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Everyone's idea of what makes a great ski holiday is different, but if you're planning a family skiing holiday with young children, there are certain essentials to ensure both children and their parents have a great experience. That can even begin at home, with finding resorts you can get to without long transfers, either in the UK or in the mountains.
And when you're on a budget, there are so many extras that can add up, so parents will appreciate free offers or discounts on everything from ski hire and lift passes to ski lessons and off-slope family fun.
Finding the right holiday in the right resort for you and your children is made easier with the help of experts such as the staff at Sunweb who have curated a selection of family ski holidays in the most family friendly ski resorts in Europe.
What makes a ski resort good for young children and families?
For those with young children, a ski holiday can be a wonderful family experience, beginning a lifetime of unforgettable memories. By helping them to master the slopes you will create some beautiful moments and introduce new skills that will set them up for their own futures.
All parents want their children to not only enjoy their ski holiday but to also to learn in safety. So you need child-friendly resorts blessed with green ski slopes ideal for beginners making their first turns. Beyond the slopes, the right kind of accommodation is vital in ensuring your children are well catered for - because if your children are happy, their parents will be too!
Why take a family ski holiday with Sunweb?
Finding the perfect ski holiday for your family is invariably tricky, that's why Sunweb has taken the slog out of that task, by filtering through everything that's available to create a huge number of family ski holiday packages for you to choose from.
For more than 25 years, Sunweb has been sending experts to the Alps and the Pyrenees to build up their extensive knowledge of the skiing options in order to offer you the best in family skiing holidays. Through years of experience, the team at Sunweb knows that travelling with children takes energy and planning.
That's why the company offers a great selection of accommodation ranging from all-inclusive deals, to self-catering apartments. Most of Sunweb's destinations in France, Austria and Italy have excellent ski schools, child-friendly slopes and big, well-staffed children's areas. They also build in budget-friendly extras for free. When you book your family ski holiday with Sunweb, you'll get a discount on ski equipment rental, and your lift passes are always included!
For more information and to book your ski trip, go to sunweb.co.uk
The best ski resorts for young children:
So, where is best to ski with young children? Where is best for family winter activities? Across Andorra, Austria and France, here are Sunweb's recommendations for the best family ski resorts. Maybe these will become your new favourite family ski resorts.
Andorra
Andorra has long been a huge favourite with beginners and early intermediates, and with its compact ski area, highly acclaimed English-speaking ski school and lively, unpretentious nightlife, Arinsal presents a very good choice for families and all-ability groups.
Arinsal is the principal ski resort village in the Vallnord ski domain, and is just 10km from Andorra's bustling little capital city, Andorra la Vella. Its ski area is 63km, of which 53% of the runs are classed as beginner-friendly. Ski passes for children up to 11 years old are free. Children from 12 to 17 years old will receive a discount on their ski pass. For children aged 1-5 there is an excellent nursery and a snow garden (from age 3), which is an outdoor area with fun activities to introduce children to skiing - a less formal answer to the question: when should your child start skiing? 'Proper' ski school is available for children aged 6 and up.
Of course, your children will be unlikely to want to ski all day, so other fun family winter activities include tubing, sledging, snow bikes and snowshoe walks. The Princesa Parc Wellness Centre has relaxing pools, saunas, steam room, and a jacuzzi. About 45 minutes away, you will find Naturlandia Adventure Park, an outdoor activity paradise.
To book your ski trip to Andorra, go to sunweb.co.uk
Flaine, France
Part of the extensive Grand Massif ski area with more than 265km of ski slopes, Flaine is a perfect destination for beginner skiers to intermediate skiers. The highest point of the Grand Massif is approximately 2,500m, making it a fairly snow-sure destination.
It's especially well-suited to families (with a prevalence of self-catering accommodation), and has plenty of car-free open spaces and safe play areas for children; the childcare facilities and family-friendly services are also generally well regarded by this principal target market of family groups.
Apart from the skiing, there are also plenty of options the whole family can enjoy such as snowshoeing, ice skating, snowmobiling, paragliding, dog sledding, ice climbing, bowling and an aqua-fun centre.
It also involves one of the shorter Alpine transfers, being around 75 minutes from Geneva airport.
To book your ski trip to Flaine, go to sunweb.co.uk
Galtür, Austria
At 1,584m one of the highest ski resorts in Austria, Galtür in the Tyrol region, is the family-friendly neighbour of party resort Ischgl, a free ski bus ride away. As a certified Family Ski Region, Galtür's ski area, gastronomy, ski schools, ski rentals and accommodation are all geared towards families looking for relaxation.
On the slopes you'll find a unique concept for young children: the Silvapark is a large snow area for skiers, with special zones earmarked for children. Its size (49km) is manageable - especially compared to the neighbouring Silvretta Arena - but the offering is varied and will delight families as well as more experienced skiers. The Silvapark is divided into six sectors. Two, Bambiniland and Adventure land, are entirely dedicated to children who will enjoy a packed ski school week of learning and exploration.
Galtür is a good choice in many respects for families with children aged three and over. It is a quiet, pretty, compact centre which means children don't have to face long walks. The village also boasts an impressive sports centre with indoor pool that the kids will enjoy, along with activities like tobogganing and sleigh rides.
To book your ski trip to Galtür, go to sunweb.co.uk
La Plagne, France
La Plagne is the collective name for a group of seven purpose-built high-altitude resort 'villages' and the ski domain that surrounds them; together with four further outlying linked villages. This collection of 11 resorts is one of France's largest linked ski areas, yet La Plagne is itself only one half of the even greater Paradiski domain that includes the adjacent and similarly extensive ski area of Les Arcs. All of the resort villages have at least one beginners' slope served by a free lift, but the best beginners' zones are at Plagne-Centre, Plagne-Bellecote, Plagne 1800, and Plane Aime 2000.
From its nurseries, kids clubs, and daycare services, La Plagne is very focussed on creating a family friendly atmosphere. there is a wide range of activities to enjoy together, from the Colorado Park slide run to Les Bains & Spa La Plagne, the bobsleigh run, ziplines, snowshoe trails, ice skating and dog sled rides. La Plagne’s Funslope is the longest in Europe at 1.6 km. Starting at the top of the Arpette, it’s great fun for skiers of all ages with interactive sounds and other surprises, and is one place where both parents and children can have fun quite safely.
To book your ski trip to La Plagne, go to sunweb.co.uk
Les Arcs, France
Les Arcs consists of four linked resort villages with a combined ski area of 200km that is one of the greatest in the French Alps, lift-linked with the neighbouring La Plagne ski area to form one of the world's most extensive ski domains, 'Paradiski'.
All of the 'Arc' resort villages offer ski-in/ski-out convenience and all have adjacent beginners' slopes, though for beginners the lower part of Arc 1600 and 1800 are great areas to practice and learn the basics. Peisey-Vallandry is usually quieter and more peaceful with fewer lift queues. There are ice skating rinks at Arc 1800 and Arc 2000; plus a swimming pool, fitness suite and squash courts in Arc 1800; other more adventurous activities on offer include paragliding, dog-sled mushing, snowmobiling, and helicopter sightseeing flights. Arc 1950, modelled on the North American 'ski-through' village is probably the prettiest.
New for this winter, the Giants of Malgovert, in Arc 1600, are three huge wooden play structures, with walls to be climbed, secret doors to be discovered, platforms perched in the trees, a giant game of pick up sticks to be untangled, walkways which challenge your balance and rope nests.
To book your ski trip to Les Arcs, go to sunweb.co.uk
Les Menuires, France
This bustling purpose-built ski resort in the Belleville Valley, has good links into the 600km Three Valleys ski area in the French Alps. Overall, it's a more affordable mid-range resort compared to the other more upmarket Three Valleys ski resorts, yet it is surrounded by some of the best ski terrain in this region. The resort attracts a cosmopolitan mix of nationalities and has an animated buzz about it, It's popular with families with young children, has a good programme of regular events, and there's certainly no lack of services or facilities.
The local ski area is great for progressing beginners and intermediates, there's a great range of off-slope activities and attractions: its big municipal leisure centre features a lagoon-style swimming pool; Jacuzzi; sauna; steam room; fitness suite; squash courts; multi-sports hall; and a children's fun-park. Outdoor activities include a 4km toboggan run, snowshoe treks, mountain biking, tandem paragliding, and snowmobiling. Youngsters love the resort's huge outdoor snow castle play area; indoor play zones for children are also provided.
Les Menuires ski resort boasts the Famille Plus seal of approval, the promise of services, facilities and activities designed with families in mind, from babysitters to entertainment.
To book your ski trip to Les Menuires, go to sunweb.co.uk
Avoriaz, France
Avoriaz is one of the most popular ski holiday destinations in France, especially for families. There's plenty to keep non-skiers occupied, while the unique ski-through design of the resort means that all visitors get to experience the thrill of being in the midst of this stunning high Alpine setting together. And with no cars to clutter the place, you get around either on skis, by foot, or by horse-drawn sleigh.
Due to its high altitude and car free village, it's pretty much all ski-in, ski-out accommodation. Avoriaz itself has around 77km of ski slopes, however with the full Les Portes du Soliel lift pass you have access to over 650km. Avoriaz is also a good choice for families because of its indoor water paradise park, called Aquariaz - so much more than just a swimming pool!
As the central resort in the vast Portes du Soleil ski domain, Avoriaz is also arguably the most convenient base from which to explore the surrounding cross-border collection of linked resorts, perfect for keen intermediates and advanced visitors. Beginners can learn on a wide and often sun-drenched plateau, close to the well-maintained La Chapelle snowpark which is filled with modules aimed at novices as well as more confident freestyle fans. You can also go tobogganing, ride snowcarts or mini-snowmobiles, go dog sledding, tenpin bowling and explore an igloo village.
To book your ski trip to Avoriaz, go to sunweb.co.uk
Serfaus, Austria
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is a highly diverse ski area of 212km of mostly south-facing slopes, located near the Swiss and Italian borders. Since 1999 the area has developed into one of the most family-friendly ski resorts in the Alps, with numerous child care facilities, great ski schools and designated children's play area - called 'Kinderschneealm' where your little ones will make friends as they learn.
Serfaus is charming and traditional with bell towers and an authentic car-free town centre. Amazingly, there is a village railway/metro that takes you to the ski area. Serfaus is well-known as a brilliant family area. Experienced skiers and freeriders will find plenty to enjoy, while beginners will feel more comfortable on the slopes around the Mittleren Sattelkopf. There are more than 200 sunny days here per year, so make sure you pack the sun cream for yourself and your children!
If you’re in the mood for some off-slope fun, there are horse-drawn sleigh rides and snowshoe walks to enjoy. Or why not try the Fisser Flieger zip wire on the Möseralm. Or how about the Skyswing, which simulates being in free fall?
To book your ski trip to Serfaus, go to sunweb.co.uk
St. Anton, Austria
St. Anton in the Arlberg region of Austria is one of the world's most famous ski resorts, renowned for its very lively après ski scene and superb terrain, it offers some of the most challenging intermediate and advanced ski slopes in the Alps.
On the face of it, that doesn't sound like the perfect ski resort for families with young kids making their first turns. But while their parents can enjoy all great skiing, their youngsters will be well looked after. The Kinderwelt (children's world) St. Anton am Arlberg is located right at the base station of the Galzig and Gampen lifts in St. Anton and is operated by the Skischule Arlberg. The children's area features many magic carpets, a carousel, fairy tale meadow, Fort Fox and many funny characters. When it is cold or when the little ones would rather play indoors, they can go right to the kindergarten of the ski school. Lunch is served in their own children's restaurant at the children' area. Kindergarten employees care for children as of 2 1/2 years old. There is plenty of room for playing in the kindergarten.
St. Anton itself is full-on winter sports resort, with many off-slope attractions too. The pedestrianised centre is attractive and atmospheric, with a good number of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars. The resort's Ski Museum is also well worth a visit. Among the family activities are a horse-drawn sleigh ride, dog-sledding and a trampoline park. Many of the hotels also have their own pools.
To book your ski trip to St. Anton, go to sunweb.co.uk
Tignes, France
Tignes village consists of four different sections: Val Claret at 2,100m, Le Lac at 2,100m, Lavachet at 2000m and Les Brévières at 1,550m. Le Lac and Val Claret are the biggest sections within Tignes. Le Lac is known as the heart of the resort and Val Claret is for those who love night life.
If your kids are full of energy, Tignes is place to go to tire them out. As well as being the second largest resort in the French Alps, and linked with popular Val d'Isere, Tignes is crammed with opportunities to get out and enjoy yourself, not just on the excellent ski slopes, but off them too. Families can try a whole range of activities, such as snowshoeing, tobogganing, luge, horse-riding, snowbiking, dog-sledding, ice diving, an igloo village, the snake gliss (a multi-seat sled ride), snowtubing and swimming.
For beginners, the learning experience here is superb, with dedicated nursery slopes, progression slopes, magic carpets, chairlifts and drag lifts, plus excellent instructors to help you make sense of it all.
To book your ski trip to Tignes, go to sunweb.co.uk
