare trainers that you don’t mind getting wet are necessary for the river (summer adventurers only!).
You don’t need us to tell you that kids are ruled by their bellies, but it’s worth remembering that there is nothing quite like a screech of hunger when you’re 30,000 feet in the air. Your Three Colour Mountain holiday provides breakfast, lunch and dinner, but even then there’s no guarantee your little ones aren’t going to kick off come the 11am stomach rumble. There are a number of really affordable supermarkets in town, so you can stock up on bits and bobs for big days out, and the breakfast buffet provides an array of fruit you can grab for the day.
Now the UK is no longer a part of the EU, roaming charges are starting to kick back in. Double check rule changes with your provider and be sure to take advantage of free WiFi in the hotel and restaurants.
Flying costs add up quickly! There’s the price of tickets and luggage, parking at the airport, paying to sit together on the plane, a coffee at the airport, transport once you’re in your destination country… It mounts up quick enough! If you’ve got time to spare, the drive is an easy, enjoyable one, taking around 12 hours from Calais to Szklarska Poreba. It’s motorway almost all the way, with some cool, cultural cities to stop off in en route.
Books, iPads crammed with films and an endless supply of crayons are going to save you fortunes on distractions.
Let your little ones scan the many trinket shops in town, but try to employ an end of the week rule with a strict budget. They can pick a souvenir or two the day before you head home, only after a week of adventure and great behaviour.
We go to huge lengths to make sure you’re as safe as possible on your holiday, but given that our winter program is skiing and our summer sees your hiking, climbing and mountain biking, there’s always a touch of risk. GHIC & in-date EHIC cards give you access to free or reduced state healthcare in Europe, but they don’t include mountain rescue. Insurance offers a little more coverage and can be obtained for a very small fee if you shop in advance. It’s worth noting that while an EHIC/GHIC card will get you healthcare, insurance will get you home!
Three Colour Mountain Holidays guarantee amazing adventures, beautiful surroundings whilst staying in luxury 5* accommodation. What's not to like!?! Check out our 2022 Summer Family Activity Holidays
From its stunning architecture to its breathtaking mountain ranges, verdant forests and beautiful beaches, Poland is a country that never fails to treat the eyes. Our resort, on the cusp of the UNESCO-protected Karkonosze National Park, is surrounded by nature. In winter, the towns are dusted with a story book coating of snow, whereas in summer a kaleidoscope of greens open out before you – just step into the forest and follow the trail down to the waterfall for a truly gorgeous day out.
Poland is still using the Polish Zloty, which transfers very generously against the pound. You get way more bang for your buck here, so whether you’re after a plush meal, more one-on-one ski lessons or a day at the shops, you’ll find that your money spreads a lot further. AND you're staying in a 5* Resort!
The ski is really amazing for young families here. The resorts surrounding us are full of gently meandering slopes – this isn’t high adrenaline, thundering-down-mountains skiing, this is family-friendly, super safe, gentle skiing, perfect for building confidence.
Poland is part of Europe so its roads are of a superb standard and the transport links are brilliant, whether you’re driving over or flying. It might feel like a million miles from home in terms of culture, but it’s a short hop across the continent.
5. CULTURE
Poland isn’t the most obvious choice for a family holiday, but once you get here you’ll understand why we picked it. It’s a little off piste if you’ll pardon the pun, but it’s an incredibly safe place full of generous hosts. Everyone at the hotel and on your activities will speak fluent, first-rate English, but venturing into town to meet the locals is all part of the adventure and is a great opportunity to pick up a few words (and fridge magnets, of course).
You’ll manage to cram a lot into a week away with Three Colour Mountains! Itinerary based activities aside, there’s plenty to do – chill out at the pool, go for a deep tissue massage, take advantage of onsite babysitters and head out for a superb meal, venture into the forest to hunt for mushrooms or explore the café culture.
The food presented in the hotels is hearty and delicious and generally designed to appeal to a wide European audience. It’s when you venture into town that you’ll be able to try something a little more local. Be sure to try a chimney cake (pillowy soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside pastry covered in whichever topping you desire) or a ptsy/ptsyie (a ludicrously huge dessert of crispy choux and glossy, whipped meringue) and head out into the centre one night to feast on beer and pierogi.
Given that this is an adventure holiday, this part should be pretty obvious! Poland is amazingly well-equipped for adventure tourism – the roads are in great condition for excursions further afield, the equipment available is modern and up to standard and the towns surrounding us are built for tourism – there is ski lift after ski lift to ride, so grab your camera and get ready for some incredible scenery.
Poland has some incredible history to explore and our base has its own story to tell. You might notice as you wonder around town that it has a distinctly Alpine feel. Founded by German colonists in the 1300s, it was named Schreiberhau and became famed for its glass factory. After the defeat of the Nazis in WWII, Schreiberhau was rezoned into Poland as part of territorial changes post WWII and renamed Szklarska Poreba.
Poland’s location in the heart of Eastern Europe means it is very easy to take in another country of two as part of your adventures. The Czech Republic is mere minutes away (we’ll definitely be visiting it during activities), but Germany is only an hour in the car. A day trip to Prague is included in your week’s activities, but we’d also recommend venturing further north to Krakow.
Sound tempting? Read more about our Summer Family Activity Holidays.