Best ski resort for non-skiers

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We're looking for a family holiday this winter (December) to allow beginners to learn to ski and non-skiers to do other stuff. Probably Europe, just because we don't want to be away for more than a week so travelling to US or Canada is too far.
I have never been skiing or to any winter sports resort anywhere so not sure where to start looking! Any recommendations would be great. Although it's a family holiday, youngest child will be 12 and the rest are mid-teens so don't need any facilities for young children.

We have a non-skier in the group of friends we ski with, and she's been to Kitzbuhel (and adjacent villages) 4 times. It's great for non skiers - the tourist info office put on an activity programme, and it's well connected by train to lots of lovely towns.

Austria is a great place to learn with kids as their ski school is all day, so they are fully catered for. Adults can do half day lessons and then practise in the afternoons.

Hmmm. Just seen you want December. Many places are not snow sure then, so that's a risk. You need to go high for December snow, and that doesn't necessarily correlate with plenty to do for non skiers.
I'd rethink timings and have your first trip when the snow is likely to be better.

Ah that's interesting thanks @ReviewingTheSituation . Timing is non-negotiable for this holiday so maybe we need to rethink and do something different then.

Don't take it off the table just yet! Someone else may have a good suggestion for December. We have only done Kitzbuhel at half term, so don't know what it's like in December, but it's becoming increasingly more unpredictable early in the season.

There's always places like Finland - plenty of snow in December, and lots to do for non-skiers (and very gentle skiing for beginners). So maybe think about that as an option. We went in January (about 15 years ago) and you couldn't ski for long each day because it was mighty cold and no daylight! But it was a great experience and we had a really good holiday.

Hi, not sure if this will help but it did with my child. We have the Alps booked for January next year and wanted to make sure our child can at least stand up on their skis. We found a great ski school for them and they have been having a great time learning, you could check it out, especially if you are worried www.chillfactore.com/ski-and-snowboard/kids-snow-school/kids-ski-school/

Exactly when in December is important. Resorts don't really get going until the week before Christmas (so in 2022 from 17th Dec) when the ski schools, rental shops and hotels/restaurants start operating.

Choose your resort well and there will be snow on the mountains even if there is less snow in the villages - for example in Saalbach or Zell am See, the beginners learn on slopes at the top of the mountain and get there by cable car, while the hotels etc. are in the valley.

Either of these resorts would be fine for non-skiers. The mountain restaurants are accessible by cable car, there are things to do in the valley (e.g. guided walks, horse-drawn sleigh rides, "wellness" spas, a day trip to Salzburg Christmas Market).

I was going to suggest Zell am See too.

I've been in December and there was snow on the slopes but not in the valley.

The French resorts tend to be higher but there won't be much for a non skier as they are generally purpose built more modern.

In Austria the resorts are in the valleys and are fully functioning lovely towns and villages and the gondola takes you up to the ski areas.

As PP have said December can be fairly unreliable for snow. I would suggest that Zel Am Zee is your best bet. Its a proper alpine town with year round life. The local skiing of fairly low but there is high / glacier skiing at Kaprun a short distance away.

Innsbruck would be an alternative the city has skiing areas within its boundary and others close by.
A further suggestion is Aosta / Pilla a small and lovely Italian city with a direct gondola to the slopes at Pilla, would be less show sure though.

There is no need to travel from Zell am See to Kaprun for skiing in December.

Although the town is in the valley by a beautiful lake, the skiing at Zell is all on the mountain slopes above the town, which are accessed by cable car/gondola. It is very rare that there is no skiing at all in December - the skiing areas are served by snow-making facilities that ensure that there is sufficient snow for skiing even if the natural snowfall is low.

I can't help on ski resorts but one thing to consider is lessons. If you're in France, and have lessons with ESF, those who are 12 and under are in the children's groups and those who are 13 and older are in the adult's groups. You may end up with the 12yo in a separate group to the rest of those on your trip and, if the 12yo is a complete beginner, they may well be in a group with mainly 4 - 7yrs. It might be worth looking to see if other ski schools have different age ranges or, if there are enough of you, if private lessons are affordable