Your next holiday is just around the corner, and you‘re planning a ski holiday with the whole family? That’s great! How about going to France for a change? In addition to culinary and cultural highlights, the “land of fraternity” boasts some top-class family ski resorts. Our RENTertainers’ verdict: a great choice for winter sports enthusiasts of all ages!
However, options are plentiful – so which family-friendly ski resorts in France are the best? And what makes them stand out from the rest? Our winter sports experts know just what snow-loving families want and have identified the best family hotspots.
What makes a ski resort family-friendly?
When it comes to family skiing in France, you’re truly spoilt for choice, with numerous resorts offering special rates and services for families. Finding the perfect resort for you and your loved ones can be tricky. After all, you often need to cater to the wishes and needs of different age groups. So which ski resorts manage to live up to the demands of winter-sports-loving families? A top-class family ski resort should tick the following boxes …
Child-friendly slopes
Plenty of blue and green runs, special beginners‘ areas and “slow skiing zones” are all signs of a family-friendly ski resort. Especially for smaller kids who are only just starting out, it’s important to have this kind of safe and relaxed skiing zones. To make these areas particularly suitable for beginners, ski runs are easy and designed for slow skiing. What’s more, other riders are kindly asked to treat novices with consideration.
Get an overview: Find out about slope difficulty levels and ratings in various countries!
Quality seals & online ratings
Quality seals and online ratings are useful tools for finding the perfect ski resort for your needs. In France, family-friendly ski resorts carry the “Famille Plus” label. In addition, you can check the online ratings of ski portals such as skiresort.info (“Best ski resorts for families and children”) or snowplaza.de (“Bestes Skigebiet für Familien”) to get an overall idea.
Easy slopes that run all the way to the valley
Whether your hotel is right by the slope or just nearby – at the end of the day, all family members should be able to safely and comfortably ski down to the valley. That’s why easy valley descents are another thing to look out for in a family ski resort. They are easy to master for beginners and kids and ensure that everyone ends their ski day in high spirits.
Our top tip: Book an accommodation that’s right by the slopes or close to the ski school. That way, you won’t have to carry your equipment for long distances, and the skiing fun can start right at your doorstep.
Good to know: Discover even more tips and tricks for skiing with kids!
Ski passes for families
Skiing can be rather pricey, particularly for families. The solution: Checking for special offers and discounted family ski passes in advance. For instance, many ski resorts offer discounted tickets for several hours or certain parts of the ski resort. What’s more, many ski resorts in France offer special family ski passes allowing all family members to ski at children’s rates. As you can see, a bit of research can truly pay off!
Après-ski entertainment for kids
Everybody loves a bit of après-ski entertainment after skiing – including the youngest skiers! At family-friendly ski resorts, you can find child-friendly alternatives to the usual mountain huts and bars. For instance, playgrounds, parks and indoor swimming pools are great places for the little ones to have a bit of fun after a day on the slopes. Plus, the grown-ups can relax at the pool’s spa area.
Keep in mind: Lots of activities mean lots of fun and variety. However, they can also make packing more difficult. To find out what to bring, check out our ultimate holiday packing list.
Family-friendly ski resorts in France
Now you know what makes a family-friendly ski resort – but which resorts in France actually tick all the boxes? Our RENTertainers have tested and evaluated the best ski resorts for families in France.
Paradiski
Les Arcs, La Plagne, Peisey-Vallandry
The ski resorts of Les Arcs, La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry are all part of the French Paradiski ski area located in the Vanoise mountain range in south-eastern France. Thanks to the resort’s high-altitude location and its proximity to two glaciers, the ski resort gets reliable snow until the end of April. Plus, the resort offers many highlights for families.
The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance
At all villages of the ski resort, families enjoy:
- the benefits of the “Famille Plus” label
- child-friendly ski runs
- affordable ski passes for families
- après-ski entertainment for kids
- an obstacle course
- a magic carpet (conveyor lift)
- children’s lifts
- ski kindergartens
- ski schools
- childcare services
- baby care service
Highlight on top: Together with École de Ski français (ESF), Arc 2000 children’s area offers childcare services and skiing lessons. Located near the village, the snow-sure children’s area is open to kids aged between four months and twelve years. Lunch options included.
Les Portes du Soleil
Les Gets, Morzine, Châtel and others
Les Portes du Soleil, the “gates of the sun”, comprise twelve ski resorts between the Mont Blanc in France and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. It’s one of the world’s largest ski regions and one of the most popular destinations in the French Alps – also among families.
The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance
The resorts of Les Gets, Morzine and Châtel are known for their many services and offers for families:
- awarded with the “Famille Plus” quality seal
- child-friendly ski runs
- affordable ski passes for families
- children’s area / secured area for kids
- merry-go-round
- wave track for kids
- obstacle course
- magic carpet (conveyor belt)
- children’s lifts
- ski school for kids
- playground or park
Highlight on top: The purple Milka slopes at Les Gets and Châtel are exclusively for the youngest guests. In addition, Les Gets has a colourful, charming Indian Village with special children’s lifts – a real highlight for the little ones!
Les Trois Vallées
Val Thorens, Les Ménuires, Méribel, Courchevel and others
The three valleys of Belleville, Méribel and Courchevel in the southeast of France are connected by the world’s largest ski area: Les Trois Vallées. Located at the border to Italy and Switzerland, it spans eight ski resorts with a total of more than 600 kilometres of slopes and offers skiing fun for all ages.
The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance
The bigger resorts like Les Ménuires, Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens are particularly suitable for families, as they offer numerous services, discounts and slopes especially for families.
- easy valley descents
- affordable ski passes for families
- children’s area / secured area for kids
- wave track for kids
- obstacle course
- magic carpet (conveyor belt)
- children’s lifts
- child-friendly access to the lifts
- ski kindergartens
- ski schools for kids
- childcare services
- baby care service
Highlight on top: The Walibi Gliss adventure course at Pointe de la Masse in Les Ménuires offers skiing fun with music for beginners. In addition to mastering the parallel slalom and boarder-cross tracks, the little ones can play the instruments positioned along the slope. In line with the musical theme, the region’s skunk mascots do live concerts for the kids. A highlight for little music-loving skiers!
Les Deux Alpes
Located an hour’s drive from Grenoble, in the French department of Isère, you can find the ski resort of Les Deux Alpes. It reaches up to 3,600 metres above sea level and the area surrounding La Meije glacier, making it one of France’s highest ski resorts. Thanks to its high-altitude location, you can even go skiing in summer, with the glacier runs offering guaranteed snow even during the warmer months of the year.
The resort’s family-friendly services at a glance
Les Deux Alpes offers something for every age and skill level. Consequently, you can also find plenty of highlights for families there:
- child-friendly ski runs
- funpark
- skiing lessons for kids
- children’s area / secured area for kids
- merry-go-round
- wave track for kids
- obstacle course
- magic carpet (conveyor belt)
- children’s lifts
- ski kindergartens
- ski school for kids
- childcare services
- baby care service
- playground or park
Highlight on top: Piou Piou children’s area run by École de Ski français (ESF) is located right in the heart of the region and offers skiing lessons and childcare services. The resort’s tow lift, the many conveyor belts and fun practice tools turn every stay there into an adventure.
INTERSPORT Rent tip
Of course, INTERSPORT Rent is also your go-to place for top-class ski equipment in France. Our motivated RENTertainers will equip you and your family with top-of-the-line rental gear at great prices. Just ask for special family deals on site and cut down on your holiday costs!
P.S. Make use of our convenient online reservation system to book your equipment in advance!
