Winter isn’t the most thrilling of seasons. Even though it’s the season of festivity and family, the slow and sad disappearance of summer’s long, temperate days is a bit of a drag. Joy should be wrought from every possible moment of this otherwise dreary time of year!
As winter beckons, so does the prospect of a good old-fashioned winter holiday. Even if you’ve never touched a ski, a skiing holiday abroad could be just the ticket for seizing the season with your family in tow – and a great excuse to enjoy the best of the winter weather, unlike England’s worst.
A natural candidate for the best winter holiday destination is France – the mountain regions of which are internationally acclaimed for their ski routes and resorts. Here, we’ll look at some of the best ways to explore France as a winter holiday destination and some tips for crafting the ideal skiing holiday.
Best Family-Friendly Resorts in France
There are so many options for family ski holidays in France, thanks to the fertile mountain slopes on which countless amazing resorts have made themselves at home. Some resorts are much more well-known than others, but each is excellent in its own way. For families, though, you’ll be looking for resorts that cater to the beginner skier – whether none of you have skied before or you’re simply looking for slopes your young ones can reliably traverse. Two standout ski areas for family ski-tripping are La Plagne and Les Arcs, neighbouring zones that together makeup ‘Paradiski’. This ski area in the Tarentaise is especially family-friendly, with some exciting beginner slopes that provide safe thrills for the new-to-skiing.
Ski Schools and Childcare Services
Of course, if it’s your kids’ first time skiing, you probably don’t want to be the person teaching them – unless you happen to know your onions, that is. Many resorts will offer ‘ski schools’ for kids, where they can learn together from professional instructors; crucially, these ski schools also give you valuable time away from the kids, so you can tackle tougher slopes or even just enjoy your chalet with a bit more privacy. The holiday shouldn’t just be for the kids, after all!
Family-Friendly Accommodation Options
Speaking of chalets, accommodation is a huge part of your ski holiday planning, especially concerning your choice of resort. You want to make sure everyone is accommodated well for the full length of your holiday – all in accordance with your own wishes for how the holiday pans out.
Some might prefer self-catered chalet experiences where you’re effectively left to your own devices, while others might like the pamperment of the catered ski hotel experience. If you’ve enough kids with you, and enough in the budget to justify it, there’s no arguing against a luxurious week in a well-apportioned ski hotel, particularly if there’s a pool or games room for your kids to run riot in in the evenings!
Après-Ski Activities for All Ages
Finally, ski holidays aren’t necessarily all about skiing. Depending on where you go, you may also be able to share other cherishable experiences with your little ones! La Plagne, for example, is also a great place to go for white water rafting and zip-lining, amongst other adventure experiences. All put together, these experiences can make for a joy-saturated winter like no other.
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