THE BEST SKI RESORTS FOR FAMILIES
Ski Club Members and staff share their top tips on the best resorts for skiing with kids
The Bullen family are big fans of skiing in France
VIVE LA FRANCE
“We have been very specific about skiing in the French Alps – we like France, can just about get by with our French if needed, and the resorts are so well run that they suit our needs both on and off the slopes. It’s not that we aren’t adventurous, it’s just one less thing to think about with two young daughters, especially so when we first started going and they were four and three. While we have now visited five different resorts (Alpe d’Huez, La Plagne, Val d’Isère, Flaine and Avoriaz) over eight trips, we’ve always looked to visit high altitude, snow-sure resorts to maximise snow coverage along with good family-oriented attractions on and off the slopes. These include the fun-runs that are now common in many resorts and swimming pools, ice skating rinks and plenty of crêpe restaurants! Importantly, we’ve also targeted resorts where adults can enjoy the après-ski scene and access a great choice of restaurants - this is vitally important so as to ensure everyone enjoys the holiday.”
James Bullen
“We have skied many times in Val d’Isère, which offers pretty much everything for teens. There are so many ski schools to choose from and lots of places which don’t necessarily focus on alcohol for the under 18s, such as crêperies and pizzerias.”
Sam Li-Fox
“For me, Sainte-Foy-en-Tarentaise offers both incredible value and variety for a three-generation ski trip. There are wonderful blues for Granny to cruise and the kids to learn on; fantastic mountain restaurants; stunning scenery; only four chairs in one bowl, making it hard to get lost; and absolutely epic off-piste, meaning Dad can lap the powder in the morning before family skiing in the afternoon. Does it get any better?”
Sandy Trust
Sandy Trust lapping the Ste-Foy powder before fun family skiing
Steve and Becca Jones decamped from Southbourne to Chamonix for 10 winter weeks in 2019, together with their children Daisy (four) and Miles (three months). They recorded their experiences in a blog, One Winter Out, from which we’ve taken these excerpts…
“Les Houches conveniently combines proximity to Chamonix – a great town to visit for a day – with a range of ski shops/rentals, good food shops and good restaurants for families (notably La Delice and Kitsch In). And the skiing, which is the main thing, suits families with young children, particularly the area around the École lift and at the top of the Bellevue. The Ski Camp below the top of the Prarion Telecabine – a range of tents and outdoor games, sledging and tubing runs, a picnic area (with free coffee and tea delivered early afternoon by the lift attendants) – is a fantastic space for relaxing (and sleeping for Daisy) and a place where families can meet up on the mountain. For nursery slopes without the need for a ski school, the picturesque area with a tow lift next to the Patinoire (ice rink)/Le Solery was fantastic for families with beginner children.”
“We tried out the Tramway du Mont Blanc twice. It was a welcome means of getting Daisy and Steve from the Voza Pass to the Bellevue Station after we had been out for a good morning of skiing. The Voza Pass Station is a tidy little hut with a good toilet (useful to know with children) and wonderful views. Spotting the train climbing into view was a nice pre-lunch distraction.”
“On Wednesday Daisy and Steve made an early morning trip up the Aiguille du Midi (Spike Mountain) to take in the sights and experience snacks at 3842m above sea level. Second time for Daisy, not bad for a four-year-old.”
Steve Jones
The Jones family enjoyed 10 weeks in the Mont Blanc region
Daisy Jones waiting for the Tramway du Mont Blanc at Voza Pass station
SKI, SUN & SANGRIA
“The best places for groups of mixed ski abilities have been resorts like Arcalis in Andorra, where all slopes meet at the same point at the bottom. It’s far easier to meet up and retrace steps when missing kids haven’t made it down their run and they are stuck head down in the dip next to a pylon!”
Nick Silver
Nick Silver’s kids getting creative in Arcalis, Andorra
LA DOLCE SKI VITA
“When our children reached a realistic age (four and two – we couldn’t wait any longer!), I focused on finding a resort that offered good quality teaching, reliable snow (two year olds in slush just doesn’t work) and, most importantly, easy and fast access to some good piste and off-piste options within a couple of lift rides of the ski school meeting point. Pila, sitting high in the Aosta Valley and being mostly north-facing, was perfect with reliable snow and reasonably priced lift tickets and ski school (at that age kids may only ski a few hours a day). Just as importantly, within a minute of dropping off the kids with the excellent and super friendly instructors we could be on the Chamole lift heading to several snaking, beautifully prepared reds – often empty even at half-term. Dropping off the shoulder towards the Leisse lift opens up some good tree skiing, and even if you only have a couple of hours it’s easy to get up to the top of the resort at close to 2800m, and enjoy a long and varied descent all the way back to the village a 1000m vertical below. Sweep up the kids for superb hot chocolate and pizza or pasta and you have the recipe for a perfect first family ski holiday.”
James Gambrill
“Cortina d’Ampezzo is a fantastic place for families. There are plenty of blue slopes to keep the little ones entertained while parents can explore the area on more challenging red and black runs. My family’s favourite skiing area is Lagazuoi – 5 Torri with its challenging slopes and breath-taking views. Kids will also love the indoor climbing centre and the ice rink in town.”
Verena Stella
Family skiing in Cortina d'Ampezzo comes with glorious scenery and plenty of sunshine
PHOTO:BANDION.IT
The Palmer-Tomkinson gang in Klosters, Switzerland
SWISS PERFECTION
“We have always liked Klosters because there were only about two bars that teens would want to go to (and one nightclub for after), so it was easy to know where they were!”
James Palmer-Tomkinson
“For years, Andermatt has been the rustic town of choice for freeriders searching for steep, deep and untouched powder on the daunting Gemstock mountain. Following the gentrification of the town and expansion of the lift network, which now encompasses the neighbouring ski areas of Sedrun and Disentis, it now appeals to a far wider audience. Families with little ones will relish the gentle south-facing slopes of Nätschen mountain, which rises directly above Andermatt, while those with older kids will enjoy being able to roam across the sweeping Ski Arena area.”
Gabriella Le Breton
AWESOME AUSTRIA
“Our kids are now 15, 11 and eight and we’ve been travelling with them since they were babies. Our favourite resort through all this is St Anton, which continues to come top for many reasons beyond being a snow-sure resort with novice to challenging skiing. There’s the short transfer time and good transport links (either train, bus or coach from the airport or self-drive); the small town, which is accessible on foot and with a buggy; the efficient bus system; and the child-friendly Kindergarten and kids’ ski school, with organised classes for days or weeks. If you can’t find a holiday company with inclusive childcare, opt for MeriNannies or Alpine Angels. For a day off skiing, there’s a fabulous wellness centre with an indoor and outdoor pool, a climbing centre, ice skating and tobogganing down the Rodelalm route.”
Donna Goldsworthy
“Once your kids hit five years of age, you need to pay for a lift pass in France. However, you don’t have to pay until they’re eight in Austria, so explore those Austrian resorts for a few years and save some pennies.”
Helen Farr
“We’ve stayed in both hotels and chalets across the Alps. We love Austria most but there aren’t many chalets compared to France and, given the choice, a chalet is more fun… That said, we absolutely love Obergurgl – it offers a great combination of hotels, quality skiing and a reasonable transfer.”
Mark Funsch
Helen Farr's two girls enjoying free lift passes in Austria (top, middle and right)
Sam Selmes and her boys – easy to spot in their bright orange outfits!
NORTHERN LIGHTS & WAFFLES
“For some years when we had school age children and were limited to travelling during school holidays, what worked superbly was to spend the crazy February half-term week in France, Italy or Austria, and then head north to Trysil in Norway for a second skiing week at Easter. By then, the days were longer and warmer but the snow quality remained decent. The Trysil instructors are young, enthusiastic and kind and all speak English perfectly, alongside most other European languages. They’re great with kids: patient, fun, clear and good at managing groups of children and ensuring everyone was enjoying the process. Our kids and those of our friends all made significant progress during group ski classes – there’s no need for private instruction in Trysil. Whilst the terrain was never enough to tempt my husband to join us, we found there was plenty there for everyone and the waffles at a particular mountain hut were a daily treat that have us fondly reminiscing even now…”
Sam Selmes
ACROSS THE POND
“Canada is far better suited for all kids than European resorts. We found that the resort layout and facilities are particularly child friendly in Whistler and Big White, with traffic free zones and lots of ski-in/ski-out accommodation, so no bussing/trekking up to the first lift. The terrain and snow conditions are great and, when the kids start to exceed parental capability, there are big terrain parks and
patrolled backcountry-style areas for them.
There are also dedicated kids’ clubs, which teach toddlers up to teens in structured six-stage skills programmes, complete with daily reporting to parents and internet tracking across the mountains. The downside of Canada of course is access – it requires a long flight and the eight-hour time difference can be tough to adjust to.”
Hock Chan
“Whistler is like Disneyland in the snow for all ages, especially teens. Zip-lining, luge, skeleton/bobsleigh track - the list goes on, and on, and on…”
Sam Li-Fox