Family Holidays in Val d'Isere
Discover insights about Val d'Isere family holidays
Whether you come to Val d'Isère in the winter or summer, you and the kids are sure to leave with a big smile on your face. From world-class skiing to biking, hiking and climbing, there are loads of things to do as a family here.
Why Val d'Isère is good for families
- dedicated ski and play areas for children
- free lifts for beginners to use on the nursery slopes
- plenty of childcare available
- the summer climate is great for kids - warm but not scorching in the day and cool at night
- from nursery slopes to some of the best skiing in the world, there's something to suit skiers of all abilities
Accommodation for families
If you’re coming for a ski holiday with a young family, look for accommodation near any of the lifts. The fewer steps your little people have to take in ski boots, the better (for all concerned!).
Val d'Isère is a popular destination with families, with areas to consider including:
Val d'Isère
The liveliest place to be, and the main meet up area for the ski schools is here
La Daille
Better value accommodation, just five minutes on the free bus from the main resort
Le Fornet
Quieter, more charming village further up the valley, with direct access to the ski area
If you plan on enrolling in ski school, find out where your meeting point will be so you can make sure you have good access to get there is the morning. The main meet up area is at the bottom of the Solaise lift, where you will find the main nursery slopes.
Lift passes for families
Lift passes make up a significant portion of the cost of a family holiday to the mountains, so it pays to check you’re buying the right ticket for your group.
Here in Val d'Isere there are various concessions to help you keep your costs down, such as:
- children under 8 use the lifts for free
- children between 8 and 18 pay a reduced ('youth') rate
- there are free passes if you only want to use the beginner lifts
- you can buy a pedestrian pass - if maybe you or your partner don’t ski, but you still want to go up and watch the kids
Family discounts are available on the Tignes-Val d'Isère pass only, with a purchase of a minimum of four lift passes up to a maximum of seven. They need to be of the same duration and validity dates.
You can buy half day lift tickets if a full day on the mountain seems too long for the kids. It’s not a lot cheaper than an all day ticket, but it’ll save you a little bit.
Lift passes in Val d'Isere for families of four or more
If you're a family of four or more, you'll be able to save money on the regular ticket price by buying a 'family lift pass' as long as two passes are for children aged 8 to 18.
Ski schools for families
If you have designs on raising the next Shaun White or Chemmy Alcot, then getting your kids into ski school will be a priority!
The main ski schools that cater for young children all offer:
- full and half-day sessions
- have English speaking guides
- will take your kids to a dedicated area where they can learn how to snow plough, stop, turn and glide safely
Ski schools usually take weekly bookings, so if you’re only here for a few days it’s good to check if there’s any space for your kids.
What age can children start ski lessons
Ski schools will take children from 3 years old. At this age, the focus is on having fun in the snow, so there are normally inflatables and games to play.
Most beginner areas also have a ‘magic carpet’ travelator (a bit like the ones you get at airports) to get kids and beginner adults to the top of the slopes without having to contend with lifts.
Whether you’re a child or an adult, half-day lessons are normally more than enough if you’re a novice.
What’s included in the price of a lesson
The price you pay for a ski lesson is for tuition only. Ski passes are not included.
So you’ll need to make sure they have:
- a valid ski pass (you can get discounted passes if you're only using the nursery slopes)
- skis, helmets, goggles - you can hire these from one of the many ski hire shops in the resort
- appropriate clothing, like salopettes and a jacket, warm layers and gloves
A ski pass isn’t necessary for children under eight, but you'll still need to buy a hands-free card for them to use on the turnstiles. You can get one of these from any lift station, take ID to prove their age.
Ski School Lessons in Val d'Isere
See all Ski Lessons-
-
Private ski lessons
Located in Val d’Isere
This ski school connects snow sports enthusiasts of all abilities with expert ski and snowboard instructors across Europe’s top resorts. With thousands of top-rated, verified instructors to choose from, their private lessons offer a flexible and personalised learning experience.
-
-
-
-
Ski areas for families
A decent mix of terrain should keep all the family happy.
Solaise
- the main nursery ski area for children and beginners is at the bottom of the Solaise lift, where you'll find several free ski lifts; it's also where most of the ski schools meet up
- another beginner area can be found at the top of the Solaise lift, with several nice green runs to enjoy at high altitude
- over to the top of Bellvarde ski area you'll find long green runs on wide rolling pistes, but you may want to take the cable cars back down at the end of the day as the home runs can be tricky for beginners
La Daille
- nursery area with a free lift in the village of La Daille
Activities for families
Val d'Isere is a year-round resort, and it’s a great place to come whether it’s winter or summer. It all depends on what you love doing.
If you’ve got children, here are a few things you might want to try.
| Activity | Where | Time of year | What it is | Cost |
| Sledging | By the Savonette lift | Winter | Sledging | Free |
| Sunny Ride slope | Top of TC10 Solaise | Winter | Children's snow workshops, machine room visit, piste patrol sledging and more | Some fees |
| Ice skating (outdoor) | Town centre | Winter | Outdoor rink with skate hire and cafe | Fee to skate Skate hire is available |
| Cinema | Centre | All year | Shows films in English (look for VOST) | |
| Sports centre | Town centre | All year | Indoor swimming pool, climbing wall, gym and sports hall. | Fee |
Childcare services
There are plenty of specialist tour operators and chalet companies who cater for families and have in-house nannies to help with the childcare.
If you're here during summer
You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kids club during the summer holidays, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes and picnics.
Childcare in Val d'Isere
See all Childcare-
Childcare & Babysitting
Boubird Childcare provides a private nanny service for families in Tignes, Val D’isere, Saint Foy, La Rosiere and surrounding areas all year round. Their closely acquainted team of nannies are highly qualified in childcare, from maternity nurses to specialist activity instructors. The manager is an Early Years Teacher so outdoor education and natural learning opportunities are entwined into each child’s day.
-
Childcare & Babysitting
T4nanny is a trusted and personalised child care service with over a decade of experience in the French Alps. Whether guests are enjoying a family holiday or need time to explore the slopes, they provide a flexible and fun nannying service for children aged 4 months to 18 years old.
