Skiing in France

R

RidgyDidge

Active member
 Brisbane
We're lucky enough to be heading to Europe for Xmas and New Year - 6 week trip in total.

Amongst the many things we're planning, we'd like to do some skiing whilst we're in France. The whole family ranks as beginners, includes a 9 year old and 11 year old, so I'm looking for recommendations for the best family friendly ski resorts in France.

We don't necessarily need 5*, but we don't want cheap and nasty either.

Doesn't matter where in France as we're happy to travel.

Any guidance you can offer would be much appreciated :-)


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Although a smaller resort I would recommend La Rossierre as a good, family friendly, resort for beginners and intermediates. For more extensive skiing options Avoriaz is a great option as it is high and totally traffic free. its perhaps not the prettiest resort though.
Avoriaz centre
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No crowds in La Rossierre!
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My pick for first timers would be La Rossiere, it will also excellent value and you can ski into Italy.
 
No contest, choose either the 3 Valleys complex probably staying in Meribel or the Val D'Isere and Tignes complex.


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I wouldn't necessarily pick a smaller resort. The small less well known ones are sometimes at lower altitude and therefore the lower slopes (often the beginner ones) are the lowest and at risk of poor snow. Some of the larger resorts have great slopes for beginner/intermediate at the higher points of the resort, the beauty here is that you catch a large cable car to the upper areas ski and then you can catch the cable car back down again.
My picks would be

Le Menuires
La Plange
Les Deux Alpes
Avoriaz
Chatel

Take at look at Zenith holidays http://www.zenithholidays.co.uk/ they are good for family friendly holidays.
 
I learnt to ski many years ago in La Plagne. Can highly recommend it, it has a lot of good beginners slopes and not as expensive as Val d'Isere, Courcheval etc and still has a very alpine pretty feel. I believe it's supposed to be very family friendly too if you have kids. Other than that Montgenevre may be a good option although a much smaller resort. You can ski in both France and Italy though in this resort.
 
Can't say I'd recommend Avoriaz or Morzine. Quite fragmented and not laid out well runs wise in my opinion.


Tapatalking on my iPhone.......
 
You're never going to get a consensus on this one! Avoriaz is my absolute favourite resort. I've never had a problem with the runs and enjoy the trip over to Morzine and the bowl at Les Gets. On the other hand i really dislike Les DA with no real ski in-ski out options. Three Valleys is always a safe bet, Val Thorens for me though, but beginners may not make the most of it and it can be expensive. The smaller resorts will be better value for accommodation, food, lift passes etc but that may not be a factor. Let's be honest are there really any bad resorts in France??
 
Thank you :-)

Those hints and tips are proving helpful already...so many places to choose from...


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Imagine 6 weeks off work - how wonderful. You'll have a great time I'm sure. Probably teaching granny to suck eggs, but make sure you check out their history of snow fall as the last thing you'd want is to go to a great resort which is closed or has poor quality snow.
 
La Plagne gets my vote to which is purpose built, very family friendly, though France has got very expensive & paid £250 for the pass that also connects to Les Arcs which is lovely old style resort.

Check out a ski company called SilverSki, as they do very good Chalet packages, food is fab & the last chalet I booked there was right on the piste above one of the main centres. Flights are on best day, though my only other was connecting coach seat space was pants with hardly any room whatsoever, otherwise reps have been brilliant every time I have used this operator... just read the reviews & u sometimes find people who've skied with them become 'mature hosts'... enjoy
 
Hi,

As a snowboarder I would not recommend La Plagne, a lot of flat connecting slopes. It is also quite annoying for ski beginners.

I really like Avoriaz as well. The streets are pedestrian only because they let 2 m of snow on it... (as you can see on the pics above) the only way to carry lugagges is by snowscoots or horse pulled carriage :D
Probably the most exotic place for kids.

I would aslo suggest you to stay in Haute-Savoie (rather than Savoie or other southern part of the Alps), it's higher, there is more snow and it's closer to Geneva airport or UK by road.

(born and raised in the Alps :thumbsup: )
 
Once again thank you all for your contributions.

I'd love to drive the car through Europe, but not in the snow.

Although I could probably buy a Z4MC in the UK for less than it would cost to ship mine from Australia! ;-)


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Small point re Avoriaz - it's got a nice new leisure pool recently opened. I'm just back from a few weeks in the Alps (mountain-biking) and stopped in at the new pool in Avoriaz: indoor, very kiddie-orientated, slides, etc. Quite small but good for apres-ski.

Personally I thought all the resorts are ugly as hell, but then I've only ever seen them in summer without snow...
 
Like Rydal says, you'll never get consensus!

One useful tool for comparing resorts is www.worldsnowboardguide.com It's got the percentage of beginner / intermediate and expert slopes, reviews of the area and facilities and a rating out of 10 (it's a bit snowboard specific, an area with loads of flat areas will do badly). There's also a Ski Club version here: http://www.skiclub.co.uk/skiclub/skiresorts/default.aspx

Basically, you're going to want a good range of beginner and intermediate areas and good child care / lesson facilities. I'd recommend one of the large, high up areas like Espace Killy (Tignes, Val Thorens), or 3 Vallees (Courcheval, Meribel).

Have fun!
 
Booking made - we'll be staying in Megeve for 4 nights 20 - 24 January. It should be fun. Megeve follows 7 nights in Scotland (Christmas), 7 nights in the Cotswolds (New Year), 4 nights in London, 4 nights in Paris, and 4 nights at Disneyland Paris. Some time in and around Milton Keynes sprinkled in amongst all of that so that we can catch up with friends and family too.

Unless we see snow in Scotland at Christmas it will be the first time the kids will have experienced snow in their lives, they're 11 and 9.

The time seems to be passing so quickly we'll be in Europe in no time at all. We can't wait :-)


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