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There are hundreds of ski resorts in Europe, and the one that suits a group of strong skiers is rarely the one that suits a family with a four year old. Choosing well is the single best thing you can do for your holiday. This guide sets out the questions worth asking, then compares the four French resorts we know best: Les Arcs, Avoriaz, Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes.
The short version
- Start with who is going and how well they ski. That narrows things down faster than anything else.
- For families, prioritise accommodation close to the slopes, good beginner areas and ski school.
- Altitude matters for snow, especially early or late in the season.
- Don’t pay for a huge ski area if most of your group will stay on the nursery slopes.
- Factor in travel time from the airport, which ranges from about an hour and a half to three hours or more.
Eight questions to ask before you book
1. Who is going, and how well do they ski?
A group of confident skiers wants a big linked area with plenty of reds and blacks. Beginners need gentle nursery slopes close to the village, ideally with free or cheap lifts. Mixed groups need both, plus somewhere everyone can meet for lunch.
2. How snow sure does it need to be?
Higher resorts and those with glaciers or good snowmaking are the safest bets, particularly before Christmas and after mid March. For the February half term week, most well known Alpine resorts are usually fine, but altitude still helps.
3. How far is it from the airport?
A transfer of around an hour and a half is very different from three hours on a busy Saturday in the school holidays, especially with tired children. Our guide to getting to the French Alps lists approximate transfer times.
4. Purpose built or traditional village?
Purpose built resorts, common in France, were designed for skiing, with accommodation right on the slopes. They are convenient but can lack charm. Traditional villages are prettier and have more going on in the evenings, but you may need a bus or lift to reach the snow.
5. How big a ski area do you need?
Many famous resorts are part of huge linked areas. That is great for keen skiers, but beginners and young children will not use most of it. Remember you can often buy a cheaper local lift pass. See our lift pass guide.
6. What is ski school like?
Check that there are lessons for your children’s ages, ideally with English speaking instructors, and where the meeting points are. In school holidays, book ski school early. Our guide to ski hire and lessons has more.
7. What is there to do off the slopes?
Swimming pools, sledging, ice skating and a choice of restaurants make a big difference on a bad weather day or for non skiers.
8. What is your budget?
Some countries and resorts are much cheaper than others once you are there. Our February half term guide includes the Post Office’s latest comparison of family costs across Europe.
Our four priority resorts compared
These are the French resorts we cover in most depth. Lift pass prices are indicative adult six day prices for the full linked area in 2026/27, as published by Alti Mag. Check the official resort websites before booking.
| Les Arcs | Avoriaz | Alpe d’Huez | Les Deux Alpes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ski area | Paradiski (with La Plagne) | Portes du Soleil | Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine | Les 2 Alpes |
| Character | Several purpose built villages at different heights | Car free, purpose built, ski in and ski out | Large, sunny, spread out resort | Long village with a glacier above |
| Usual airport | Geneva, Grenoble or Chambéry | Geneva | Grenoble | Grenoble |
| Other ways in | Train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, then funicular | Drive and park at the entrance | Drive up the famous hairpin road | Drive or transfer from Grenoble |
| Good for beginners | Gentle slopes, especially around Arc 1600 and 1800 | Dedicated children’s area, the Children’s Village by ESF (Village des Enfants) | Big nursery area right above the village | Several free nursery lifts low down |
| Adult 6 day pass, 2026/27 (approx.) | €412 | €373 | €336.50 | €333 |
Les Arcs
Les Arcs suits families and mixed groups who want plenty of choice. Each village has a different feel, from quiet Arc 1600 to the busier, family friendly Arc 1800 and modern, car free Arc 1950. It is also one of the easiest big resorts to reach by train, thanks to the funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Our guide to where to stay covers the villages, and our Les Arcs ski guide has the full detail.
Avoriaz
At around 1,800 metres, Avoriaz is high for the northern French Alps and has a good snow record. It is car free, so children can walk around safely, and much of the accommodation opens straight onto the snow. The Children’s Village by ESF (Village des Enfants) gives young children their own safe learning area. On the downside, restaurant choice is limited and the architecture divides opinion. Read our Avoriaz ski guide for more. Torn between Avoriaz and Les Arcs? See Les Arcs or Avoriaz for families.
Alpe d’Huez
Alpe d’Huez is known for sunshine. Most of its slopes face south, and skiing runs from around 1,125 metres up to 3,330 metres at the Pic Blanc, with around 250 kilometres of pistes. It is home to the Sarenne, one of the longest black runs in the Alps at about 16 kilometres. Beginners have a large nursery area right above the village, and the linked villages of Vaujany and Oz offer quieter bases. More in our Alpe d’Huez ski guide.
Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes has a glacier rising to around 3,400 metres, which helps snow reliability. Several of the nursery lifts at the bottom of the slopes are free, which keeps costs down for complete beginners. The one thing to know is that the runs back down to the village can be busy and harder than the skiing higher up, so beginners may prefer to take a lift down at the end of the day. See our Les Deux Alpes ski guide.
Which should you choose?
| If you are… | Consider |
|---|---|
| A family with young children who want ski in, ski out | Avoriaz or Arc 1950 |
| Travelling by train | Les Arcs |
| Sun seekers and mixed ability groups | Alpe d’Huez |
| Beginners on a budget | Les Deux Alpes, for its free nursery lifts |
| Keen skiers who want a huge area | Les Arcs (Paradiski) or Avoriaz (Portes du Soleil) |
Next step: Package or DIY
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ski resort for families?
There is no single answer. Look for accommodation close to the slopes, good nursery areas and a reliable ski school. Avoriaz and Les Arcs are popular with UK families for these reasons.
Which resort is best for beginners?
Resorts with free or cheap nursery lifts and gentle slopes near the village, such as Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d’Huez, are good places to start.
Are higher resorts always better?
For snow reliability, usually. But lower, traditional villages can be prettier and more sheltered in bad weather.