Thinking ahead to your next holiday? Can’t bear the thought of your next getaway being next summer?
Then a skiing holiday in France could be for you!
With the French ski season typically running from December to April and resorts a two hour flight or less from the UK a skiing holiday is the perfect way to break up the year and give you something to look forward to before your next summer holiday.
But how do you know where’s best to go when you’ve got kids in tow? In this collaborative post I’ve rounded up 5 of the best family friendly ski resorts in France including the verdict of a real mum on why she gives one particular resort the thumbs up.
5 of the best family friendly ski resorts in France
1. La Plagne, Savoie
La Plagne in the French Alps is made up of 10 purpose-built villages with slopes ranging from nursery level to black. It’s spread over a high altitude plateau which makes it perfect for families looking for flattish terrain and the fact most of the accommodation is purpose-built means you can ski-in, ski-out.
With wide, gentle pistes on which to build confidence La Plagne is ideal for beginners and families with members of varying abilities, plus all slopes run close to the chalets so there’s no need to trek too far and you can access most of the resort without the need for lifts.
Where to stay:
There are a host of providers to choose from, offering a fantastic range of ski holidays in France from fully catered chalets with childcare and more. Benefits include ski lessons for children aged five to 13, discounted family lift pass deals and earlier kids’ mealtimes.
Why La Plagne ticks all the boxes
- 2.5 hour transfer time
- English speaking instructors & snow schools
- Family-friendly chalets
- 93 blue & green runs
- Fourth largest snowboard runs in France
2. Les Arcs, Bourg Saint Maurice
A popular choice for families, Les Arcs boasts purpose-built family accommodation, family leisure complexes and gentle ski slopes ideal for beginners. The resort is made up of four holiday villages, all of which are pedestrianised with direct access to the ski slopes.
Family ski passes mean every member of the family pays the child rate, and under-fives go free – so perfect for families with pre-schoolers.
Where to stay:
Trip Advisor lists the 10 best family-friendly ski chalets in Les Arcs featuring swimming pools, steam rooms and saunas, and you can also see what other travellers have to say before booking.
Why Les Arcs ticks all the boxes
- 2.5 hour transfer time
- 134 blue & green runs
- 137 ski lifts
- Great deals on family ski passes
- 100+ bars & child-friendly restaurants
Real mum’s verdict:
“We LOVED Les Arcs!” says Emma who blogs at Wanderlust and Wet Wipes. “Most of the places to stay are ski-in, ski-out which is hugely helpful. We enjoyed the ski school and crèche and never had an issue finding somewhere kid friendly to eat.” (For more helpful information see her post on 33 ways to book the best family ski holiday).
3. Tignes, Savoie
Dubbed the best glacier skiing in Europe and linked to Val d’Isère, Tignes is known as a ‘super resort’ with one of the largest ski areas in Europe. There’s a super-fast ski lift system that covers 300km of pistes and well maintained, wide slopes (so less congestion).
With nursery slopes at the centre flanked by a network of gentle green runs, beginners can progress and build confidence quickly. Ski schools cater for children as young as two, and there’s also childcare for babies and private nannies available. And when the slopes close there’s still plenty to entertain the kids: the Lagon Centre has a 25-metre swimming pool, a play pool and three-lane waterslide, and you’ll also find family-friendly pizzerias and creperies.
Where to stay:
See Snow Chateaux for catered chalets, many of which come with sauna and/or hot tub and just minutes walk from local bars and restaurants. Expect afternoon tea and cakes, three course evening meals and free flowing wine with dinner (that’s my sort of dinner!)
Why Tignes ticks all the boxes
- 3.5 hour transfer time
- 93 blue & green runs
- 300km of skiing area
- Wide slopes so less congestion
- Nurseries operated by a slow chairlift
4. Avoriaz, Rhone-Alpes
Widely regarded as one of the best ski resorts in France for families, Avoriaz has been carefully planned with families in mind. With a child-friendly transfer time of just 75 minutes from Geneva Airport the whole village is pedestrianised with horse and sleigh taxis the only traffic.
There are 29 blue and green runs for first-time skiers to help you gain confidence slowly, with a piste map dividing the slopes into four categories: beginner, family, forest and expert. And if the weather’s bad or they’ve had enough of skiing there’s also a mountain water park with indoor main pool, river, flume and water canons.
Where to stay:
Hotels.com has a comprehensive run-down of the 10 best family friendly hotels in Avoriaz with free cancellation on most rooms. You can search for hotels in relation to their distance from ski lifts and they’ve got a plethora of reviews from other families, so as their strapline goes you can find the right hotel for you.
Why Avoriaz ticks all the boxes
- 75 minutes transfer time
- 29 blue & green runs
- Beginner & family pistes
- Horse & sleigh taxis
- Mountain water park
5. Meribel, Les Allues
Known as the chocolate box ski resort, Meribel dates back to 1938 as a ski resort and offers the perfect conditions for beginners and those looking to improve their skiing. Thanks to beginner runs on higher slopes beginners aren’t stuck in base areas and you can rely on good snow cover for the whole season.
Meribel is famous for its après ski nightlife with more than 100 bars and restaurants, and there’s a dedicated kids’ mascot in charge of a programme of children’s entertainment including themed kids’ ski areas which has helped the resort become award-winning for its commitment towards catering for families.
Where to stay:
Ski accommodation specialists PowderBeds.com brings together the best family-friendly accommodation in Meribel from hotels to self-catering apartments. You can view all the accommodation on a map in relation to ski schools and amenities, so work out where is best to stay for you.
Why Meribel ticks all the boxes
- 2.5 hour transfer time
- 160 blue & green runs
- 180 ski lifts
- Themed kids’ ski areas
- English-run ski schools
Have you been skiing with kids in France? Is a skiing holiday something you’re considering? I’d love to hear your experience!
This post contains compensated links.
If you liked this you may also enjoy reading:
10 reasons to take kids glamping
8 tell-tale signs you’re turning into THAT family
10 nifty gadgets to make travelling with kids 10 times easier
Linking up with these fabulous blogs!
I’m not really a skier but the resorts look so beautiful. What views too! #MMBC
We’ve never skied in France but we’ve stayed in the most amazing, family friendly skiing hotel in Austria for the last couple of years. It’s the only time we book half board, it’s great to have dinner cooked for you after a day outside :o)
#MMBC