Best Family Ski Resorts

You’ll have to admit, one of the greatest perks of living in Geneva is being able to enjoy some of Europe’s best ski slopes right on our doorstep (well, almost…) so a post about skiing in the Geneva region is in order, wouldn’t you agree?

If you’re ready to explore this winter wonderland, the Geneva Airport website has a fantastic summary of all the best family ski resorts within easy reach of Geneva airport with all the relevant web links and exact distance in kilometers, so you can plan your ski sessions to meet your family’s needs.

You can visit the Geneva Airport website for the full size map of all nearby ski resorts and web links.

Now that our 4 year-old has finally broken in her new ski boots (she only needs to learn how to stop…), we’ve been doing some exploring ourselves so here’s a quick run-through of the ski resorts we’ve tried so far this season – with plenty more coming soon!

• La Clusaz (France, approx. 1 hour’s drive from Geneva). A very popular alpine French resort, perfect for families, with great slopes stretching across 5 peaks and good for various levels of expertise, from beginners to daredevils. The village is very pretty and offers sledging, ice-skating and horse-drawn carriage tours too, not to mention some scrumptious pâtisseries…In terms of childcare solutions, there is a nursery for non-skiers aged 8 months to 4 years called Les Mouflets and – from the age of 3 – snow gardens and ski kindergartens where the little ones can start their first ski lessons.

• Le Grand Bornand (France, less than 1 hour’s drive from Geneva). Just a couple of km from La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand is a quieter resort with an excellent linked ski area centered around one peak, good for all levels of ski abilities. There is a garderie called Les P’tits Maringouins Chinaillon for non-skiers aged 8 months to 5 years-old as well as a Village Day Nursery covering the same age group. If your little ones want to learn to ski, you have many winter clubs and ski lessons available.

• Megève (France, approx. 1 hour’s drive from Geneva). A quaint (and quite upmarket!) ski resort, famous for its picture-perfect village streets wrapped around the central town square, as well as its 5-star hotels, glitzy shops and restaurants. Families are very well catered for with a day nursery for children aged 12 months to 3 years; a Leisure Centre offering flexible childcare options with or without meals for ages 3 to 12; a ski kindergarten and a choice of 10 different ski schools to get your little skiers well on their way.

YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS: 

A HUGE thank you to our readers who have recommended the following family-friendly resorts, here’s what they said:

• Gotzone Aramendi gives the thumbs-up to Valmorel and Doucy and Doucy in the French Alps: “I really like your recommendations and I have been there with my kids (4 and 2 years old). If you have one week off and kids around, you could go to Valmorel or Doucy (French Alps), a two hours drive from Geneva. It is just perfect to go there with kids. You have a crèche for the little ones and the French ski school suitable from 3 years old. The atmosphere is fantastic for kids. There’s mostly French people around but if you need it, they try to speak English.”
• Adriana Rodriguez fully agreed and said: “Valmorel is perfect with kids. We just spent last week there and we loved it. I also recommend it.”
• Caroline Kueber Colacarro loves Les Gets and said “It’s the best for kids!”

• Valérie Charton Couderc gives her vote to “Morzine, for all ages, and for family logistic Combloux, and Bettex/St Gervais in France. We experienced these resorts with young children.”

Take a look at our previous post for more info about children ski schools in Saint-Cergue (VD); La Dôle (VD) and Col de la Faucille in Pays de Gex (France).

Stay tuned for more family ski resort reviews coming soon!