The checklist for your first trip.

Book the things that sell out first.

• Hotel or chalet held with deposit

  Palace rooms and the best chalets close their books by late September for the February peak.

• ESF or Supreme ski-school slot reserved

  Private instructors during weeks 7–8 (Feb half-term) go five months out. Book the instructor by name.

• Airport transfer or helicopter from Geneva

  Helicopters from Geneva must be confirmed early — only a handful of operators land at the Altiport.

• Travel insurance with off-piste cover

  Standard policies often exclude off-piste or heli-skiing. Read the small print.

• Passport valid 6+ months past return date

Lock in the on-mountain experience.

• Lift pass purchased online

  Trois Vallées pass is cheaper online and skips the queue at the lift office.

• Equipment hire reserved

  The best boot-fitters come to your chalet — ask for an evening slot the night you arrive.

• Two Michelin reservations made

  Le 1947 and Le Chabichou take bookings up to 90 days ahead.

• One slope-side lunch booked

  Le Cap Horn and Bagatelle fill by 11:00 daily during the season.

• EHIC / GHIC card ordered (UK/EU residents)

The bag, the body, the basics.

• Layers tested at home

  Merino base, mid-layer fleece or down vest, hard-shell jacket and trousers. Avoid cotton anywhere.

• Ski socks bought new

  One pair per ski day. Old socks bunch and cause hotspots — the first-day blister is always avoidable.

• Helmet and goggles checked

  If hiring, request a helmet that fits your child's head, not the next size up.

• Sunscreen SPF 50 and lip balm packed

  The reflection off snow burns harder than a beach day at sea level.

• Cash for tipping (€20s)

  Hotel porter, ski instructor on the last day, ski-room valet — small notes go a long way.

Hand luggage and the morning of.

• Ski jacket and boots in hand luggage

  If checked bags go missing, you can still ski day one in hired trousers.

• Phone case for the slopes

  Cold drains batteries fast — a soft case inside an inner pocket keeps it alive.

• Resort address and concierge number saved offline

  Mobile signal between Moûtiers and Courchevel is patchy in the valley.

• Cash in euros for the transfer driver

The first two hours set the week.

• Boot fitting before dinner the first evening

  Walking the boot in overnight saves a painful first morning.

• Walk to your lift

  Find the path from your hotel to the nearest lift in daylight, not at 08:30 on day one.

• Ask the concierge for tomorrow's snow report

• Confirm dinner times and table dress codes

  Most Palace dining rooms expect a jacket; one or two are strict about it.