Part of the Espace Killy ski area, near the Italian border in the French Alps, Val d’Isère’s wide nursery slopes and fantastic off-snow activities are just two of the many reasons families love Val d’Isere.
Just two and half hours from Geneva, Val d’Isère has something for everyone with easy slopes for kids and testing intermediate and steep terrain. The resort, the only one in France with a charming village at 1850 metres, links up with neighbouring Tignes to offer 300 kilometres of terrain, serviced by 94 lifts.
Families are very well looked after with accommodation in hotels, chalets or apartments. There are fun beginner areas for kids, and families can save by purchasing a family lift pass. Wander around the beautiful old village, and off the ski slopes, try ice climbing, ice driving or dog sledding. But if we haven’t convinced you yet, here are six reasons why families should add this destination to the bucket list.
While a giant in the ski world, Val d’Isere feels small and intimate, with its one main street so easy to get around that it will make you and the kids feel at home. You really do walk in the footsteps of history. The baroque Church of St Bernard de Menthon was built in 1664, 106 years before Captain James Cook sailed into Botany Bay. The town’s first hotel opened its doors in 1888 and, in 1932, the first ski school began operating. You do get that sense of history as you walk around among the ski shops, trendy hotels and restaurants, with many buildings constructed in the traditional materials of stone and wood.
Talk about wow. Since the first lift went in 1934, the resort has gone from strength to strength: it now has 79 lifts and together, with neighbouring Tignes, offers 300 kilometres of terrain to explore. The mix is perfect, with plenty of areas for skiers of all abilities and, even if you are an absolute beginner, never fear, they will be spreading their wings after just a few days of lessons in one of the excellent ski schools such as Oxygène. Head up the Solaise, ski down to the hamlets of Le Fornet, Le Daille or Le Laisinant and, to really test the chops of the experts in your family, there is the revered run that hosts a World Cup downhill event every year, La Face de Bellevarde. Even just looking at it going up the Bellevarde Express ski lift, you can see how steep it is.
After the lifts close for the day, there are plenty of things to see and do. Centre Aquasportif has a series of heated indoor pools – do laps, float around in the leisure pool or let the massaging jets do their thing. Let the kids play with the water cannons and bubble baths. Alternatively, get your heartrate up on an aqua bike or by rock climbing one of seven different courses on a 12-metre wall. To make the most of the mountain scenery, go dog sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or sledding. Val d’Isere has Famille Plus accreditation and Village de Enfants offers excellent childcare and ski lessons.
There is so much choice at Val d’Isere you won’t have to eat at the same place twice – unless you love it. For lunch, ski down to Le Fornet (or take the shuttle bus) or L’Atelier d’Edmond of dine on the mountain at La Fruitiere la Folie Deuce. In the afternoons, La Folie Douce turns into party central – which is great for older teens. Also on the mountain is Le Peau de Vache – with tables outside and hay bales for seats. In the village, there’s cheesy goodness at the Fondue Factory, and easy atmospheres at Sur La Montagne and excellent La Table des Neiges, located in the Hotel Tsanteleina.
Last season the Solaise area opened a new 10-person gondola with heated seats and WiFi, a beginners’ area, tubing course and day lodge. There are also covered magic carpets. You might find it hard to tear the kids away from the Sunny Ride nursery slope though: its fun obstacles are designed to improve their skiing without them knowing it. The resort has even bigger plans, with work starting on the €200 million ‘Le Coin de Val’ project. Over the next five years the resort will be transformed with new hotels, apartments, bars, underground walkways, a nursery, and more. But the locals ensure Val won’t lose touch with its past. There will be no high rise, and the traditions of the Savoyard will ring true in construction and design.
There are so many places to stay in this historic village. We stayed at Hotel Christiania, located a few steps from the main street and a short walk from the lifts. The hotel has a warm and cosy interior and features 69 rooms and suites, a spa, fantastic restaurant and friendly staff. The lobby is great for an après ski drink. Another great property is Le Yule.
Fly into Lyon or Geneva, book a transfer to Val d’Isere or catch the Eurostar from London or fast train from Paris. You can view our complete family-friendly guide to France, with more useful travel information, here.
This article appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. To subscribe to the latest issue, click here.
Images courtesy of Tourism Val d’Isere
Beijing may not yet have the sophisticated reputation of younger, larger Shanghai but it offers...
Read More
The best way to get to know a place is to live there. Jono Brauer, who represented Australia at...
Read MoreBrowse our selection of great family accommodation options around the world