With half-term approaching we know lots of you may be traveling with children. We have chosen a selection of popular resorts and come up with activities that will keep the kids entertained in a supervised environment, leaving parents to enjoy some much needed alone time, as well as some fun activities for all the family to do together. Parents from all around the world, this one’s for you!
Courchevel, France
There’s no denying that Courchevel is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Alps and being part of one of the largest ski areas in Europe, it’s no surprise that it is also a great destination for a family holiday. You’ll find plenty of green and blue runs for your kids to practice everything they learn with their Maison Sport instructor, and they also have great prices for family lift passes.
Off the slopes you’ll find many activities for all the family to enjoy together, we guarantee this is a place your kids will want to come back to year after year. Here are some of them:
Aquamotion
The largest European aquatic centre located on the mountains, you’ll find something for every member of the family. Whether you’re looking for aquatic sports, a well-being centre, a spa, or fun on water slides – this is the place to go to. On a day when the weather is not too good then book your tickets to aquamotion for a fun and relaxing family day off the slopes.
Explore the Villages
Courchevel is made up of 4 different villages and each one has its own atmosphere and style. The four resorts are Le Praz (1300), Courchevel 1550, Courchevel 1650, and Courchevel 1850, and in each you’ll find different restaurants, different shops, and activities of any kind.
Toboggan Run
There are 2 toboggan runs for you to go have a family race. The first one is Courchevel 1850 toboggan run, a 2 km-long tree-lined sledge run with a 15% incline. It is open all day and floodlit at night. It leaves from the edge of Le Tovets ski run in Courchevel 1850 and finishes in Courchevel 1550 village. The second one is called Moriond Racing toboggan run, and it’s a new 3km family racing run around hairpin bends, through eight tunnels, around a carousel and double serpent.
Avoriaz, France
Avoriaz is another great car-free resort, as many other family-friendly resorts out there. The resort also has many activities for the whole family and during the winter holidays, they are continuously scheduling free entertainment and organized events just for children.
Buying ski passes for a big family for a long vacation can be quite an expense, but in Avoriaz they have got you covered with amazing reduced prices for everyone, kids up to the age of three are free, children’s ski passes are valid up to the age of 15 (in most resorts it only goes up to the age of 12), and teenagers from 16-19 also get a reduced ski pass rate!
If you want to take a break from skiing why not try a water park? Aquariaz is an indoor water park with plenty of pools and entertainment for the whole family. When you enter the building is like you have traveled to the tropics, with a temperature of 29°C this place is the perfect escape from a cold and grey day.
In the middle of the mountains, you will find an eco-friendly snowpark designed especially for children and run by its mascot Shreddie. This place is perfect for kids to get the feeling they’re in an adult snowpark but built for their size. Children can develop their skills on the whoops (a succession of bumps), little kickers (moguls), and boxes (freestyle modules) which are all at ground level allowing the kids to feel safe and in control. When they’re done with skiing, kids can run around on Shreddie’s tree hut and explore his habitat.
The Children’s Village
Offering different group activities for all ages, the children’s village located in Avoriaz 1800 splits children into 3 groups, ages 3-4, 5-12, 13-16, making sure each group had tailored activities to their ages and spend a pleasant day in the company of other kids. Sometimes kids need their space too and this is the perfect place for them to make friends during their vacations while the parents enjoy a day out on the slopes.
Cervinia, Italy
On the “Italian side” of the Matterhorn you will find the ski resort of Breuil-Cervinia. Operating for more than 80 years, it is still one of Europe’s highest ski resorts and shares a ski area with Zermatt through the Plateau Rosa glacier. This is a favourite for Italian familias both during summer but especially during winter. Other than amazing skiing, there are also plenty of activities for a day when you don’t feel like skiing, here are just a couple:
Ice Kart Cervinia
Maybe for families with older kids, but definitely a once in a lifetime experience. In Cervinia you have the opportunity to go-kart racing on the snow. Book a fun afternoon activity for the whole family.
Visit the highest museum in Europe
Located at 3,500 m on the Plateau Rosa you’ll find the museum exhibition “Una Montagna di Lavoro” (A Mountain of Work). An exhibition-museum that recounts the history of the Breuil ski lifts, using audiovisuals and period photographs. Tools and artefacts of that time are also on display. The best thing is that the entrance is included in your ski pass or in a Cervinia-Plateau Rosà return ticket. On the museum terrace, a compass rose shows you all the mountains in the area.
Les Arcs, France
Another ski area made up of 4 different resorts, Les Arcs 1600, Arcs 1800, Arcs 1950, and Arcs 2000, and you can easily move between them with the use of the cable cars. Since 2003, Les Arcs has also been connected to La Plagne by the Vanoise Express gondola, creating the Paradiski ski area and providing its skiers with access to 425km of pistes. With 4 resorts at your disposal, we are sure you’ll find the right activities for your family for a day off the slopes, here are some you could book:
Igloo Village
Explore the biggest Igloo Village and if you want, spend the night there too! Maybe spending the night in an igloo is not your ideal getaway, but we guarantee your kids will love exploring the igloo which is made to look exactly like a real Inuit igloo. Situated at an altitude of more than 2000m and made entirely of snow and ice, ice cave, igloo bar, bedrooms, dining areas and a dance floor area are all part of the 400m2 igloo village for you to look round.
Les Arcs Zipline
A zip line that runs for 1800m, now that’s a rush! You can go at it solo or in pairs, so you and your kids can be each other’s companion for what might look like a scary drop. The zipline starts at the top of the Varet telecabin at 2680m and arrives close to the Olympic Flame in Arc 2000 flying over the piste which hosted the demonstration of the Flying Kilometre during the Albertville Olympics in 1992.
Alpe d’Huez, France
Alpe d’Huez is a very popular ski destination which is why it’s no surprise that they have a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy. The resort has also been awarded the Famille Plus status by the French government, a recognition for its excellent services and facilities for families with kids. Here are just a few of the activities you will find for children and the whole family:
Suspended above ground