The Best Family Ski Resorts

The best family ski resorts aren't just about the skiing. They're the ones where the children are happy, the logistics are simple and everyone - from toddlers to grandparents - comes home having actually enjoyed themselves.

That's what we look for when choosing where to operate. Our four resorts across the French Alps each bring something different for family ski holidays, whether it's car-free streets, on-site childcare, ski-in/ski-out access or enough off-slope activities to fill a rest day without anyone getting bored. Here's our guide to each one.

Nestled in the picturesque Tarentaise Valley in the French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Val d’Isère provides a charming, natural backdrop where skiers of all ages will feel the holiday vibes rush over them upon the moment of arrival. A great selection of carefully maintained slopes and off-piste skiing options makes this a strong choice for both beginners and professionals, and daily changing activities including music festivals, farm visits and mountain hikes mean every family member will find something to enjoy.

For a well-deserved break from the slopes, the Aquasportif centre offers a sunny alternative. Their beach world will transport you from a winter wonderland to a heated, tropical beach with a lush lounge area, a 416m² pool with river currents, water cannons and a soft play area for the kids. Alternate between skiing and this fabulous leisure centre, and it’ll feel as though you’ve found a way to combine your winter and summer holiday in one. You are sure to have an amazing family-friendly ski holiday in Val d’Isère!

• Families who want strong skiing alongside genuine off-slope variety
• Mixed-ability groups, with terrain for beginners and confident skiers alike
• Families who love a lively village atmosphere with events plenty going on

"Val d'Isère is often the one I recommend to bigger family groups or multi-generational trips, because there's genuinely something for everyone, whatever their age or ability." - Cam, VIP SKI Alpine Account Manager

What our guests say:
"Had a fantastic sunny week in Val d’Isère. Chalet perfectly suited our three generations! Very comfortable home from home for the week. Children loved the hot tub and pool. Robbie and Kate great hosts. Looked after us all so well and catered to our varied needs. Ski resort perfect for first timers and experienced skiers."

Sarah Bennie, stayed at No. 5 Bellevarde, March 2026.

Named the world’s most popular ski resort in 2016, La Plagne is one of the star players of the Tarentaise Valley. La Plagne guarantees thrilling runs for both beginner and intermediates, including several nursery slopes where novices can learn to ski and put their skills to the test before they work up the confidence for the real deal. This resort is perfect for eager little skiers who can’t wait to hit the nursery slopes every morning, ready to show off their latest moves.

You'll find several ski schools here, including Oxygène, which offers classes for children of all ages and abilities. If you're worried you might run out of additional activities, fear not - go paragliding or ice skating with your partner, send your teens out on husky dog-sledding rides or tobogganing down the mountain, while grandpa gets his strikes on at the bowling alley.

For families, our brand-new Graciosa chalets are the perfect base, offering stylish accommodation right in the heart of the resort along with our Bear Cubs childcare - so little ones can enjoy their own dedicated playtime while you make the most of the slopes.

• Young, first-time skiers, thanks to the number and quality of nursery slopes
• Families with a wide age range, from toddlers to grandparents
• Families who want a strong choice of ski schools for children of all abilities
• Families wanting stylish, newly-launched accommodation with childcare on hand, at Graciosa

"For young families, La Plagne is hard to beat - the nursery slopes are right where you need them, and there's so much to do off the mountain when little legs need a rest." - Louise, VIP SKI Alpine Account Manager

What our guests say:
"We travelled as a group of 20 (with 12 kids!) and took four two-bedroom apartments - and honestly, everything exceeded expectations. The service was incredible: nothing was too much trouble, and the team really made the stay special. The food was brilliant, and the shuttle service was a game changer, making it so easy to get around with a big group of children. It took all the stress out of logistics and let us just enjoy the trip. A fantastic experience all round."

AH, stayed at Paradiso Suite, April 2026.

Arc 1950 is one of the most family-friendly resorts in the French Alps. Purpose-built but with genuine charm, its pedestrian village, restaurants and shops are all on your doorstep, meaning no buses, no long walks in ski boots and no dragging tired children across town at the end of the day. The skiing links into the vast Paradiski area, offering 425km of piste across Les Arcs and La Plagne with terrain to suit every level, from gentle beginner slopes to challenging reds and blacks. 

For families, Bear Lodge is the perfect base - our award-winning ski hotel with a pool, spa, cinema room, on-site ski hire and Bear Cubs childcare, all under one roof. Night skiing takes place every Tuesday, and the village comes alive in the evenings with a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that works brilliantly for families with children of all ages.

• Families who want a fully pedestrianised, hassle-free village
• Parents wanting on-site childcare alongside their accommodation
• Families with children of a wide age range, thanks to Bear Cubs and Polar Bears childcare
• Families who want hotel facilities like a pool, spa and cinema room on their doorstep

"Arc 1950 is my top pick for single-parent families especially - having Bear Lodge's childcare right there under the same roof takes so much pressure off." - Millie, VIP SKI Alpine Account Manager

What our guests say:
"It was our second trip to Bear Lodge and once again they pulled a blinder. Great staff, excellently set up, super food, brilliantly geared up for kids. We - a family of four including a confident skier, a son who has built up his life and confidence of skiing at Bear Lodge, a daughter who is still finding her feet and a Mum who is yet to find a love of the slopes but still has a fab holiday - have had a brilliant time. Thank you!."

O'Donnell family, stayed at Bear Lodge, April 2026.

Avoriaz is completely car-free, which immediately sets it apart from most ski resorts. Children can run around safely, the taxis are horse-drawn sleighs and you can ski right into the heart of the village. It's a resort that feels like it was designed with families in mind. Sitting at 1,800m, it's the highest and most snow-sure resort in the Portes du Soleil, with access to over 650km of piste across 14 resorts and two countries. 

The beginner areas are wide and gentle, making it an excellent choice for families with first-timers, while the sheer size of the ski area means more confident skiers will never run out of terrain to explore. Off the slopes, there's plenty to keep everyone entertained - from the Aquariaz tropical waterpark to snowmobiling, ice diving and evening sleigh rides. Take a look at our favourite things to do in Avoriaz for inspiration. Our Avoriaz chalets are all piste-side with spectacular mountain views.

• Families who want total peace of mind with a completely car-free village
• Teenagers and confident skiers, thanks to the scale of the Portes du Soleil
• Families wanting ski-in/ski-out convenience right from the chalet door

"If you've got teenagers who want a bit of independence, Avoriaz is brilliant - it's car-free, so parents can relax, and the terrain is huge enough that they'll never get bored." - Maxine, VIP SKI Alpine Account Manager.

What our guests say:
"We stayed in the chalet for a week for a family holiday, including with our 2yr old granddaughter. The chalet was fantastic including the lovely pool which we used every day. The staff made our holiday! We were so well looked after and fed beautiful breakfasts, delicious afternoon tea and amazing dinners. The chalet was spotlessly clean too. Great work from a great team!"

Isobel Richardson, stayed at Chalet Kakisa, March 2026.

If it's your family's first time on skis, the resort you choose matters just as much as the lessons you book. All four of our resorts have been chosen with beginners in mind, but each offers something slightly different:

La Plagne has some of the best nursery slope provision of any resort we operate in, with gentle, well-positioned beginner areas close to accommodation and a strong choice of ski schools for children.

Avoriaz offers wide, gentle beginner terrain and the reassurance of a car-free village, so young or nervous skiers can build confidence without traffic or crowds to navigate.

Val d'Isère combines beginner-friendly slopes with enough off-piste and varied terrain that more confident members of the family won't be held back while beginners find their feet.

Arc 1950 pairs gentle nursery slopes with genuine ski-to-door convenience, plus on-site childcare at Bear Lodge for younger children not quite ready to ski all day.

Across all four resorts, what makes them genuinely appropriate for beginners is the combination of well-graded nursery slopes, qualified ski schools used to teaching children and adults from scratch, and villages designed so that getting to and from the slopes doesn't become a challenge in itself. Skiing made easy starts well before you clip into your first pair of skis.

We've been welcoming families to the Alps for over 30 years, and we know what it takes to make a ski holiday work for everyone. Our Bear Cubs childcare and private ski nannies give you the freedom to ski while your little ones are happy, safe and having fun. Your chalet host will happily adapt meals for fussy eaters, and essentials like cots, highchairs and children's crockery are provided as standard - so there's less to pack and less to think about. You’re also encouraged to Choose Your Chalet Menu for the week to guarantee full tummies week-long for all the family, so you’ve got plenty of energy for skiing, sledging, and everything in between. It's the kind of detail that turns a ski trip into a stress-free family holiday. For more tips on keeping the whole family in good spirits on the mountain, take a look at our Happy Children, Happy Ski Holiday guide.

Every family is different, and the right resort depends on what matters most to you - whether that's ski-in/ski-out convenience, a car-free village, a pool for rest days or childcare on your doorstep. If you're not sure where to start, our team can talk you through the options and help you find the right fit, get in touch today.