Two Family Ski Holiday

[Millionaura]

Hi all, looking for recommendations in France or Italy. 2 families - 4 adults, 4 tweens. Mix of skiers and non skiers. Although we haven’t been skiing with the children.

Ideally we would like something structured, perhaps a package, as we are finding it quite overwhelming.

Ideally 4 bedroom apartment but happy with 2x2 bedroom which I think will be more realistic.

Any recommendations or hints and tips.

Thank you

When I've been with friends, we've gone for a catered chalet. We always used skiworld and they've always been brilliant. It's been a few years though. We just go the four of us these days so self cater. But having someone else doing the cooking is amaaaaaazing. And it's not actually much more expensive than self catering and the cost of buying food/eating out.

We tend to go to Tignes. I love it. But I perhaps wouldnt recommend for non skiers/total beginners. Alpe D'Huez good. They have a "bowl" at the Bergiers end where all the beginner runs come into. But is still easy enough to get further up the mountain for more advanced skiers. Flaine also good for all levels. Very ugly. Unless you really love brutalist architecture. I didn't love La Plagne with young kids. It's very spread out. Maybe plagne centre would be good. But soleil and 1800 you have to either get bus or ski down fairly tricky slopes for begin ers to get anywhere.

Thanks for this. We did talk about a chalet but tbh didn’t know where to start. I will check out ski world. Ideally we would like ski in/ski out. Can’t face buses or long treks with the kids. They’re all relative self sufficient but it’s totally different when carrying skis etc.

I have looked at Flaine but you’re right - it isn’t at all picturesque.

Morzine French alps, great for all ski levels, family friendly restaurants….great luck!!!

Look at belambra hotels on Crystal ski. Easy enough& good locations & often a pool

When are you thinking of going? I would recommend avoiding Feb half term - France and Austria packed and Italy has the Olympics this year. First week of Easter holidays is much less crowded but you need to go somewhere high and/or snowsure. For example Flaine is good for Easter as has N facing slopes, Tignes is good as it’s high, but Alpe d’Huez is mostly S facing so gets very slushy. Morzine is far too low, to be honest I wouldn’t rely on Morzine having snow even in Jan/Feb. However Avoriaz above it could work. Bear in mind ski in ski out generally means modern and less pretty (some exceptions). Have a look at Reberty.

An agent like Solutions or Alpine Answers could help.

As long as you are good friends, a 4 bedroom apartment will be more fun, reduce the workload (taking turns to cook etc) and the kids will love it! We go as a group and always need a 4 bed apartment - they aren’t anywhere near as common, and you will likely find it cheaper to get 2x2 bed apartments, but they tend to be much smaller living / cooking spaces, and the bigger apartments are a much higher quality. E always go for high altitude resorts as we go over new year so need a snow sure place, and always ski in/ski out as you’re right that buses etc are a faff.

places we have found in recent years that have nice 4-5 bed apartments (either on Airbnb and I book everything separately OR filter on Sunweb for 4 bedrooms+ and get a package) are: Val Thorens (ugly but very high up, all modern), Avoriaz (lovely traffic free village, excellent cross border skiing), Les Arcs 1950 and 2000 (fantastic skiing & also great for non skiers especially Arc1950 as it is very ‘Disney’ in its look / style with plenty to do), Tignes (bit cheaper, some lovely apartments and chalets if you hunt for them), and Chatel (a bit lower altitude, but lovely chalets and at Feb half term the snow should be fine).

When do you want to go?

Look on Crystal Ski, it’s a Tui company. Or if you want to spend a bit more look at Ingams Ski. They do packaged ski holidays with catered chalets and you can choose how many rooms you would like. When you look at the different resorts, have a look at what other activities are there for non-skiers. Maybe have a look at Austria, reasonable cheap and a lot of resorts are pretty.

Hi, thanks for all of the responses - this is great and so helpful. We would love to avoid the dreaded half term week and are toying with the idea of flying out on Boxing Day or keeping the kids off school (I know) at any point in January.

I have looked on Crystal Ski and have checked ski world but Ski World haven’t yet released 2027. I will look at Inghams, Alpines and other suggestions.

If it was just us adults we would be happy just to wing it and do it ourselves but I feel slightly apprehensive as a family. I feel the need to have ski school and lift passes booked and organised.

Thanks again.

We often go Boxing Day for a week, it’s busy but not awful. You just need to go somewhere high altitude as there might not be much snow at a lower resort. But it depends on the year, sometimes there is loads! We’ve always had good snow.
I think for your first time, especially if you have younger kids, a package deal can be good. You will be able to book lessons, lift passes and ski hire with them.

What sort of skiers are you? Do you want Val d’Isère or are you happy with smaller less well known places? They are likely more budget friendly. I’m a big advocate for the southern French alps…. Puy st Vincent (great for younger families), Vars/Risoul, Les Orres, Serre Che or Montgenevre. But which one is best suited depends on your expectations.

Sadly I don’t think our budget is Val d’Isere. We have a vast range of skills in our party ranging from very experienced seasoned skier to absolute beginner.

Look at Club Med. It looks expensive but covers all food, most drinks, ski lessons (2x a day), ski passes plus clubs for teens and children.

What about somewhere with c100 km of pistes, with sensible prices. I think Crystal go to Les Orres. Or Vars/Risoul has 180km. You can fly to Marseilles.