Is Crystal Ski Childcare Worth It for Families? Our Crystal Ski Beanie Club Review

One of the biggest questions when planning a family ski holiday is simple: Is Crystal Ski Childcare worth it for families?

If you're researching Crystal Ski childcare reviews or wondering whether Crystal Ski Beanie Club is worth booking, you're probably trying to solve the same problem we faced.

Skiing with kids isn't just about finding the right slopes. It's about making sure everyone enjoys the holiday. Without some form of childcare or kids' club, ski trips can quickly become a rotation of parents taking turns on the mountain while the other looks after the children.

We wanted a family ski holiday where our young son Joshua was happy, active and well looked after, while we still had time to enjoy skiing ourselves.

This review is based on our experience using Crystal Ski Beanie Club in La Thuile across four separate ski holidays, from ages 5 to 8. We'll cover how the childcare works, what children actually do during the day, how it compares to ski school, and whether we think Crystal Ski childcare is worth it for families.

Quick Answer: Is Crystal Childcare Good For Families?

Yes, particularly for families travelling with younger children who aren't ready to ski all day.

For us, Crystal Ski's kids' club helped create a much more relaxed family ski holiday because:

• Joshua was well looked after in a familiar environment

• he enjoyed a mix of skiing, games and indoor activities

• we had time to enjoy the slopes ourselves without constantly taking turns

It's one of the biggest reasons our family ski trips to La Thuile felt enjoyable rather than exhausting.

We've now used Crystal Ski Childcare four times, and it became an important part of how we approached skiing with a younger child. While Joshua no longer needs childcare now he's older and skiing confidently, many of those early ski skills and positive experiences were built during the years we used Beanie Club alongside ski school.

We’ve always booked through Crystal Ski, mainly because it simplifies everything — flights, transfers, accommodation, ski school and childcare all organised together. That made a big difference when travelling with a younger child and wanting a low-stress trip.

Thinking about a trip to La Thuile with Crystal Ski? Start here: → La Thuile Ski Trip with Kids Crystal Ski Review

This guide includes links to the options we’ve used or considered. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we’ve personally used and would happily book again.

What Is Crystal Ski Beanie Club?

Crystal Ski Beanie Club is Crystal Ski's childcare and activity programme for younger children, typically aged 4-8. It's designed to help families balance ski time with childcare, giving children a mix of supervised activities and, if booked alongside ski lessons, support around their ski day.

One thing worth noting is that Beanie Club can vary by resort, so the exact setup, timings and facilities available in La Thuile may be different from those offered elsewhere.

For example, we've also looked at family facilities in other resorts such as Passo Tonale, which you can compare in Passo Tonale vs La Thuile: Which Is Better for a Family Ski Holiday?

Rather than repeating information that's already available on the Crystal Ski website, this review focuses on the parts we found hardest to understand before travelling:

• how Beanie Club actually works day-to-day

• how it fits around ski school

• what the handovers are like

• how much independence it gives parents

• whether it genuinely improves a family ski holiday

For the latest details on ages, session times, availability and pricing, I recommend checking the official Crystal Ski information directly, as these can change between seasons and resorts.

How Beanie Club Worked for Us in La Thuile

The option we used most often was the afternoon Beanie Club, which is designed to fit around ski school.

A typical day was simple:

• Joshua went to ski school in the morning.

• We had a few hours to ski ourselves.

• Crystal Ski staff collected him directly from ski school.

• He had lunch with the other children.

• The afternoon moved into supervised activities and childcare.

The Biggest Benefit

For us, the biggest advantage was the handover.

We didn't need to leave the slopes early to collect Joshua, organise lunch, or get him to another activity. Everything was coordinated for us, which made the day feel much more relaxed.

Instead of constantly checking the time, we could enjoy skiing knowing he was happy and being looked after.

If you want to understand more about the ski school set up and what we thought, see: La Thuile Ski School Review: Our Honest Experience with Kids

Be Aware the Setup Can Change

One thing worth noting is that the format changed slightly over the four years we used the service. Crystal Ski occasionally updates how Beanie Club operates, so it's always worth checking the latest details before travelling.

The overall principle stayed the same though: Ski school and childcare work together to give parents a longer, uninterrupted ski day.

There are also non-ski childcare sessions available for younger children or for days when skiing isn't the priority.

Booking Everything Together Helped

Another reason it worked well for us was that we booked accommodation, ski school and childcare as part of the same package.

Everything followed the same schedule, which removed a lot of planning during the week and made the whole trip feel easier to manage.

We stayed in the Planibel Apartments and had our ski school and Beanie Club arrangements organised at the same time, so there was very little to think about once we arrived. Looking back, that simplicity was a big part of why our La Thuile trips felt so relaxed with a younger child.

If you're interested in what we booked and why we chose it, I've shared the details in of the trip we booked here.

What to Be Aware Of Before Booking Crystal Childcare

Before booking Crystal Ski Beanie Club in La Thuile, there are a few practical things worth knowing:

• Ski school in La Thuile starts from age 5

• If you don't book ski school through Crystal Ski, you'll usually need to manage the handover arrangements yourself

• Morning ski school drop-off is your responsibility

• Beanie Club is based within the Planibel complex, where many Crystal Ski families stay

We didn't find any of these issues, but they're worth understanding before you travel as they can affect how smoothly your day runs.

If you're specifically looking at younger children or beginner skiers, see: Skiing in La Thuile with Kids: Is It Beginner-Friendly?

What Are You Actually Paying For?

Beanie Club isn't cheap, and it's worth being clear about what you're paying for.

At the time of writing (2026), costs were approximately:

• Afternoon sessions (6 days): £399

• Morning sessions (6 days): £299

• Evening sessions: £30 per session

For us, the real value wasn't the activities themselves. It was the flexibility.

Having childcare built into the day meant:

• we could ski together

• Joshua was having fun rather than getting tired on the slopes

• we weren't constantly coordinating handovers and childcare

That's what turned the holiday from feeling heavily managed into something that felt genuinely relaxing.

Where Is Crystal Ski Kids Club in La Thuile?

Beanie Club is located within the Planibel complex, close to the St Bernard area.

I'll be honest, we completely missed it the first time.

If you're walking through Planibel, continue through the apartment complex towards the far end and you'll find the Beanie Club area tucked away there. Once you've found it on day one it's obvious, but first-time visitors often seem to be looking around for it.

Because everything is centred around Planibel, accommodation location can make a big difference to how convenient the week feels.

If you're considering staying there, see: Honest review of Planibel Residence

How is the Day Structured

Ski Lessons

Most mornings started with ski school, parents drop the kids off by the lifts which is easily accessible from the Planibel complex.

Lessons typically lasted around three hours and children were grouped by ability, which helped progression feel natural rather than pressured.

Crystal childcare picked the kids up from the Gondola and took them to lunch.

Lunch

Lunch was simple, child-friendly food that most kids will happily eat.

Typical options included:

• Pizza

• Pasta

• Chicken

• Burgers

Nothing particularly fancy, but that's not really the point. Joshua always came back having eaten well, which was one less thing for us to worry about.

Afternoon Activities

This is where we felt Beanie Club offered the most value.

The afternoons weren't simply childcare. They were structured around activities that kept the children entertained and helped them make friends throughout the week.

Activities varied, but often included:

• Sledging

• Arts and crafts

• Games

• Outdoor snow activities

• Group play and social time

By the end of the week Joshua had usually made friends, collected various crafts to take home, and looked forward to seeing the other children each day.

The final-day pyjama party was probably the highlight of the whole experience.

The Staff (The Part That Really Matters)

More than the activities, this is what made us comfortable using Beanie Club multiple times.

The team always came across as:

• Calm

• Patient

• Experienced

• Genuinely good with children

Everything felt organised without feeling overly strict.

What stood out was how comfortable they were dealing with all the situations that come with younger children on holiday:

• Nervous children

• Tired children

• Homesick moments

• Nervous parents

That trust is ultimately what made the experience work for us.

What If Your Child Has Medical or Additional Needs?

Before travelling, you'll be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about your child.

This covers things such as:

• Allergies

• Medical requirements

• Dietary needs

• Comfort items

• Personality traits

• Anything that helps them settle

As a parent, this gave me confidence before we even arrived.

If you have any concerns, I'd recommend speaking to the Beanie Club team on your first day. We found them approachable, understanding and very used to helping both children and parents feel comfortable.

What It Means for You as a Parent

This is where we noticed the biggest difference.

Most years we booked through Crystal Ski and used Beanie Club alongside ski school. However, we also did one trip to La Thuile independently without childcare, which gave us a direct comparison.

The holiday felt very different.

Without childcare, Joshua was with us all day. At that age he wasn't quite independent enough for us to completely relax, which meant we spent more time managing the day around him and less time exploring the mountain together.

With Beanie Club, we had much more freedom. Joshua got a mix of skiing, activities and time with other children, while we could enjoy the slopes knowing he was happy and being looked after. The whole week felt less structured around childcare logistics and more focused on enjoying the holiday.

For us, that's where the value came from. It wasn't really about having childcare available. It was about creating a family ski holiday that worked for everyone.

If you're deciding whether a package holiday and childcare are worth it, we've compared both approaches in Do It Yourself vs Crystal Ski in La Thuile: Which Is Better for Families?

What to Be Aware Of

Beanie Club worked really well for us, but it won't be the right fit for every family.

Before booking, it's worth considering a few things:

• You need to feel comfortable leaving your child in organised childcare.

• It adds a noticeable extra cost to the holiday.

• Mornings still require some organisation, particularly around ski school drop-off.

For us, those trade-offs were worth it. The extra flexibility, the time on the slopes and the fact that Joshua genuinely enjoyed going meant the benefits far outweighed the downsides.

Final Verdict: Is Crystal Ski Beanie Club in La Thuile Worth It?

For us, absolutely yes. We used Crystal Ski Beanie Club on every trip to La Thuile until Joshua eventually outgrew it and became confident enough to ski independently for most of the day.

What made it worthwhile wasn't just the childcare. It was the fact that everyone got more out of the holiday. Joshua was happy, well looked after and progressing his skiing, while we could actually enjoy time on the slopes without constantly organising handovers, lunch plans or who was skiing when.

Beanie Club worked particularly well when Joshua was between 5 and 7 years old, as it gave us a balance between family time and skiing time without anyone feeling pressured to be on the mountain all day. Some afternoons he wanted a break from skiing, and having activities, games and other children around meant the holiday never became repetitive or exhausting. After 8 he started to outgrow it.

It's not essential for every family, and once children are older and skiing confidently all day you'll probably find you need it less, which is exactly what happened for us.

But if you're wondering how to balance skiing, childcare and actually enjoying a ski holiday with younger children, Beanie Club is one of the simplest solutions we've found. In many ways, it's one of the main reasons our early family ski trips to La Thuile felt relaxed, manageable and genuinely enjoyable for everyone.

FAQs About Crystal Ski Beanie Club in La Thuile

What age is Crystal Ski Beanie Club best for?

In our experience although available for ages 4-8 years, Beanie Club works best for children aged 5 to 7. At that age, Joshua loved the mix of ski school, lunch, activities and making friends. It gave him a break from skiing while still keeping him active and entertained, and it gave us some uninterrupted time on the slopes.

What age did Joshua stop enjoying Beanie Club?

Around age 8, we found Joshua was starting to outgrow the afternoon activities. By then, he was skiing confidently and would often rather stay on the mountain with us than leave for crafts, games or organised activities. He still enjoyed Beanie Club, but it became less essential as his skiing abilities improved.

Is Crystal Ski Beanie Club childcare or a kids' club?

It's really a combination of both. Beanie Club provides supervised childcare, but it is much more than simply looking after children while parents ski. Depending on the session, children can take part in skiing, games, crafts, sledging and social activities with other children staying in the resort.

Can parents ski all day while their child is in Beanie Club?

Yes, this is one of the biggest advantages. When combined with ski school, Beanie Club can provide coverage for a large part of the day, allowing parents to ski together without constantly coordinating handovers, lunch arrangements or childcare. For us, this made the whole holiday feel much more relaxed.

Which other crystal ski resorts offer Childcare?

As well as La Thuile, Crystal Ski offers childcare in Passo Tonale, Flaine, La Plagne and Alpe d'Huez. Availability, ages and session formats vary by resort. We also compare two of the most popular Italian options in Passo Tonale vs La Thuile: Which Is Better for a Family Ski Holiday?

planning a trip to La Thuile?

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.