France March 2024 family of 4

[NoKnit]

So we are currently on our annual ski trip to Austria and my son (age 10) has announced he'd love to ski in France for a change. Before kids we would go to Chamonix every year in late March. Our kids are 7 and 10 and have learned to ski here in Austria due to convenience. They are at the stage where they can ski with us no issue and we've been taking them on small areas off the piste because the powder was so good start of this week.

A bit of background to us my and DH skied for over 20 years and live in Europe, driving distance to alps so before kids we could easily be going every other weekend in peak season. Our favourite resorts are the 'tough' or as we say 'good' places think Andermatt, Ischgl, St Anton etc we just consider it to be piste or not piste. We've skied Valley Blance etc. (although we're snowboarders closer to 50 than 40 now so perhaps not as fit or young as when we did that)

I remember a good trip to Val di Sere about 15 years ago. Is this a good place to take the kids to? My oldest has been told skiing in France is much better (more blacks I'm not sure though) Personally I've always preferred the openness of mountains in France, parts of Switzerland etc.

This year we are blessed with Easter holidays starting 22nd March so can get a spring trip in with decent snow hopefully.

I'm swaying towards booking an apartment in Chamonix but I wonder if they'll like it as its a town resort to ski it all you have to get bus etc. Option 2 I am thinking is Val di Sere.

But am I missing somewhere really good?

As I said ski school not important they don't always go it's just a tour group for them. I'd prefer it not to be a place full of first time British people learning to ski (haha perhaps I'm posting in the wrong place then) and obviously not too small (unless it's an off piste gem)

I don't know if anyone can recommend anything but thought I'd ask.

So much choice… If Val d’Isère (and Tignes) tick your boxes why not go there? Or the 3V. The skiing in Cham is obviously amazing although the one time I went it rained and the vis was terrible.

You could also consider Montgenèvre (and ski into Italy for lunch), Serre Chevalier, Vars (and Risoul). All amazing resorts with lots to do. My kids (now excellent skiers and old teens) had a fab week recently skiing miles in above mentioned places.

I love Chamonix - one of my favourite places on Earth. However it is not an easy place to ski - lots of walking and buses with distinct, separate ski areas, Having said that - I enjoyed ski-iing there but this was without 2 kids in tow.

Val / Tigne & the 3 Vallees are much more interconnected so plenty plenty skiing so would be my preferred option.

Just remember a Val d'Isere red is the equivalent of a black in pretty much any other resort....

Val Thorens - everything is so easy to get to as it's a purpose built resort.

I have 3 kids 15, 13 and 10 and we ski in France twice every year. We like big resorts with some difficult runs and sounds similar to your situation. I would recommend 3 valleys or Les Arcs. Never been to Val d’Isere but linked to Tignes so should be good.

Val d'isere is my favourite resort and would suit you perfectly. Also nice and high so snow will still be good.

Val d’Isere definitely if the budget permits, accommodation can be pricey! Just watch the piste classifications when skiing with your 7YO- they’ve got better and regraded a lot but you still get some weird ones like the womens world cup downhill is only a red. The only thing you’re missing is how good the skiing is in North America though, no where in Europe can compete! But if it has to be France then definitely Val d’Isere.

Thanks. Been to Chamonix at least 6 times so know the score and love the skiing there.

As for the blacks/reds they are all just piste to me. I think my son has also heard from others on the lift that blacks in France are harder hence his wish to go there. I guess the mountains are just steeper.

Thanks everyone for all the tips. I've been to 3 valleys and also remember good skiing.

Val di Sere currently winning I think. But I'm torn as we really love Chamonix and want to show our kids where we have had many happy times. Also with Cham plenty of other things to do if the snow isn't up to it, although never had a problem there before.

Les Arcs also a place I've read about I'll have a look.

Yes I admit never skied North America I don't know just can't justify it is we can jump in the car and be in Austria or Switzerland in 4 hours. However it is something I am open to trying, possibly not for this trip though.

As for the cost I've found wherever you go skiing costs a fortune and the amount you'd save with a different resort isn't much in the grand scheme of holiday costs. We'd book all separate anyway

If you are tempted- Vail. The back bowls and blue sky basin are like nothing else.

As for the cost I've found wherever you go skiing costs a fortune and the amount you'd save with a different resort isn't much in the grand scheme of holiday costs
We’ve been going for years, except when we lived in the states (god do I miss the skiing there!) and Val d’Isere has just gone a bit mad recently, a lot of the cheap places have shut and places that were already expensive have reached a whole new level. We always used to go to the same chalet and in 3 years they’ve quite literally doubled their price for the same week of the season, same operator, same service, no improvements made. Your 7YO gets a free lift pass though so there’s that I guess!

Free lift pass? That stops at 5/6 in Austria. He'll turn 8 in April if that makes difference born 2016.

Yes for France I'm expecting to pay a small fortune for accommodation not that great. However since we drive we can take a good amount of food with us and just deal without eating out all the time. I mean Val di Sere was expensive 15 years ago when I went. I paid 15€ for a tiny frozen takeaway pizza back then and it blew my mind. Probably lots more now. Although being France I do remember wine cheaper than water lol

Val d’Isere definitely or Tignes (my preference but same ski area) ski for 4 weeks there every Easter and it’s always been good snow. Massive area and runs as hard as you could want. Particularly into Val it’s all steep reds/blacks. If you want a fun challenge day with the kids doing side to side of the piste map or bottom right corner in Les Brev to Val Glacier is fun for the day.

I haven't skiied in Chamonix but we all loved Tignes. One of my favourite places to ski piste wise although these days we prefer Italy for the food, coffee and friendliness. We stayed in Les Brevieres but that was a bit of a schlep. Le Lac looked lovely.

second Les arcs and three valleys for the interconnectedness and basically it’s good for a week without getting too bored of the same pistes. and because they’re big resorts, shops and restaurants are more available.

also really liked alp d’huez because it’s south facing for the sun and the longest black in the world and weirdest (serene and le tunnel)

I have a child same age and I’ve been paying for a lift pass in France since he turned 6 - i think it’s cheaper than adult but it’s not free.

Val d’Isere and Tignes specifically are free for under 8s. So if OP’s youngest is still 7 at the time of the trip then he’s free. Obviously other resorts differ!

Thirding the Les Arcs recommendation. A huge and varied ski area accessible by foot or on skis.

We stayed here last Easter. Small, but everything we needed and a great location. It's showing as £483 for the week from the 23rd March. It'll be quieter that week as most Easter holidays don't start until the following week. We arrive in 1800 the following Saturday, on the 30th.

Check out this place in Arc-1800 I found on Vrbo: https://t.vrbo.io/BL4dJWblmGb

So after much discussion we've booked it and are going to Val di Sere.

Les Arcs was also into the equation but decided it was a bit too long a drive for us. We've holidayed in that neck of the woods plenty during the summer I never thought about skiing down there but it has gone on to our list for one day. What is the snow like there in April? Just in case we decide for future years. Even Chamonix always gets slushy late March so I've never done Easter skiing. But who knows we could consider it one year.

As for cost it's the 4 of us in a studio for the same price as what we pay for a 2 bedroomed apartment with large living area in Austria. But that's France for you I can't say I'm surprised.

Quite excited now

Val d'Isere is a good choice for Easter (I went to Les Arcs one Easter many years ago and have never been so wet skiing!). It can get slushy in the afternoons at resort level if it's warm but there is plenty of high skiing to keep you occupied and you can download in the cabins if need be at the end of the day. We've stayed in neighbouring Tignes many Easters and had some fantastic conditions. In terms of driving distance it's really no different to Les Arcs though - you drive down the same valley and past Les Arcs and then up the road to Val d'Isere.

We'd be driving from Germany through Switzerland and it is about 750km to Val di Sere as opposed to 1050km to Les Arcs. I suppose going from Calais wouldn't be much different though. I know those roads and it's a long slog down.

I find that very strange @NoKnit - there's no other way into Val d'Isere except via Bourg St Maurice in the winter, and that's the jumping off point for both Les Arcs and Val d'Isere/Tignes. From there it's about 25km to Les Arcs and 30km to Val d'Isere.

I still prefer Val d'Isere over Les Arcs though - you've made the right choice

Exactly what @stringbean says - It makes no sense that Val d’Isere is closer than Les Arcs unless you’ve looked at the route based on roads that are only open in the summer?? You have to go to Bourg St Maurice to get to both and from there Les Arcs is marginally closer. That said though, excellent choice, Val d’Isere is my favourite European resort and I’m sure you’ll love it!

Yes I checked the map seems like we just made assumptions and got ourselves confused. It doesn't matter anyway we had been pretty certain on Val di Sere anyway. We got caught out years ago whilst on our way to Val di Sere I think (0r maybe 3 valleys) obviously this was before maps on phones and wayzz or whatever it is called. Added an extra three or four hours. Amazingly we survived that car journey enough to get married and start a family 😆

I'm still excited anyway. Even if I still yearn for Chamonix. Next year perhaps

The problem was we'd checked and it was open but I think there was a change or something

The snow in Italy is dire. Taking a coach load of students next week and it has been 18 degrees for a few days. No snow expected until Friday. Ok on lower levels but no snow in other areas.