How do you organise a family reunion in the mountains?

A family reunion in the mountains solves the problem that makes family reunions difficult: the venue. Instead of cramming into someone’s home or booking an impersonal conference centre, all generations gather in a large mountain chalet – with bedrooms for everyone, a dining table big enough for the whole family, and the mountains on the doorstep to keep both grandchildren and grandparents entertained. This guide walks you through how to plan your reunion from the initial idea right through to departure. For really large families, our exclusive accommodation for 30–50 people built specifically for this format.

Short answer: a family reunion, a house and zero logistical chaos

The secret to a successful family reunion is to minimise the logistics and maximise the time spent together – and that is exactly what the mountain setting offers. A shared house means no convoys of cars travelling between accommodation, no one ”just popping round”, and no restaurant bookings for eighteen people. Instead: shared breakfasts, a core group in the kitchen, young cousins who disappear off to play, and adult siblings who finally have time to have a proper chat. The mountains add that extra something that makes the get-together a trip worth remembering – activities for all ages, nature and a sense of being away together. The planning boils down to four decisions: when, where (the house), what (activities and meals) and how (the budget). Let’s take them in turn.

Choose the season for your event: summer rates or winter magic

The first stroke of luck for a family reunion is the choice of season. Summer and early autumn are the classic times for family reunions, and for good reason: easier travel for older participants, walking, swimming and barbecue evenings that suit everyone, and accommodation prices outside the winter high season, which make it affordable for large groups. Winter, on the other hand, offers a touch of magic – snow-capped mountains, skiing for those keen to hit the slopes and cosy evenings by the fire – but requires earlier booking and isn’t ideal during the school holidays if the budget is tight. An underrated option is the pre-season weeks and late spring: peaceful, bright and plenty of space. Most importantly: choose your dates based on the people who are hardest to accommodate – often the elderly and families with school-age children – and fix the dates well in advance. A family reunion involves coordinating many different diaries, and time is the resource that determines attendance.

Accommodation: a large house or several cottages close to one another

For up to around twenty participants, a single large house is the best option – everything takes place under one roof, and our large holiday cottages for 10–20 people are designed for exactly such gatherings. If the gathering grows beyond that, there are two options: a really large house, or several cottages close to one another with one house serving as a meeting point – families with children have their own spaces and morning routines, whilst meals and evenings are shared. We’ve described how the latter works in practice in the guide on rent several cottages next to one another. When choosing a house, think about the needs of different generations: ground-floor bedrooms for the elderly, separate rooms for families with young children, and ideally a sauna or hot tub as a shared evening treat. And it’s better to go for a larger dining table than too many beds – that’s where everyone gets together.

Activities for everyone – from grandchildren to grandmothers

A family reunion’s programme of activities should be a menu, not a fixed itinerary. Plan one group activity per day – a leisurely walk, a swim, an outing – and leave the rest open: those keen to go out can do so, those fancying a coffee break can have one, and the grandchildren will find their own way to spend time together. The beauty of the mountains is that this ‘menu’ suits all ages; in summer, hiking, fishing, swimming and adventure golf; in winter, skiing, tobogganing and walks – with indoor alternatives when the weather has other ideas. Inspiration for the younger ones can be found amongst our activities for the whole family. Don’t forget the main events of the reunion: the photo albums to leaf through, the stories to be told, perhaps a quiz on family legends. These are the things that set a family reunion apart from a group holiday – set aside time for them and dedicate a whole evening to them.

Meals: cook together or hire a chef

Food is the centrepiece of a family reunion and the most common source of conflict – sort it out in advance. The tried-and-tested approach is to assign responsibility by family branch: each branch takes charge of one dinner, with complete freedom and a secret menu; this way, the work is shared out and the competitive spirit does the rest. Do a big shop once upon arrival rather than lots of small trips, and keep lunch simple – a winter picnic or a summer packed lunch beats cooking for a large group in the middle of the day. For the special evening of the get-together, hiring a private chef is a touch that transforms dinner into a celebration: no one in the family stands at the hob, everyone sits at the table, and the guest of honour – if the gathering is celebrating someone – is a guest in the truest sense. If the gathering coincides with a milestone birthday, you’ll find more ideas in our guide on how to celebrate a birthday in the mountains – the two occasions are a perfect match.

Economics and fair cost-sharing

Money is the issue that can cause friction within a family – and the easiest to defuse through clarity. Decide on the arrangement before booking: will the cost of the house be shared per adult, per branch of the family or per room? Will students and the youngest members receive a subsidy? Is there a shared pot for food and group activities (an app or a shared Swish account makes keeping track of expenses easy), whilst personal expenses – ski passes, spa treatments – are paid for individually? Appoint a treasurer with the responsibility of collecting money in advance; having to cover the entire house rent is not a role anyone should have to take on unwillingly. And remember that a shared holiday home is usually surprisingly good value per person per night compared to separate accommodation – especially outside the peak season. Fairness is less about exact figures and more about everyone knowing the arrangements before they agree to join.

Summary – the family reunion everyone remembers

Here’s how to organise a family reunion in the mountains:

• Set the date early, chosen to suit those who find it difficult to travel – attendance is the currency of the event.
• Summer and autumn offer simplicity and value; winter offers magic but requires forward planning.
• A large house accommodating up to ~20 people; for larger groups, a really large house or several cottages with a shared communal area.
• One group activity a day, the rest of the time is free – and an evening set aside for family stories.
• Dinner duties on a rota basis, plus an occasional chef’s night – and a big shop on arrival.
• Decide on the cost model before booking and appoint a finance officer.

A family reunion in the mountains basically consists of a venue, a date and the desire to get together – the rest are just details, which this guide has just covered. All that remains is the most important part: sending out the invitations.