 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Snowheads,
This is my first post as we are not a skiing family, but after a special short weekend in Engleberg this is something we definitely want to try!
I’m turning 40 in 2026 and I’ve managed to convince everyone that we could do a ski (or apres ski) holiday!
Please please help me find a resort or hotel that meets all our needs?
- We have at least 3 toddlers and 2 children coming, so we need a crèche or ski school and would prefer it to be part of the hotel or very nearby - preferably some nursery slopes straight out the hotel!
- We have non skiers coming, who would like to do activities like restaurants on the slopes, ice skating, spa, swimming pool etc. they would also like to be able to watch the little ones on nursery slopes
- We have a few skiers but haven’t skied for donkeys years so just a few slopes is enough, we aren’t fussy on the runs
- With a lot of children we would not like to be jumping on shuttle buses all the time, so a hotel where everything is close (and also not too far from an airport) would be ideal
- France would be preferred
Yes, this list is VERY fussy, because we have so many people to please!
We have stayed at Alpenpark in Seefeld in the summer and it was perfect - absolutely amazing facilities for toddlers and children- but I have no idea what it is like in winter.
Thank you!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Ras105,
One of the family specialist tour operators?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Les Gets is a lovely family friendly village. We have been taking our 7 year old there since he was 8 months old.
Both sides of the village are accessible to non skiers to eat in the mountain restaurants with pedestrian lift passes. The beginner area at the top of the red bubble is also accessible for pedestrians so you can meet there and see people ski. The petit train is a great way to take little ones for a ride around the village, we often do laps when it is quiet. Ice skating and a lovely vintage carousel right in the centre of the village (top tip, buy a weeks pass for the carousel instead of individual rides, it pays for itself in a day or two if your child is a fan). There are a couple of small child play areas, plus a couple for slightly larger children. We have hired both snow buggy and toboggans previously. We haven't used a creche as it's a family holiday for us and we got him on skis at 2 and in lessons at 4 with TSI, but there is one by the tourist office. It is also nice and close to Geneva with a short transfer of just over an hour. We prefer to self cater and please ourselves but there are specialist family tour operators there (ski famillie I see a lot walking about with small children) if that is more your thing.
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I am a Francophile but I reckon one of the Austrian "kinderhotels" sounds most likely to serve up what you are looking for. If you do a forum search you should find some good suggestions.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Key question; about which month? Dec/April will need high resorts these days, Feb is usually busy in France.
Les Gets or Morzine are nice within those caveats.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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+1 for the Kinderhotel suggestion.
It's not France, but we stayed here in Austria. https://alps-resorts.com/urlaubsresorts/details/carpe-solem-rauris
The hotel is literally next to the main gondola, both ski schools and the nursery slopes, so your non-skiers could easily watch the little ones and even hop on the gondola to meet you for lunch up on the mountain.
It's a pretty small town so most activities would be in the hotel (Spa and swimming). However, it's also quite easy to stroll from the middle station of the gondola to another mountain pub along one of the pistes (I've skied past dog walkers up there). They can then take the chair or the toboggan run down! There are some spectacular views!
The ski schools put on a couple of different things for the kids throughout the week. A Thursday is a giant sled pulled by a tractor to the top of the nursery run and let go. Tilly the Owl comes out to ride that. There's a horse drawn carriage ride on another afternoon.
Rauris is a tiny resort, but you said you didn't want miles of runs.
Only an hour and a bit from Salzburg, too.
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@Ras105, welcome to SH.
Budget?
When exactly?
Why is France preferred?
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Thank you for your suggestions so far!
We are looking at mid March, or Feb half term holiday. There is flexibility.
I love kinderhotels and I do think that would be the easiest option, but my parents are very “nervous” travellers and like to go places where they speak the language. They won’t go up a chair lift either, but they would maybe brave a gondola to a mountain restaurant (if they are feeling brave!). They would like to just watch the grandchildren and potter around restaurants and shops. My mum would probably give ice skating a go but not skiing.
What are the child friendly operators? I know about Esprit but it’s closed down 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
My mum would probably give ice skating a go but not skiing.
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Then, as an older woman, I think she's seriously misunderstood the risks! If she'd like to have a go at a snow sport then I'd recommend snow-shoeing. Most resorts will have a programme of guided walks.
I'm sure you'd find that staff in those Austrian hotels speak very good English. Do your parents speak French or just remember a few phrases from school?
By the way, few chairlifts take passengers on foot rather than skis.
I won't be the first to urge you NOT to go at half term! It will make a huge difference.
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@Ras105, It might be worth taking a look at Club Med? The Val-d'Isère resort seems to fit your requirements for non skier activities and childcare onsite (I only skimmed it so you'd need to double check details).
The resort is pretty close to the Solace and Olympic Gondolas which I think take walk on passengers. This makes it convenient for the town beginner slopes and the progressive beginner areas further up the mountains. Val-d'Isère is a decent sized town with further non skier activities.
Val would be extremely busy in Feb half term but should be a lot better mid March.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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What is the composition of your group? What ages are your kids? ("Toddlers" can be in a creche, but not have ski lessons). Any adult beginners who will need lessons?
Have you thought about the arguments for a hotel versus renting apartment(s)? As a generalisation, French resorts have fewer hotels than Austrian ones. But it's often easier in France to find accommodation within very easy reach of the ski school meeting place.
Incidentally, I've not come across a gondola which won't take people on foot - everybody in a gondola is on foot, with skis off. When we took my mother to Les Gets (in a quiet week in January!) we found the gondola operators were very kind and patient helping us get her, with her walking aid, into the cabin. Les Gets isn't a bad suggestion, because you can sit up at the "front de neige", in one of the cafés, and watch the skiing. You can also drive up there (but not up the area where we took my mum to experience a proper "high mountain" feel). Having a car does give you choices. But Les Gets, like other French resorts, will be RAMMED at half term.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Ras105, What about a ski-in, ski-out option? That way the non skiers would be able to watch the little ones easily and would also already be in the town for any other activities. Something like Avoriaz has an outdoor ice rick, the Aquariaz swimming centre and all the restaurants are easy to meet up at lunch time, as a larger group, right on the edge of the slopes. I don't have any recommendations for creches, as my kids haven't used them, but it's a very family oriented resort, so I would imagine there are plenty of options there.
If you could go in mid March, that would be much easier, less busy and less expensive than Feb half term.
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For a first skiing holiday, RUN LIKE HELL from half term if you have an alternative! March so much better. Just try to go earlier rather than later as these days it’s getting a bit warm by the end of March.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
What about a ski-in, ski-out option?
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It is rare that a "ski-in ski-out" option works well (or at all) for beginners. It's the ease of access to the nursery slopes/ski school meeting place that matters. I once stayed in a supposedly "ski in/out" apartment in Mottaret which required quite a long and tricky (with poor snow) traverse from the apartment onto a slope leading down to a lift. Completely inaccessible to either beginner skiers or non skiers (who would have had to tromp down the road). We were all skiers, but some more gung-ho than others. The kids threw themselves down the traverse without a care in the world; I picked my way down with great care, between the odd boulder and clumps of grass. It spooked me a bit every morning.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thank you so much. Les Gets seems like a good option, especially with the restaurants and views of the nursery slopes.
So our group is:
- my parents - they are not elderly, both very fit and capable, but have no interest in skiing and my dad is scared of heights so that’s why I said a gondola if he is feeling brave! They are used to luxury (5*) holidays and it is very important that they come along, so I want to make sure their needs are met. They have requested France, and a short transfer time. They would like to come just for a long weekend and not stay the whole week. They will want to be in a hotel with a spa and restaurant on site, rather than self catering.
- 3 toddlers. 2yo, 3yo, 4yo. We would like them to be together if we send them to childcare, but we will have them with us most of the time. We’d like them to be able to have some fun playing in the snow or even having a go on nursery slopes.
- 2 older children 10yo, 12yo will definitely want to do ski school and swimming, they are very active
- 4 adults who have skied before, but a long time ago but definitely would like to go on some beginner slopes
- 2 non skier adults, they might not want to ski, or they might!
From your comments I’m gathering that mid March is definitely the better time for us to travel!
Are there really no kinderhotels in France?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
What about a ski-in, ski-out option?
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It is rare that a "ski-in ski-out" option works well (or at all) for beginners. It's the ease of access to the nursery slopes/ski school meeting place that matters. I once stayed in a supposedly "ski in/out" apartment in Mottaret which required quite a long and tricky (with poor snow) traverse from the apartment onto a slope leading down to a lift. Completely inaccessible to either beginner skiers or non skiers (who would have had to tromp down the road). We were all skiers, but some more gung-ho than others. The kids threw themselves down the traverse without a care in the world; I picked my way down with great care, between the odd boulder and clumps of grass. It spooked me a bit every morning. |
Avoriaz is a bit different to that, though? It's ideal for beginners. You're describing presumably a particular apartment block, as opposed to a ski resort.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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You're describing presumably a particular apartment block, as opposed to a ski resort.
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Yes, but also warning that because a location is described as "ski in/out" it doesn't necessarily tick all the OP's boxes.
@Ras105, my stays in Les Gets were a fair few years ago - but there are plenty of Snowheads with recent knowledge. When we were there, you needed either to go in a lift, or drive and park, to be able to sit up at the "front de neige" and watch the skiers. My mother loved it up there - where various grandchildren enjoyed showing off their skiing prior to having a hot chocolate bought for them! But she couldn't get up there, from the apartment, under her own steam. And also, she needed to be properly warmly dressed.
On that holiday we drove (in three rented cars) from Geneva airport - it's an easy drive to Les Gets, generally. So there were several drivers to take her up the road.
Your three "toddlers" (not that my 4 year old grand-daughter would consent to being so described) will probably not be able to ski if they want to stick together.
Other French resorts for you to look at include La Rosiere and Les Saisies. I've not been to La Rosiere for years but I know Les Saisies well. There is only one hotel (Le Calgary) which would suit your parents' need. It's convenient for everything, but as for watching the little ones, that would depend which ski school they were with. There is a beginner drag lift right nearby but after a very short time keen and competent 10 and 12 year olds are going to be taken up the mountain on a chairlift. Of course, if you arrange private lessons you can ask the instructor to take the kids where you want them to be! In Les Saisies there is a very pleasant pedestrian walk up (from behind the Calgary hotel) to a (very good) restaurant called the Benetton, from which you can watch kids circuiting two beginner drag lifts. Mid March would be ideal for Les Saisies, which at 1650m on a col has a very good snow record.
But I still think a kinderhotel would cater best to your needs. There might be some French hotels which have the same set up, but that would need an individual recommendation. As for Club Med, you'd need somebody who knows the establishment to advise on the geography of nursery slopes etc. And a lot of French accommodation is difficult for periods other than Sat/Sat in the main season.
Your task is not an easy one!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Origen wrote: |
| Quote: |
You're describing presumably a particular apartment block, as opposed to a ski resort.
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Yes, but also warning that because a location is described as "ski in/out" it doesn't necessarily tick all the OP's boxes.
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That's a fair comment, although I'd suggest I was clearly talking about a resort, I can see what you're saying. As I say, if France was a preference, Avoriaz would seem a decent option, particularly if you stay at the right end of town.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Ras105 wrote: |
| What are the child friendly operators? I know about Esprit but it’s closed down |
Yes, Esprit was great for our daughter.
But people here have spoken well of Ski Famille (or is it Famille Ski?) And also Snowbizz which is a single resort operator, Puy St Vincent in the Southern Alps.
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