Family ski holidays in the Alps: a real holiday for parents too

A family ski holiday is often an exercise in logistics: ski suits to wriggle into before 9am, a lesson that won’t wait, and parents who come home more tired than when they left. None of it is inevitable. With a resort that thinks of children and a house where everyone has their own space, parents get their holiday back. Here is how to go about it, from choosing the week to choosing the chalet.

Choosing the right week

It all starts with the school calendar. In 2027 the French winter holidays stretch over a month, from 6 February to 8 March: school-holiday zone C (Paris, Créteil, Versailles, Montpellier, Toulouse) goes first, from 6 to 22 February, zone A (including Lyon, Grenoble and Bordeaux) follows from 13 February to 1 March, and zone B (including Lille, Nantes, Marseille and Strasbourg) brings up the rear from 20 February to 8 March. The official dates run from the end of lessons on the Saturday to the return to school on the Monday.

The weeks when two zones overlap are, naturally, the busiest: 13 to 20 February for zones A and C, 20 to 27 February for zones A and B. Only one zone is on holiday, on the other hand, from 6 to 13 February (zone C) and from 27 February to 6 March (zone B). Christmas brings everyone together, from 19 December to 4 January. And for the spring holidays, think altitude: most resorts in Les 3 Vallées close on 18 April 2027, while Val Thorens keeps skiing until 2 May.

AEC tip. If your children are not yet old enough for lessons, make the most of the weeks outside the school holidays: the pistes are quieter, the ski kindergartens less full and the large chalets easier to find.

A resort that thinks of children

The most useful marker is called Famille Plus. This national label was created by three associations of tourist municipalities, among them the association of mountain resort mayors, and it has state backing. It is awarded for three years, on application and after an audit, to municipalities that commit in particular to “a personalised welcome for families”, “activities suited to all ages” and prices designed for everyone, “from the youngest to the oldest”. To compare resorts, Famille Plus label and childcare ages included, see our guide to family ski resorts.

In the Alps, the label’s official map lists thirty-two resorts, among them Courchevel (since 2010, according to its tourist office), Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Val d’Isère, Tignes, La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, Combloux and Alpe d’Huez. Other major resorts, such as Méribel, Megève or Les Gets, do not appear on it, which says nothing about how they welcome families: their tourist offices set out what they offer.

Ski lessons from age 3

At the École du Ski Français, first steps are taken at the Club Piou-Piou, for ages 3 to 5, before children’s lessons from 5 to 12 and then teenage lessons. The levels follow a progression every parent ends up knowing: Piou-Piou, Ourson, Flocon, then the Étoiles, from the first star to the Étoile d’or. Each school sets its own rules, though: in Méribel, the ESF takes children at the Mini Club Piou Piou once they have turned 3 and at the Club Piou Piou from age 4; in Val d’Isère, its snow garden welcomes the youngest in groups of eight.

On safety, no law in France requires a helmet at present. The Ministry of Sport is clear all the same: “Wear a helmet and, above all, make sure your children wear one.”

Childcare for the youngest

Before children are old enough for lessons, most resorts have a day nursery, each with its own ages and hours. In Courchevel, the municipal day nurseries Les Marmots, in Moriond, and La Tanière des Croès, in La Tania, take children from 6 months to 4 years, Sunday to Friday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm. In Méribel, the Les Saturnins day nursery takes children from 18 months to 3 years, and the tourist office keeps a list of babysitters for younger ones. In Val d’Isère, the Chalet des Aiglons brings together a winter crèche and a children’s activity centre for 3 to 11-year-olds. In Megève, the Les P’tites frimousses crèche takes children from 10 months to 4 years; in Les Gets, the Les Fripouilles nursery takes children from 12 months to 4 years.

During the school holidays, it is best to book as soon as your dates are set. And if you would rather have childcare at the chalet, for an evening or a whole day, our agents can arrange it on request.

A chalet with room for everyone

This is where a real holiday for parents is won or lost. Count bedrooms rather than beds, and look at how they are laid out: a floor or a wing for the children, a suite set apart for the parents, and the stay at once becomes gentler. A ski room near the entrance keeps snowy footprints out of the sitting room, and a games room or cinema corner fills the late afternoons.

Location matters as much as the house. A chalet close to the ski school meeting point, or at the foot of the pistes, spares you the shuttle bus every morning with the little ones’ skis on your shoulder. A pool or hot tub will delight the children; just check with your agent how it is accessed, for peace of mind. And if the family is travelling with the dog, our selection of dog-friendly chalets avoids unwelcome surprises.

AEC tip. For two families travelling together, aim for a chalet with one more bedroom than you need: it works as a playroom by day and a quiet retreat for the youngest children’s naps.

A holiday for parents too

In the morning, the children head off to their lesson, and the parents have a morning’s skiing ahead of them, all to themselves. In the afternoon, the day nursery or ski kindergarten takes over when needed. In the evening, the chalet does the rest: some houses come with a chef, others with a spa where you can meet up once the children are in bed. These services vary from house to house and are listed on each property page; our agents can arrange others on request.

Where to stay

For a stay with several families, our selections of chalets for 10 people and for 20 people are a good starting point. For resorts, browse our rentals in Courchevel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Val d’Isère, Tignes and La Clusaz. In Courchevel, our guide to choosing your village points out the most family-friendly; before you book, our guide to renting a luxury chalet answers the practical questions. To choose your week, see our guides to February ski holidays and Easter ski holidays. For a family resort linked to Italy, see also our practical guide La Rosière with the family.

The simplest thing is to write to us: give us your dates and your children’s ages, and our agents will suggest a selection to suit.

And there will be that moment, at the end of the week, when the child who cried at the first lesson is waiting for you at the bottom of the piste with a first medal.

Frequently asked questions