How We Score Resorts
Our Family Score is a transparent, deterministic rating that helps families find the right ski resort for their needs. Here's exactly how we calculate it.
Last updated: January 2026
The Family Score at a Glance
Score Range: 5.0 - 10.0
Every resort starts with a base score of 5.0. Points are added based on family-friendly features. The maximum possible score is 10.0.
Unlike subjective ratings, our Family Score is deterministic — the same resort features will always produce the same score. This means you can trust that two resorts with similar scores have genuinely similar family-friendliness.
What We Measure
We evaluate five key areas that matter most to families with children:
Childcare Quality
- +0.8 — Resort offers childcare services
- +0.4 — Childcare accepts children 6 months or younger
- +0.3 — Infant care available (3 months or younger)
Ski School Quality
- +0.2 — Resort has a ski school
- +0.5 — Ski school accepts children from age 3
- +0.3 — Ski school accepts children from age 4
Note: Age 3 and age 4 bonuses are mutually exclusive
Family-Friendly Terrain
- +0.3 — 30%+ of terrain is beginner/intermediate
- +0.3 — 40%+ of terrain is beginner/intermediate
- +0.3 — Has magic carpet lifts for beginners
- +0.3 — Has dedicated kids' terrain park
Value for Families
- +0.4 — Kids 5 and under ski free
- +0.4 — Kids 10 and under ski free (exceptional policy)
Village Convenience
- +0.3 — Ski-in/ski-out lodging available
- +0.2 — English-friendly resort
Example Calculation
Here's how we might calculate a score for a family-friendly resort:
| Base score | 5.0 |
| Has childcare | +0.8 |
| Childcare from 6 months | +0.4 |
| Ski school from age 3 | +0.7 |
| 35% beginner terrain | +0.3 |
| Magic carpet | +0.3 |
| Kids 5 & under free | +0.4 |
| English friendly | +0.2 |
| Total Score | 8.1 |
Our Data Sources
We gather information from multiple authoritative sources to ensure accuracy:
- Official resort websites — Primary source for childcare, ski school, and policy information
- Ski pass networks — Epic Pass, Ikon Pass, and regional pass partner information
- Tourism boards — Regional and national tourism authority data
- Family travel reviews — Aggregated feedback from family skiing communities
Keeping Scores Current
Resort amenities and policies change. We refresh our data regularly:
- Continuous monitoring — Our system automatically checks for policy changes
- Seasonal updates — Full refresh before each ski season
- Community feedback — We investigate and correct reported inaccuracies
Each resort page shows when it was last refreshed, so you always know how current the information is.
What the Score Doesn't Measure
The Family Score is specifically about family amenities. It doesn't account for:
- •Snow conditions or reliability
- •Overall resort size or terrain variety
- •Affordability or cost
- •Travel accessibility
- •Nightlife or adult amenities
That's why we include detailed guides on each resort page — the Family Score is a starting point, not the whole picture.
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