Les Arcs and Avoriaz are two of the most family friendly big resorts in the French Alps, and we have skied both with our own mixed ability group: Arc 1800 in February 2026 and Avoriaz in early 2025. Both are purpose built with skiing close to the door, but they differ on getting there, lift pass costs and how the resort feels. Here is how they compare for a UK family.
The short answer
- Choose Avoriaz for the shorter transfer from Geneva, a car free village where children can walk around safely, and cheaper child lift passes for 13 to 15 year olds.
- Choose Les Arcs if you want to travel by train, prefer a choice of villages, or want a big ski area on the cheaper local pass.
- Both work well for mixed ability groups.
At a glance
| Les Arcs | Avoriaz | |
|---|---|---|
| Village height | About 1,600 to 2,000 m | About 1,800 m |
| Local ski area | About 200 km (Les Arcs, Peisey-Vallandry, Villaroger) | 75 km and 34 lifts |
| Linked area | About 425 km with La Plagne (Paradiski) | About 650 km (Portes du Soleil) |
| Cars | Pedestrianised villages | Car free resort |
| From Geneva by road | About 2h 25m to 2h 40m midweek | About 1h 30m to 1h 50m |
| By train | Bourg-Saint-Maurice, then a funicular | Train to the valley, then a bus |
| Week lift pass | Classic local pass or Paradiski | Portes du Soleil pass only |
Sources: official Les Arcs lift pass site, official Avoriaz lift pass site and Alps2Alps, checked October 2026, plus our own guides linked below.
Lift passes: what a family of four pays
For two adults and two children aged 5 to 12, six days in peak season, at the public prices for 2026/27:
| Resort and pass | Total |
|---|---|
| Les Arcs, Classic pass (Les Arcs only) | €1,326 |
| Les Arcs, Essential pass (Paradiski) | €1,484 |
| Avoriaz, Portes du Soleil pass, bought online | €1,232 |
| Avoriaz, Portes du Soleil pass, at the ticket office | €1,306 |
Our own sums from the official prices. The age bands matter: in Les Arcs children pay the reduced price from 5 to 12 and 13 year olds pay the adult price, while the Avoriaz child band runs from 5 to 16. With teenagers, Avoriaz can work out noticeably cheaper. Our guides to lift passes explain more.
Getting there
Avoriaz is the easier transfer from Geneva, and you can save time by getting off at Les Prodains and taking the cable car up, which is what we did. Les Arcs takes longer by road, but it is one of the easiest big resorts to reach by train, with the funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice. See Geneva to Avoriaz transfers and Les Arcs by train.
Beginners and young children
- Avoriaz: the ESF Children’s Village is in the Festival area, and the Proclou beginner area sits beside Amara. A cheaper beginner pass covers the nursery lifts.
- Les Arcs: each village has its own ski schools and easy slopes, and in Arc 1800 Les Villards puts you close to the shops and ski school meeting points. Beginner passes are sold too.
Where to stay
In Arc 1800 we stayed in Les Villards, the most central quarter. In Avoriaz we stayed in Les Crozats, high up with direct access to the slopes. Our guides to where to stay in Arc 1800 and where to stay in Avoriaz compare the areas and list places to look at.
Drawbacks to know about
- Avoriaz: you move your luggage from the car park or cable car by sledge or snow vehicle, and there is no week long Avoriaz only pass.
- Les Arcs: a longer drive from Geneva, Arc 1800 is busy in half term, and teenagers pay adult prices from 13.
Our verdict
For a family flying to Geneva with younger children, Avoriaz is hard to beat for convenience. For families who would rather take the train, or who want a big ski area without paying for the full linked pass, Les Arcs is the better pick. We liked both enough to go back.
For more detail, read our Les Arcs ski guide and our Avoriaz ski guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Avoriaz or Les Arcs better for beginners?
Both suit beginners. Avoriaz has the Proclou area and a beginner pass; Les Arcs has easy slopes and ski schools in every village.
Which is cheaper, Les Arcs or Avoriaz?
For lift passes it depends on your children’s ages and which pass you choose. For our example family with two children aged 5 to 12, Avoriaz passes bought online came to about €90 less than Les Arcs Classic passes. With 13 to 15 year olds the gap grows, because they still pay the child price in Avoriaz.
Which is quicker to reach from Geneva?
Avoriaz, at around 1 hour 30 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes by road, against about 2 hours 25 minutes or more for Les Arcs.