There’s nothing quite like a family skiing holiday to get everyone together to share an adventure and create lasting memories. This unique choice of vacation has so much to offer. Not only can your family enjoy bonding in breathtaking scenery, but getting active on the slopes can have a positive impact on the health and mood of young and old alike. You’re also guaranteed to enjoy a daily dose of adrenaline, fresh air and good old-fashioned fun in the snow.
But with so much choice on offer, which resort should you choose for your family getaway? In this blog post, we give you a rundown of 5 best family ski resorts. Relax, read this guide, and ensure the best possible ski trip for your loved ones.
Choosing the Best Ski Resort for Your Family Ski Trip
When it comes to choosing where to go on a family ski trip, every family will be looking for something slightly different. It depends on the ages of the children, ski ability, likes and dislikes. However, there are some key features that all good family resorts share.
What makes the best family ski resorts:
Access to a good nursery slope
These gentle, forgiving slopes with child-friendly ‘magic-carpet’ ski lifts are ideal for beginners looking to practise their skills in a stress-free environment. If you’re travelling with little ones, having a good nursery slope can take your holiday from fun to fantastic.
The number and quality of blue (easy to intermediate difficulty) ski runs
Once past the nursery slope stage, which can be just a day or two, especially for older children, you will spend most of your time on blue runs. If your family aren’t seasoned skiers and not quite ready for steeper red or black runs you’ll want plenty of accessible, easy blue ski runs.
Village life
Unless you are travelling with older teenagers/young adults, a thumping nightlife won’t be at the top of your list of priorities when travelling with the family. However, you will still want a lively village centre to explore, with some nice shops to browse and some charming restaurants to try. Pick the right ski resort and exploring the village is like exploring a winter wonderland. It’s all part of the magic.
Family-friendly accommodation
At the world’s best luxury ski chalets, you’ll have no trouble keeping the kids happy with everything from home cinema and games rooms to playrooms and heated swimming pools.
Family-friendly activities
Of course, you don’t have to spend all your time skiing at the best family ski resorts. You and your brood can enjoy everything from tobogganing and pony sleigh rides to swimming and ice skating at the best family-friendly resorts. You can also enjoy bowling, a trip to the movies or even a husky-sled ride. And if you go skiing at Christmas, you might even get to meet Santa!
Childcare facilities
If you fancy some time to yourself to ski without the kids or you want the option to have an adult evening out, most resorts have fantastic nanny companies. If you book your family ski trip with us, we can coordinate this for you.
What are the best ski resorts for families?
Here are the best ski resorts for families, where you can have the most fun and memorable ski holiday with your kids.
1. Meribel, France
Located in the heart of France’s 3 Valleys ski region, Meribel has something for everyone. You’ll find gentle nursery slopes that are perfect for introducing younger members of the family to skiing. There’s also a wide range of high-quality ski schools to choose from. And you don’t have to compromise if you’re looking for slopes that are more challenging for yourself; you’ll find plenty of long thrilling black runs that will keep you on your toes as well.
When it comes to entertainment, you and your family will be spoiled for choice. You could pay a visit to the Olympic Park, with its ice rink, swimming pool (complete with big flume), bowling alley and more. Or why not get creative at La Refuge with a painting or pottery workshop? Thrill-seeking kids are also sure to enjoy tree climbing and zip lining at La Traye. You’ll find no shortage of activities your family will love in this boredom-free zone. That’s why it’s first on our list of the best family ski resorts.
The slopes of Meribel in the evening.
2. Morzine, France
With family-friendly accommodation and a plethora of activities aimed at younger members of the household, Morzine is another popular destination for families. You’ll find a great selection of nursery slopes that are ideal for kids getting to grips with the sport. Making it a bit more beginner-friendly than the likes of Val d isère. There is a wide choice of ski schools to pick from and there are plenty of childcare services available too, including kids’ clubs and nanny agencies.
Away from the slopes, you’ll find loads to keep the kids entertained. From Aquariaz Waterpark and Cascade Adventure outdoor park to ice skating at Parc des Dérêches, there’s no end of fun things to do. That’s why Morzine has become a go-to choice as both a top ski resort in France and one of the best family ski resorts in the world.
Overlooking the town of Meribel on a winter day.
3. Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is a bucket-list destination for families with slightly older children. With the iconic Matterhorn dominating the vista and the pedestrianised village centre to explore, Zermatt is really a unique ski resort that has charm by the bucket-load. As it’s a car-free resort with only electro-taxis and electro-buses, Zermatt is best suited to families with children old enough to walk around town and to the lifts without assistance. Families with very young children will need to take electro-taxis to get around.
With some stunning luxury ski chalets and plenty of excellent eateries, you’ll be guaranteed a comfortable stay. But that’s just part of what makes it one of the best family ski resorts.
There’s plenty to do if you decide not to ski. Why not take the kids ice skating or spend an afternoon at the Matterhorn Museum? You’ll also find dedicated toboggan runs which are perfect for family fun for all ages. Or if you fancy a different vantage point, how about taking a sightseeing tour by helicopter with Air Zermatt?
4. Courchevel, France
The world-famous ski resort of Courchevel 1850 has a reputation for being upmarket, with epic skiing and a good selection of gentle family-friendly green and blue runs such as the Green Bellecote Piste.
Courchevel 1650 also comes highly recommended by holidaymakers with kids. This lesser-known destination is a paradise for skiing novices, thanks to its beginner area directly in front of the lift building. Logistically, things couldn’t be simpler. Once the family progresses onto blue runs, there are some lovely blue pistes very close to the resort centre so ultra-convenient. Several ski and snowboarding schools provide ski lessons for children or adults. Because of this, I’d personally recommend 1650 over 1850 as the best family ski resort in the area if you have younger children.
Off the slopes, there are lots of other kid-approved activities too so you shouldn’t find it hard to drag your youngsters away from their iPads. Aquamotion sports centre is a hit with the young and not-so-young. Whether you’d like to try your hand at indoor surfing, test your skills on the climbing wall or just enjoy the waterslides, you’ll love this indoor and outdoor aquatic centre. Or for an unforgettable experience, why not treat your family to a spot of dog-sledding against the winter wonderland backdrop of Courchevel?
Skiing back into the main hub of Courchevel after a day of fun on the slopes.
5. Dolomites, Italy
If you want your kids to fall straight asleep as soon as they hit the pillow each night, the Dolomites is a good call. With so much to explore, this destination is perfect for families looking for an action-packed vacation. In addition to being beautiful in every direction, the ski area offers endless wide-open, easy-cruising blue runs. The pistes are very family-friendly with an incredible choice of gentle, but fun, slopes.
If you’d like a break from your skis, the Dolomites FunPark children’s playground is a must-visit. With lots of sledges, slides, shovels and other play equipment, your little ones will love getting stuck in and enjoying all the magic snow has to offer. You should also add a trip to Bolzano’s Museum of Archeology to your itinerary. Home to Ötzi the Ice Man, this is sure to be a fascinating port of call on your adventures.
The Dolomite Mountains’ unique rocky presence makes any holiday here extra magical.
Tim has been immersed in the travel industry for over 20 years. Tim is the owner and founder of Firefly Collection, a luxury holiday accommodation booking agent.
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