Most of my childhood holidays have been spent in France – and whereas I by no means realized to ski as a toddler, it’s no shock that the French Alps are one of the vital fashionable locations for UK households planning a ski vacation.
However while you’re snowboarding with youngsters, there’s extra to contemplate earlier than you ebook than the probabilities of snow and the apres ski. From winter actions off the slopes to simple transfers, one of the best household ski resorts in France will differ relying by yourself kids and their ages and talents.
For starters, it’s essential know your lodging will fit your youngsters – would you like the flexibleness of a chalet, for instance, as that’s usually very best for households with youthful youngsters, or somebody to deal with all of the practicalities, with an organization that specialises in ski holidays in France.
The world you choose will make a distinction too. So I’ve discovered 5 ski resorts within the French Alps that are nice for households – right here’s why.
For extra ideas for a primary household ski journey, take a look at this submit for every little thing from packing to snow ploughs
Morzine
Why households will love Morzine
In contrast to a number of the much less engaging purpose-built resorts, this former farming spot is the kind of image postcard Alpine village you think about when you concentrate on snowboarding in France with youngsters.
And in addition to having light ski runs for youths to be taught, there’s additionally a very good vary of services for households plus different actions that make it a very child-friendly spot.
What’s the snowboarding like in Morzine?
There’s quite a lot of ranges to select from but it surely’s a fantastic spot for brand spanking new starters or these seeking to construct their confidence or expertise.
The extensive pistes are typically light gradients, and the newbie’s slopes are very near the city centre – plus there are hardly any drag lifts, which is able to go down properly with nervous novices.
A part of the Portes du Soleil space together with Avoriaz, there are 650km of pistes throughout this a part of France and over the Swiss border making it one of many largest on this planet (together with Les 3 Vallees).
What else is there to do in Morzine?
There are some nice actions to swimsuit youthful youngsters right here as properly – canine sledding, with a alternative of driving your individual sled or having a information take you out by means of the forest.
There are additionally horse-drawn carriage rides to allow you to calm down and take in the surroundings after a tough morning snowboarding. Or uncover the carousel, ice skating and the pool on the aquatic centre.
In case your youngsters are over eight, you’ll be able to even attempt an igloo expertise: round 30-45 minutes stroll out to the igloo, the place you’ll eat fondue earlier than heading again.
If it’s too unhealthy to ski otherwise you’re not heading onto the slopes every single day, at close by Les Will get, there’s a mechanical music museum to find too.
Another bonuses?
It’s solely 50 miles from Geneva, so has an easy switch – very best if you happen to don’t fancy being caught on a switch bus for ages on the roads as much as the resort. A particular plus level if you happen to’re taking a look at household ski resorts in France with youthful youngsters.
La Tania-Courchevel
Why households will love La Tania
Set between Courchevel and Meribel within the 3 Vallees ski space, La Tania is nice worth amongst a number of the glitzier resorts and far much less overwhelming than a number of the larger centres.
Sufficiently small to make life simple with little ones, there’s nonetheless loads to do and much more on the doorstep so that you gained’t be bored both.
What’s the snowboarding like at La Tania-Courchevel?
Nearly too many choices to listing – a whopping 600km of piste throughout one in every of Europe’s largest ski areas (linking you to Merible and Val Thorens, amongst others), over 2,000 snow cannons (snow assured) and slopes as much as 3,200m.
Round 150km of these slopes are at 1,300m, which suggests numerous alternative for inexperienced persons too together with a blue run by means of the timber and inexperienced run searching to the Tarantaise valley, each with nice snow protection. There’s even a free raise for inexperienced persons.
The La-Tania-Courchevel space additionally has particular newbie sections referred to as ZEN areas (Zone for the Evolution of Novices) to make sure all ages can keep protected as they be taught or acquire confidence, together with magic carpet lifts – Courchevel 1850 has a number of.
And away from the intense enterprise of snowboarding, there are enjoyable areas together with the Indian Path the place youngsters can attempt archery and face portray, plus the Household Park which is good for teenagers who fancy studying a number of tips and useful ones like The Cease Zone, the place you’ll be able to practise stopping safely.
What else is there to do at La Tania-Courchevel?
In addition to the standard actions together with a carousel, skating, bowling (with child-friendly lanes) and canine sledding, you’ll discover play areas and indoor climbing plus excessive ropes and ziplines (some for age 5 or seven plus)
For one thing a bit completely different, you’ll be able to rent segways in Courchevel to get round.
Another bonuses?
There’s no visitors within the centre of La Tania which makes it extra stress-free with little ones – and when you’ve received the grasp of snowboarding, you’ll be able to even ski to the retailers and eating places.
When you’re travelling with little ones, seize an inexpensive sledge to make getting round much more enjoyable (strolling by means of snow is tiring for little legs) or you’ll be able to rent these reasonably cute and steady child sleds from Vacation Child Rent, which relies in Courchevel.
Tignes
Why households will love Tignes
There’s a really easygoing ambiance for inexperienced persons and it’s properly arrange if you happen to’re studying to ski – together with useful choices like a gradual chairlift for the nursery slopes.
Tignes can also be made up of a number of completely different areas and villages, and if Val Claret has a celebration popularity, fairly Les Brevieres and Tignes 1800 (previously Les Boisses) are each good choices for households, with ski-in ski-out lodging too.
Or central Tignes le Lac is correct within the coronary heart of the resort with tons occurring if you happen to’re on the lookout for extra than simply snowboarding. Very best if you happen to’re on the lookout for household ski resorts in France with loads to do away from the pistes.
What’s the snowboarding like in Tignes?
One of many largest ski areas in Europe, it’s one of many most snow certain in France and there’s over 300km of pistes linked by a system of tremendous quick ski lifts.
Whereas learners gained’t care that you would be able to ski the glacier pistes, Tignes can also be a very good choice if there’s a mixture of expertise in your group. With such a giant space, it means much less ready in raise queues too – which everybody likes.
There’s additionally loads for inexperienced persons. When you’ve graduated from the central nursery slopes, you’ll discover inexperienced runs close by to assist construct confidence.
All in all, you’ll discover two kindergarten ski areas, 4 nursery areas, 20 inexperienced pistes and 67 blue pistes.
What else is there to do in Tignes?
There’s not simply loads of snowboarding on provide at Tignes – you’ll discover different winter actions for youths together with extra adrenaline-fuelled choices for older ones, in addition to canine sledding, ice skating, a cinema displaying youngsters’ movies and the 3km tobogganing slope of Expedition Cobra (previously Pala’Fou) for mini daredevils.
Another bonuses?
There are 5 free ski lifts at Tignes which imply you gained’t essentially want to purchase a raise move if you happen to’re studying. Each little helps on a ski vacation.
Avoriaz
Why households will love Avoriaz
A terrific stability of a smaller fairly Alpine resort however with entry to an enormous quantity of snowboarding, it’s additionally received a stand-out ski faculty and services for youths.
The Youngsters’s Village – or Village des Enfants – teaches skiers aged three to 16 however with none of the drill sergeant strategies you may discover at ski colleges elsewhere. As a substitute, the large focus is adapting to the person little one.
So if little ones begin to appear drained, they’ll change to indoor actions and even an opportunity to sleep, whereas additionally providing hours which imply mother and father can get out and benefit from the slopes.
In addition they organize it so youngsters can begin quarter-hour earlier than mother and father’ ski classes so if you happen to’re studying your self, you don’t must attempt to be in two locations directly.
What’s the snowboarding like in Avoriaz?
A part of the massive Portes du Soleil ski space, together with Morzine, there may be 650km of pistes and over 200 lifts set throughout 14 valleys. Larger than Morzine, Avoriaz 1800 because it manufacturers itself, can also be extra snow certain – very best if you happen to’re visiting later (or earlier) within the yr.
You don’t must enterprise too far to search out household pleasant snowboarding as properly and the Avoriaz pistes are divided into 4 areas, together with one for inexperienced persons and one for households.
Learners have slopes within the village in addition to inexperienced pistes on the best way all the way down to Morzine. For households with combined skills, there’s additionally a mixture of blue, crimson and black runs. When you’re feeling assured, the Skilled space has a black run used for the World downhill championships…
There are additionally terrain parks aimed toward inexperienced persons and children.
What else is there to do in Avoriaz?
In addition to all of the actions on the Youngsters’s Village, from puppet reveals to drama, dressing up and drawing, there’s the Aquariaz water park. This tropical inexperienced oasis is correct within the coronary heart of Avoriaz, developed by Middle Parcs, with lazy river, splash play zone for youthful ones and slides.
Or you’ll be able to get pleasure from a horse and carriage trip and a twirl on the inevitable carousel if you happen to fancy a number of conventional actions in addition to an array of snowy issues to do for non-skiers.
Another bonuses?
One other resort with no vehicles, which is tempting with youngsters – all of the lodging is ski-in ski-out. The one factor to be careful for is the horse-drawn carriages clopping by means of the streets.
Val d’Isere
Why households will love Val d’Isere
In addition to having a variety of runs for various skills, the better slopes aren’t removed from the more difficult ones, so as an alternative of households splitting into completely different instructions, you can even discover yourselves taking the raise collectively then assembly again on the backside after following completely different stage pistes down.
What’s the snowboarding like at Val d’Isere?
A part of the Espace Killy ski space together with Tignes, there may be 300km to discover together with inexperienced slopes for novice skiers.
And whilst you’ll discover nursery slopes for little ones or grownup inexperienced persons, there are even some blue runs on the glacier if you happen to fancy a bit extra of a problem however don’t wish to deal with a crimson run.
There are additionally three free ski lifts to the inexperienced runs so inexperienced persons gained’t want to purchase raise passes.
Val d’Isere can also be a fantastic place for snowboarding if you happen to’re planning to be taught, or if your loved ones has a mixture of skiers and boarders.
What else is there to do at Val d’Isere?
In addition to sledging, youngsters aged six or above can attempt the Snake Gliss multisledge, together with ice skating.
Or for a change from the snow, there’s additionally the Centre Aquasportif with pool, seashore world and different water enjoyable.
Another bonuses?
Not removed from the Italian border, you’ll discover nice Italian meals in addition to the standard mountain dishes of most household ski resorts in France – very best in case your youngsters would fortunately eat pizza every single day however don’t fancy raclette.
For extra ideas for a primary household ski journey, take a look at this submit, in addition to extra concepts for household ski holidays with childcare
*First printed 2019, final up to date 2023*
PIN FOR LATER: THE BEST FAMILY SKI RESORTS IN FRANCE
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