If what 'family ski trip in the Alps' envision images of ultra-chic families gliding by in the latest fur-trimmed ski gear, lift queues more than the opening night of Frozen 2, and package prices which make your eyes water, then we have great news for you personally – it's possible to ski in the French Alps, as a family, on a tight budget.
Beyond the large names there are many lesser-known resorts which are frequented as frequently by locals as the skiing jet set, with ski passes and accommodation prices that won't break your budget. Listed here are three great choices for skiing and snowboarding families within the French Alps, all the place to find beginner-friendly slopes and scenery as satisfying because the croziflette (traditional cheesy pasta bake) you just had for lunch.
Val Cenis is a family-friendly ski area in the Savoie region
Surrounded by France's first national park, Parc National en Vanoise, the picturesque Haute Maurienne Vanoise ski valley is among France's lesser-known alpine idylls.
Travellers with young skiers should base themselves within the resort of Val Cenis, which spans the little township of Lanslebourg-Mont-Cénis, rural-boho Lanslevillard, and remote Bonneval (which suits intermediate to advanced skiers). Val Cenis boasts numerous slopes that are ideal for beginners, including the longest continuous green piste in France, and blue runs that meander on the mountain from 2800m.
Off the slopes, the resort offers a great selection of family-friendly restaurants – top pick to be the cosy Aux 2 Mousses – in addition to lots of bars to choose from. But when the sun falls, you're more prone to see an Alpine ibex wandering here than intoxicated stag parties stumbling to their chalets.
For a unique off-piste experience of Val Cenis, visitors can try ice diving in Sollières-Sardières (a short distance south), a task which involves plunging into a frozen lake, entirely scuba kit, through a small hole decline in the ice (12-year-olds and above). For that full cold-water experience, guests can forgo the suit, opting instead to brave the cold before quickly hopping into the adjacent wood-lined sauna with skin still tingling and heart still racing.
Accommodation in the Haute Maurienne Vanoise ski valley ranges from cosy self-catering chalets to sleek apartments sharing a swimming pool (from around EUR220 a night for a family of four). Train travel from London to Modane takes around nine hours, or you can fly into Grenoble, Chambéry or Turin (Italy). For English speakers, Peak Retreats can arrange accommodation, ski hire, lessons and lift pass packages.
Valloire is the greatest known of the Maurienne resorts
Further west within the Savoie region, the village of Valloire centres around a 17th-century church and has an array of restaurants serving Savoyard cuisine – think cheesy fondue for the kids; fierce, herbal Génépi liqueur for that grown-ups – as well as plenty of family-friendly activities for young skiers, from bowling alleys to zip lines and astronomy workshops in the resort's cultural centre.
Most of Valloire's 160km of pistes are higher than 2000m, meaning decent snow cover is nearly guaranteed, even at the start of the growing season. For families, Valloire is a great option because of its long, winding green and blue runs (comprising more than half of the resort's total pistes), and the attractive wooded trails on La Sétaz. More skilled skiers and snowboarders, meanwhile, will discover half a dozen black runs, plus off-piste terrain for the adventurous. Two ski schools also run throughout the season, to assist beginners take their first unsteady slides on the slopes.
If possible, time your trip with the fairy-tale-like International Snow Sculpture Contest, where teams of artists design and construct large-scale snow-and-ice sculptures in the resort's main street which will wow younger travellers. Make an effort to begin to see the sculptures at night if they are illuminated – adding to the magical atmosphere – and don't forget to cast your prefer the 'people's choice' awards.
The snow train from London/Paris arrives in St Michel Valloire within the late afternoon, over time to obtain your accommodation and gear sorted before dinner. And with Chambéry and Grenoble airports each roughly 90 minutes' drive away, Valloire is really a solid option for a long skiing (or snowboarding) weekend for Europe-based skiers.
Les Gets is definitely an accessible family-friendly ski resort
Further north within the Portes du Soleil, the second-largest ski area in France, is a resort with a family-friendly formula of gentle slopes, mild weather and enchanting scenery. The village of Les Gets, roosting at 1172m, has lots of alpine charm. Its chalets have timber eaves and carved balconies, while local restaurateurs haul pizzas from brick ovens and prepare regional specialities like raclette, a half-moon of cheese slowly melting next to a grill.
High-speed lifts make things easy for families with fidgety young snow-heads, such as the Télécabine des Chavannes, which hoists skiers up to 1485m in under 10 minutes. Hop quickly the gondola into a beginner zone, including a cable tow and 'magic carpets' – slow-moving conveyor belts which are perfect for tots too small or inexperienced for chair lifts. Tackle nearby cruisy blue runs because the kids (and adults) improve, or quest deeper into the resort, which tops out at Chamossière (2002m).
Families will discover plenty to ensure that they're busy on the Morzine -Les Gets ski pass, which accesses 120 snow-covered kilometres. People who want to stray even further can level up to the Portes du Soleil pass, including resorts over the Swiss border.
Many families fly into Geneva and book a transfer to Les Gets, though airport hassle can be avoided (and environmental impact reduced) by train visit Cluses along with a taxi onward from there.
