Family Ski Holidays

You are here: Home / Family Ski Holidays

Family Ski Holidays
Ski Resorts
Chalets
Child Care

Family + Ski Holiday = Disaster. Right?

Actually, with proper planning and the correct advice, a family ski holiday IS ‘do-able’ (some say even enjoyable!) and is the only way to get your kids involved in the wonderful activities that the winter mountains can provide. Careful planning and good organisation is essential though, which includes initially choosing the type of accommodation, the right resort and chalet, through to childcare and ski school options. We can provide all the advice you need to organise your perfect family ski holiday, and point you in the direction if other specific requirements are needed.

Catered family ski holidays

Personally, I would advise nothing else other than a catered chalet package. Return flights, transfers and catered board for the week just removes the stress of all the associated options of trying to ‘go it alone’. After a day on the slopes with the kids, to come home to cake and an early children’s tea, then an adult meal later on cooked by the chalet hosts just makes the holiday feel like a holiday. The thought of getting to resort, food shopping, organising/picking up ski hire, cooking, washing up and then relaxing with an aperitif…well, it just wouldn’t happen. And to repeat the food shopping, cooking, washing up routine every day just sends shivers down my spine!

Do not be put off by the cost of going catered – yes, a ski holiday is never going to be the cheapest way to spend a week, but with the £ Sterling not buying a huge amount of foreign currency these days, by the time you have forked out for all the extras that you routinely get in a catered chalet, the cost difference may not actually amount to much at all. Go catered, and enjoy it!

We have over 800 specific family-friendly catered chalets in all of the most popular ski resorts in Europe, to suit all budgets so you need look no further!

Family Ski Chalets:

Things to consider when looking at chalet options:

- Size of chalet. Do you prefer sole use or do you not mind sharing with others. Many with families do prefer sole use, but we do have some excellent larger chalet hotels where like minded families can mix together.
- Ski in/ski out? Blissful. Even more blissful with kids in tow!
- Facilities in chalet. Consider extra ‘luxury’ facilities in the chalet with the kids in mind; for example hot tub (hours of fun!), TV/DVD (for that well needed peace and quiet!) or playrooms/games (keep them busy).

Choosing the correct family ski resort

Choose the resort that will best suit your family’s needs, requirements and skiing ability. Chamonix, for example, is not particularly recommended for very young kids, who are just starting out on the nursery slopes, but may be ideal for a family with older and a more adventurous bunch. Le Rosiere is a brilliant family-friendly resort but may not be suitable for all, due to its smaller cosy size. Make sure that you study the piste map and make sure that there are plenty of pistes suited to your family’s ability. I have however listed below a choice selection of ski resorts that would be worth looking into, all offering good beginner slopes/areas and are generally considered family friendly.

Do bear in mind airport transfer times; sitting for hours on a transfer bus, following an early morning start with the inevitable delayed flight, the lesser time spent on the last leg of the journey the better! Try therefore to choose resorts near the main airports, the most favourable in this respect being Geneva for Morzine/Les Gets (just over an hour!) or Grenoble for Courchevel (approx. 1.5 hours).

The following are suggestions for family friendly ski resorts in Europe. Please see the Family Ski Chalets page for suggestions for suitable chalets.

Les Arcs Family ski holidays ( Les Arcs ski resort )

With a massive range of slopes, there are slopes to suit all abilities, which, of course, includes some easy greens and plenty of blues. Les Arcs is made up of a number of separate areas, so make sure you are look carefully at the piste map to decide where to stay, depending on your family’s ability.

Alpe d’huez Family ski holidays ( Alpe d’Huez ski resort )

Arguably one of the best designed resorts in the Alps for family groups with its wealth of blues and greens just above the resort centre and then working your way up the mountain a good range of challenging reds and blacks can be found around the glacier. It is has a great reputation for good weather which makes a huge difference to the enjoyment of the trip! Combine this with all the non-ski related activities, indoor and outdoor swimming pool and ice rink to name just a couple of highlights then we have a wonderful resort package that families of all sizes and ages will love.

La Rosiere ski holidays ( La Rosiere ski resort )

La Rosiere has to be one of the best resorts for families in the whole of the Alps. Not only are there a great selection of beginner slopes just above the resort centre, leading to more difficult pistes as you go higher up the mountain, but the ski schools have a very good reputation too. Most of the chalets are within an easy walking distance to the lifts and ski school meeting points, making life that little bit easier when you are trying to get the children ready in the mornings! Many chalets in the resort offer childcare facilities too. Away from the slopes, the bowling alley, ice rink, cinema and plenty of areas for sledging will all keep the children occupied when they are not skiing.

Courchevel Family ski holidays ( Courchevel ski resort )

Courchevel is outstanding for family ski trips with terrain to satisfy complete beginners right up to the most adventurous of experts. There are plenty of wide blue motorways that all the family will enjoy and with some of the leading ski schools in the Alps based here, Courchevel really does stand out as a firm favourite with families. Plenty to do off the slopes as well including tobogganing, ice skating and bowling means the kids have plenty to keep them amused! Courchevel ticks all the boxes for a memorable family ski trip!

Tignes Family ski holidays ( Tignes ski resort )

Tignes is a fantastic resort for families. It offers a huge range of slopes to cater for all abilities and, being a purpose built resort, the lifts are easily accessible where ever you may be staying. As well as the skiing there is a wealth of activities around the resort to keep the whole family occupied.

La Plagne family ski holidays ( La Plagne ski resort )

This resort has long been thought of as one of the best for families. With one of the largest ski areas in the world you have your pick of some fantastic areas with green and blue runs a plenty. The resort is made up of 10 villages so you have your pick of ski in ski out chalets or if you would prefer a more traditional chalet head for some of the lower villages.

La Tania family ski holidays ( La Tania ski resort )

La Tania is one of the first resorts to spring to mind when taking the kids skiing. Not only does the resort itself offer access to the vast 3 valley ski area but village has a typical alpine charm despite only being built in 1992. There is a green and a blue run descending down from Courchevel 1850 and also the Troika run in village centre is the perfect place for the little ones to take their first and all important ski lesson. Not only do the ESF operate here but Magic in Motion (a British run child-friendly ski school) also has an office and meeting point here. Despite being nestled between the mega-resorts of Courchevel and Meribel, La Tania has a tranquil atmosphere that offers immense skiing and a relaxing environment.

Morzine family ski holidays ( Morzine ski resort )

More of a traditional French town than other ‘purpose built’ resorts, Morzine has plenty of shops and family friendly cafes, and is an excellent base for families and non-skiers. With some great slopes for beginners and some excellent childcare options the family will not be disappointed spending a week here.

Les Gets family ski holidays in ( Les Gets ski resort )

Les Gets is a smaller resort compared with the bigger, better known resorts but this acts in its favour for families. With a good nursery area and a good selection of easy runs most of our chalets in Les Gets have excellent slope access and is a nice little resort to be based for a week.

The following are suggestions for family friendly ski chalets in excellent family resorts in Europe. Please see the Family Ski Resorts page for more information about these resorts.

Les Arcs Family Ski Chalets:

Chalet Tetra (sleeps 12-13)
Chalet Hermine (sleeps 16-18)
Chalet Himalaya (sleeps 8)
Chalet Bordeaux (sleeps 12)
Chalet Petit Ours (sleeps 6)

Alpe d’Huez Family Ski Chalets:

Chalet Mariandre (sleeps 60-67)
Chalet Louisa (sleeps 16-18)
Chalet l’Escapade (sleeps 62-68)
Chalet Le Manoir (sleeps 12)
Chalet Edelweiss (sleeps 16)

La Rosiere Family Ski Chalets:

Chalet Moet (sleeps 10-11)
Chalet Choucas (Sleeps 14-16)
Chalet Schatzi (Sleeps 30-31)
Chalet Amelia (Sleeps 12)
Chalet Petit Planica (Sleeps 12-13)

If you are able to travel outside peak dates (ie school holidays), and are fairly flexible on when you travel, keep an eye on any family deals that we advertise during the main ski season. We are supplied with special family discounts, for families of 3 to 6 or more in size, can offer family rooms, free kids places and one parent savings. These can, and do change every day, especially during the main ski season so, although these are updated daily, it is always advisable to phone us to secure the best deal.

Childcare in ski resorts

Childcare is usually available in most resorts for those of all ages, meaning that you can actually get out on the slopes (childless!) and bash away at some harder stuff AND enjoy a quiet beer occasionally! We can recommend a selection of companies, who offer a range of options, from indoor infant nurseries to outdoor ’snow clubs’ for generally older children. We can put you in touch with private nannies, who can offer the flexibility of actually looking after your children in the chalet, if need be. Another option is to actually take along your own ‘nanny’, whether that be a Auntie, a family friend or an official nanny from home. Adding an extra person to your group may not prove as expensive as you initially think; the extra person may just benefit from group discounts. This option always makes the travel element of the holiday more bearable! Always one to think about.

Ski school / ski lessons

Ski tuition for your kids simply brings them on in great leaps and bounds – and may help you learn a thing or two! To get the most out of tuition, I would advise booking the kids into private English-speaking lessons, for perhaps a couple of hours on the first few days or so (age depending). We have a number of brilliant ski school contacts, many tried and tested by us so speak to us for more information on this.

School holidays and skiing

Unfortunately, it is just one of those things, that prices for holidays during the key peak holiday times (New Year, Christmas, February half term and Easter) are inflated compared with other weeks of the season. These weeks do however get sold out early on, so early booking is recommended (+ the most popular chalets tend to sell first). Keep an eye out for our special offers, available throughout the season which allows you to take advantage of early booking, family or group discounts during these popular periods.

Summary

We can find you a ski holiday to be tailored to suit families with children of all ages. We can offer chalets and chalet hotels that are exclusively run for family ski holidays and can offer children’s meals, evening clubs and private nannies with the highest safety standards ensuring that both you and the kids will have a great time in the snow!

Please do phone us as our team of family specialists can offer advice on what to sort of holiday and ski resort is suited to you and your family.