Ski Holidays with Children: Choosing a Family-Friendly Chalet and Resort

Ski school, childcare, lift passes and the chalet details that make a family week easy, with a closer look at Les Gets and Morzine.

Guides5 min read

Written byThe Peak & Chalet Team

A young child learning to ski on a gentle slope beside a parent, above a sunny Alpine village

The short answer: for young children, choose a compact resort with beginner slopes close to the village, book ski school and childcare as soon as your dates are fixed, and pick a chalet near the ski school meeting point. In the Portes du Soleil, Les Gets is the classic family choice, while Morzine suits families with older children.

A good family ski week has less to do with the length of the pistes than with short walks, warm boot rooms and children who come back happy. Here's how to get it right.

Young children following an instructor on a gentle snow garden slope

Choosing a family-friendly resort

The best resorts for children share a few things:

  • Beginner slopes close to the village, so little legs don't face a long walk or a gondola ride before the first lesson.
  • A compact, walkable centre, ideally with little traffic.
  • Good ski schools and childcare, with English-speaking instructors and staff.
  • Plenty to do off the slopes, for tired afternoons and bad-weather days.

Les Gets

Les Gets is built for families. The ESF snow garden sits at the foot of the slopes in the village, and the top of the Chavannes gondola has dedicated children's areas with gentle runs and covered magic carpets. In the village you'll find an outdoor ice rink, a historic carousel and a mechanical music museum, and the mood is calm in the evenings.

Morzine

Morzine is a bigger, livelier town with more to do off the slopes, from a covered ice rink and swimming pool to a cinema and family events during the French school holidays. Beginner slopes are a lift ride above the town, at Pléney and Super Morzine. It's a great base for families with confident older children and teenagers, who will love the wider Portes du Soleil and the après-ski.

Our full Les Gets vs Morzine comparison goes into more detail.

Ski school: what to book, and when

Most families book group lessons with the ESF, France's national ski school, or with one of the independent schools in each resort. Independent schools often have smaller groups and more English-speaking instructors.

  • Age three to four: play-based lessons on a fenced snow garden, often in short morning sessions. In Les Gets, the ESF's youngest programme runs on the snow garden in the village. In Morzine, the ESF club combines lessons with care for most of the day.
  • Age five and up: group lessons on the mountain, usually in the mornings, with the week ending in a race and a medal.
  • Private lessons: worth it for nervous children, or as a first session before joining a group.

Book early. In the February half-term and over Easter, popular groups fill up months ahead. As soon as your chalet is confirmed, book lessons and hire.

A small child riding a covered magic carpet lift on a beginner slopeAn instructor helping a young child with their skis on a snowy slope

Childcare for babies and toddlers

If you have a baby or toddler, or a child not ready for lessons, there are good options in both villages:

  • Morzine: the tourist office runs a nursery for babies and young children, and pre-booking opens in the autumn. You'll need vaccination records and a recent medical certificate, so prepare them before you travel.
  • Les Gets: a nursery in the village centre with English-speaking staff, plus an ESF club for older children that combines care with ski lessons.

Many chalet hosts can also recommend a trusted babysitter for evenings or for a day on the mountain as a couple.

Lift passes for children

Children under five ski free in the Portes du Soleil, though you'll need proof of age, and may pay a small charge for the hands-free card. Child rates apply up to fifteen. Absolute beginners don't need the full area pass: a beginner pass or the local pass is enough for the first few days. Buying online in advance is usually cheaper and saves a queue on the first morning.

Choosing a family chalet

The chalet matters as much as the resort. Here's what to ask the host before you book:

  • How far is it to the ski school meeting point? Carrying two sets of skis and a toddler for ten minutes in ski boots is no one's idea of a holiday.
  • What are the bedrooms like? Bunk rooms, family rooms or interconnecting rooms help, and a ground-floor bedroom suits grandparents.
  • Is the chalet child-ready? Ask about cots, high chairs, stair gates and safe hot tub covers.
  • Is there a good boot room? Heated racks and glove dryers mean warm, dry kit every morning.
  • Can the host help? Early children's teas, babysitting and help with ski hire make a big difference.

In a catered chalet, early children's meals free up the evening for adults, and many hosts are happy to arrange them.

A cosy chalet bunk room with wooden bunk beds and checked blanketsChildren's ski gloves and helmets drying in a chalet boot roomA family sharing an early supper at a chalet kitchen table

Off the slopes

Children tire quickly at altitude, so plan short ski days and fun afternoons:

  • Les Gets: the ice rink, the carousel, dog sledding, a mountain coaster, and an illuminated night-time forest trail.
  • Morzine: the covered ice rink, the swimming pool, the cinema, sledging areas and family events in the French school holidays.
Two children pulling a wooden sledge up a snowy hill at sunset

A few practical tips

  • Helmets: not a legal requirement in France, but strongly recommended and required by most ski schools. Hire shops have children's helmets.
  • Sun and cold: pack high-factor sun cream, lip balm and goggles. Children feel the cold quickly on chairlifts.
  • Labels: put a card with your name, chalet address and phone number in your child's pocket for ski school.
  • Timing: if your children aren't in school yet, travel outside the holidays for quieter slopes, emptier lessons and better chalet choice.

For more on packing, see what to pack for a week in the Alps.

Ready to plan? Browse chalets in Les Gets and chalets in Morzine, or search all chalets and ask hosts about family facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What age can children start ski school?

Most French ski schools take children from age three in small groups on a snow garden, with play-based lessons. Children from around five join proper group lessons, and private lessons suit younger or nervous children.

Is Les Gets or Morzine better for families?

Les Gets is usually the better choice for young children, with a compact village, a snow garden by the centre and children's areas at the top of the gondola. Morzine suits families with older children who want more going on off the slopes, and both share the same lift system.

Do young children need a lift pass?

Children under five ski free in the Portes du Soleil, though you'll need proof of age and may pay a small charge for the hands-free card. Child rates usually apply up to age fifteen.

Is there childcare for toddlers in the Alps?

Yes. Morzine has a tourist-office nursery for babies and toddlers, and Les Gets has a village nursery as well as ski school clubs that combine lessons with childcare. Places are limited in the school holidays, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.

Do children have to wear ski helmets in France?

There's no legal requirement in France, but helmets are strongly recommended and most ski schools insist on them for lessons. Hire shops have children's helmets alongside skis and boots.

What should I look for in a family ski chalet?

Somewhere close to the ski school meeting point or a lift, with a sensible layout for children: a bunk room or family rooms, stair gates and cots if needed, a good boot room and a host who can help with babysitting and early children's meals.