Not sure where to go this winter for your snow holiday? This article is for you. You'll find our selection to help you get away with complete peace of mind with your family. You'll enjoy an unforgettable mountain stay full of discovery and activities suited to you and your children.
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How to choose your family ski resort?
Several criteria should be taken into account when choosing your resort:
- Choose a resort with the Famille Plus label that offers personalised welcome for families with activities adapted for young and old alike, to enjoy together or separately. Rates suited to every age and all shops and services nearby to minimise travel around the resort.
- Does the resort have a crèche for young children?
- Is the resort well equipped for beginners, with a rope tow and a magic carpet?
- Ice rink, sledge runs, swimming pool: does the resort offer activities beyond skiing?
- Check for children's pass deals (free for under-5s) or family packages.
- Make sure the runs are well suited to the skiing ability of your family members.
Photo by Mihály Köles on Unsplash
Top 5 best family ski resorts
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Saint-Lary-Soulan (Pyrenees)
In the heart of the Pyrenees and the Vallée d'Aure. You'll find Saint-Lary village (830 m) with the warm, authentic atmosphere of a true Pyrenean village. Saint-Lary 1700 (Pla d'Adet) and Saint-Lary 1900 (Espiaube) offer a sweeping panorama over the Pyrenees range and are, in winter, ideal bases for gliding enthusiasts. This area has been redesigned and planned specifically to welcome beginners, families and children. You'll naturally find ski schools there, along with Patou Park for skiers aged 6 to 12, a nursery slope and a short green run, all opening onto a wide, sunny wooden pedestrian promenade close to the shops — everything you need to make rapid progress before gaining altitude on the Adet chairlift to tackle your first blue runs. A fun run is also on offer: the Kidpark, served by covered magic carpets for maximum comfort for your children. For après-ski activities: Sensoria Rio, the Maison du Parc National, the cinema, the ice rink, and more. In terms of pricing, the resort offers rates and promotions specially tailored to families.
- Altitude: 830 m to 2,515 m
- 56 runs: 7 green, 26 blue, 13 red, 10 black
- Labelled Famille Plus
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Bresse-Hohneck (Vosges)
Bresse-Hohneck places a particular emphasis on children's areas, with a host of activities to give your children an unforgettable stay. Labell'Glisse features 2 runs — one for younger children and one for older ones — reserved for children discovering the joys of sledging in the mountains. The Opoualand run offers its banked turns, gateways and skill games to young skiers, while the Waouland boardercross keeps the more confident ones busy. La Bresse stands out as the go-to family destination on the Vosges massif. You'll find facilities such as the La Maison des enfants "Anicé le Sotré" crèche, with qualified supervisors who look after children through indoor and outdoor games and short walks at the foot of the slopes (for children aged 12 months to 6 years), as well as the Jardin d'enfants — a safe and fun space fitted with 2 rope tows, a magic carpet and figurines — welcoming Piou-Piou club children aged 3 to 5.
- Altitude: 900 m to 1,353 m
- 34 runs: 6 green, 14 blue, 13 red, 1 black
- Labelled Famille Plus
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Villard-de-Lans (Vercors)
Close to Grenoble, Villard-de-Lans is a family village resort with a superb 230 km domain of alpine skiing and nordic skiing runs linked to Corrençon. The ESF Nordique de Villard/Corrençon offers family nordic skiing introductions. A Babysnow outing introduces your child to the joys of first glides from as young as 11 months up to 3 years old. On skis, on foot or on snowshoes, explore the snow-covered spaces of Corrençon as a family. Villard-de-Lans' great asset for families is its wealth of activities beyond skiing: a swimming pool, a sports centre, a covered ice rink, beautiful snowshoe walks and a bowling alley. The resort's family highlights include 2 large beginner ski learning areas for toddlers, a Luge Park at the Colline des Bains, a crèche for children from 3 months to 4 years old, and an age-specific pass.
- Altitude: 1,050 m to 2,050 m
- 36 runs: 12 green, 9 blue, 7 red, 8 black
- Labelled Famille Plus
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Les Ménuires (Alps)
Les Ménuires is the family resort of the 3 Vallées. Its extensive range of services and facilities dedicated to welcoming children is a genuine guarantee of a successful ski holiday! Among the many strengths of Les Ménuires: children are welcomed from the age of 3 at the Piou-Piou clubs, 2 beginner areas are specially designed and secured to help children progress safely, chairlifts are fitted with a safety system on the safety bar, a Family pass is available, and numerous activities and entertainment are on offer for all age groups. In addition, a crèche is available for little ones from 3 months old. Getting around with a pushchair is made easier throughout the resort thanks to specific facilities and free shuttles. Baby carriers, sledge pushchairs, high chairs and travel cots are available for hire from several shops within the resort.
At Les Ménuires, your children will love:
- L'Arène des Neiges: a fully snow-built labyrinth at the top of Roc 1
- The Mini KL run to beat your speed record
- The Roc'n Bob sledge run: 4 km, 450 m of vertical drop and 22 banked turns
- The Walibi Gliss' fun zone, featuring a slalom course, a boardercross and a music area
- Altitude: 1,850 m
- 86 runs: 12 green, 43 blue, 23 red and 8 black
- Labelled Famille Plus
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Chamrousse (Isère)
Labelled accommodations, restaurants and shops are kids-friendly — ask for the list at the tourist office. All the facilities and activities of a large resort, in the warm and reassuring setting of a smaller one: it's the perfect combination for a successful family ski holiday. Private sledging sessions on a baby snow (sliding pushchair) for children aged 1 to 3, guided by an ESF instructor. Alpine skiing, nordic skiing or snowboarding lessons adapted for young children, in private or group sessions with an instructor. Sledging sessions for beginner children aged 3 to 5, supervised and kept safe by an ESF instructor, at the Piou-Piou clubs at Chamrousse 1650, 1750 and 1700. Activities dedicated to families and young children: free events including sledge races, mascots, shows, a leisure centre, baby cot and pushchair hire, and a themed trail between Chamrousse 1650 and 1750. The resort offers a free pass for children under 5. And for the very youngest — from 3 months to 6 years — there is the "Les Marmots" crèche.
- Altitude: 1,400 m to 2,250 m
- 43 runs: 7 green, 14 blue, 16 red and 6 black
- Labelled Famille Plus
