Val d'Isere for Families & Kids

Val d'Isere is a child-friendly resort, making it suitable for families with children to visit. Obviously the main activity in winter is skiing and snowboarding and there are a number of ski schools who offer kids' lessons and may also arrange child-minding, pick-up services, and other activities. On top of skiing, Killy Sport and ESF offer show-shoe hiking from 4-5 years onwards. Alternatively, Killy Sport can also organize half day and whole day excursions on husky sleighs. There is a swimming pool and ice-skating rink just off the nursery slopes in the Solaise area and a cinema which has several weekly English film-showings. The Tourist Office organise regular children’s shows and events (usually only in French). For details pick up the free resort leaflet from the Tourist Office in the centre of town. ... see "Val d'Isere Activities - Families & Kids" for more

If you have a mountain of necessary baby gear that you need to bring with you but don't want to lug it all to Val d'Isère, get in touch with Val Hors Pistes Location. You can hire all you need from pushchairs, to baby carriers, to mini-sleds. They can even deliver to your accommodation on request.

Children are welcome in Val d'Isere, and there are a number of creches and childcare services available. There are a couple of nurseries that takes children from aged 3 years, and a private babysitting/nanny agency. They do tend to be popular and so you should make sure you book well in advance. Children's clubs are also popular during summer and winter, and offer a range of activities for children of all ages. ... see "Val d'Isere Childcare" for more

Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For this age group skiing should remain a play activity, so don't expect a young child to ski all day - a couple of hours is ample. ... see "Val d'Isere Skiing for Children" for more

France divides its school holidays into a regional timetable to ensure that the entire country doesn't go on holiday at once - however this staggered system can mean that some months (particularly February) can be busy from beginning to end as one region after another arrives in resort! Planning ahead can help you avoid the crowds...

• Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes & Toulouse
• Zone B - Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen & Strasbourg
• Zone C - Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris & Versailles

• When taking babies and toddlers on a ski holiday, you will need to take special precautions against the altitude, sun and cold.
• As you drive up to the resort, the rapid drop in air pressure may cause problems for a young child’s ears. Take a 15 minute break on the road up to the resort, and give young children a drink or something to suck to help them equalise the pressure in their ears.
• Paediatrician Nathalie Blot suggests not taking a child under one to above 1200m altitude. A baby may suffer acclimatisation problems due to the drop in air pressure and decrease in oxygen level. Val d'Isere lies at 1850m, and a baby cannot always equalise the pressure in his or her ears as easily as an adult. The local doctor recommends taking the journey up the mountain to the resort slowly.
• She strongly advises against taking any child under three years on a gondola lift as they find the changes in altitude too sudden.
• The cold is another danger for very small children, whose temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed. Waterproof boots, good quality mittens and ears protection are essential to protect from frostbite. Some childcare providers may be able to hire out equipment such as warm clothing, pushchairs and snow-proof boots.
• Do not take a baby skiing with you on your back – immobilised, he will quickly lose heat, and the risk of collisions or falls on the piste is always present.
• Remember children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs and gloves are essentials. Helmets are recommended for skiing and boarding too.
• Remember to protect your child's eyes and skin from the sun - not only are the infra-red and UV rays less filtered by the atmosphere at altitude, but 85% of the rays are reflected by the snow. Use category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and reapply SPF30 suncream at least every two hours.
• It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain.
• Lift passes are free for children under 5 in Val d'Isere, but only with proof of date of birth.
• We advise that you book your childcare well in advance of your holiday to ensure that the dates you need are available. Childcare providers can be found here >>