Ski holiday - three kids 5,3 and 1, please help me!

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We are planning to go in January. Just 5 nights. Last year we went with my parents but this year it's just us.

I'll put the 3 and 5 year old in ski school every morning. I'll find a nanny or childcare for the 18 month old for just the morning. My husband or I will take it in turns during the afternoon to either do stuff with all 3 kids whilst the other skis or we'll do afternoons out together in whatever resort we stay in.

We went last year to Morzine which was great but we don't need such a vast ski area when in reality for the next few years I know we won't get a huge amount of skiing done.
Need somewhere child and beginner friendly (I'm the only experienced skier, DH also a beginner as of last year).

I loved Avoriaz but it's expensive and need a buggy that you can push through snow which I refuse to buy for the final child as the town is pedestrianised so snowy roads.

Very keen on France and not Bulgaria/Italy at this stage. We will have enough on our plates so the French alps for me are familiar.

Can anyone share any wisdom please....!

Meribel (or Les Allues or Meribel Village for slightly quieter accommodation with easy access to Meribel).

Isola

Puy St Vincent with Snowbizz, they make it so easy with kids those ages.
It might not be a flashy resort but Snowbizz just make it easy.

BTW it was a MN recommendation that I had for Snowbizz about 10 years ago, we missed a couple of years because of Baby2 and a year with covid.

We've recommended them to friends who both travelled with then twice.

Puy St Vincent, Risoul (you can ski to Vars) or Les Orres would all fit the bill. Puy and Les Orres have about 100km and well set up for kids. Risoul is also good but part of a bigger ski area with 180km.

Tiny, beautiful cheap resort. Not sure if there is childcare though.
Bonneval les arcs
You can stay literally 50 yards from the lifts, no need for a buggy, no struggling carrying ski equipment. For children it’s the best resort I’ve been to.
https://www.bonneval-hautemaurienne.ski/

Les Arcs 1950 and use Evolution2 Yeti Camp for your older children?

evolution2.com/en/les-arcs/winter-kids-club

Obviously, LA is a massive area, but you'd be well suited in 1950 just to play around in the 1950/2000 bowl on skis. Super beginner friendly, with some nice bits for you too (Grand Col is a fun challenge). Plus, it's got the Luge in 2000. Pretty village centre that you can easily walk around, even with skiers going through it.

Les arcs 1850 is ok but I didn’t love it and found food expensive and a bit shit. Nice ski in/out though. I love alpe d’huez, lots of beginner runs but also reds/blacks-ski school not all on the same bit of slush, high so good snow. Quite a few restaurants. And sunny!

Thanks for these!

Puy looks great (and in fact was my first ever family ski holiday when I was a child so a bit of sentimental value taking my kids there...) but flights from Turin are only weekly (we'd want to do a Sat to Thu) from Manchester so that scuppers us.

Les Arcs gives us the same problem - long transfer from Geneva or a Chambery flight schedule only runs weekly!

I feel like this should be a lot easier than it is...

Have you considered flying to Marseilles? It’s an easy 2.45 hour drive to Puy, and there are BA, EasyJet and Ryanair flights?

That's a bummer with the flights. Snowbizz tend to run their week Sun-Sun.

Creche on the slopes, Totons (tots on skis) for 3yo, ski school & evening kids club for your 5yo.

I know you said France but I wanted to suggest katschberg in Austria. Quite near to Salzburg, relatively small ski area (but big enough - about 76km of slopes) great for beginners and intermediates, with a few decent blacks for more experienced skiers.

English speaking ski school and at least one hotel (Cristallo) has in house childcare.

Following...

Flaine could work. Nice short transfer from Geneva. Compact resort so easy to all meet back for lunch. Very family friendly, no night life! Lots of ski in ski out apartment blocks, I don’t know how much is available for 5 days rather than 7 though.

I've found a great little apartment in Les Gets for £1200 for 5 nights. 3 bedrooms so enough space. Does this sound reasonable and what would Les Gets be like for kids?

I felt a bit overwhelmed with Morzine and the bus up to the Morzine express bubble. I m couldn't face that every day but Les Gets seems to have a piou piou little village etc in the town centre etc. Never been myself so grateful of any thoughts!

Les Gets would be a great fit, but if you wanted to try a different ski area, other options to consider are Ste Foy, Montgenevre, Les Saisies, La Clusaz, Val Cenis.

Les Gets is great family skiing. Snow was pretty thin on the ground until mid Jan last year (unusually bad start to the season) so bear that in mind for timing.