Discover lesser-known family ski resorts with a warm welcome.
Away from the crowds and the traffic lie a wealth of smaller family-friendly resorts offering great skiing and accommodation choices. Take a look at our selection and ski somewhere different this year.
Puy Saint Vincent
Puy Saint Vincent
Solid-value family skiing among superb scenery in the Massif des Ecrins. Good range of mostly ski-in ski-out apartments. Galaxie ski pass allows a free day in nearby resorts.
Villard de Lans
Villard de Lans
Set among fabulous scenery in the Vercors and only 35 mins from Grenoble airport, this family friendly ski resort with terrain and activities to suit everyone has a thriving, traditional village at its heart.
Saint-François Longchamp
Saint-François Longchamp
Great value family skiing in the Maurienne, linked to Valmorel (Tarantaise) by the famous Col de la Madeleine.
Orcières Merlette 1850
Orcières Merlette 1850
Within the Ecrins National Park, and readily accessible from the town of Gap, Orcières 1850 is a friendly purpose-built ski village with good facilities for families.
Pra Loup & Val d’Allos
Pra Loup & Val d’Allos
Pra Loup and Val d'Allos form l’Espace Lumière, with endless possibilities both on and off-piste, in the southern French Alps.
Albiez Montrond
Albiez Montrond
Proving that small can be beautiful, Albiez offers traditional family skiing amid truly dazzling scenery, with easy access to extra terrain in nearby Les Sybelles.
Latest Ski Resort Reviews
We've added two less well-known Alpine resorts and have updated one of our favourite destinations in the Three Valleys.
Villard de Lans
Villard de Lans
Set among fabulous scenery in the Vercors and only 35 mins from Grenoble airport, this family friendly ski resort with terrain and activities to suit everyone has a thriving, traditional village at its heart.
Les 7 Laux
Les 7 Laux
Les 7 Laux comprises 2 villages plus an access point for day-skiers from nearby Grenoble. There's varied terrain both sides of the mountain, from gentle runs and long cruises to challenging off-piste.
St Martin de Belleville
St Martin de Belleville
Stay in this family-friendly, authentic mountain village with chalet-style accommodation and enjoy high-speed access to 600km of slopes in the Three Valleys ski area.
Pretty Alpine resorts to melt your heart
For lovers of all things Alpine: authentic chalets, traditional markets, cosy mountain restaurants, a traditional welcome and much more. Here is a selection of favourite places where you can live the dream.
Saint-Lary
Saint-Lary
A balanced selection of terrain for mixed-ability groups plus a good snow-park for snowboarders and freestylers, above a lively traditional village.
Morzine
Megève
Les Gets
Les Houches
Les Houches
Often overlooked by those dazzled by the lure of nearby Chamonix, Les Houches is a significant ski area in its own right, with tree-lined pistes and friendly atmosphere.
Le Grand Bornand
Le Grand Bornand
Traditional Savoyard skiing at the higher Le Chinaillon ski station, coupled with authentic mountain charm in the main village.
Ski Features
Fresh challenges, skier essentials
Lots more insight for skiers and snowboarders of all levels who love the mountains and want to make the most of their winter holiday. Discover fresh challenges, alternative ski areas, take a look behind the scenes at the skills of on-mountain professionals and much more besides.
Ski and ski-related features
When Skiing Replaced Mining
When Skiing Replaced Mining
Skiers may be surprised to learn about abandoned mine workings that lie beneath the snow covered pistes of some famous ski resorts.
Best Ski Resorts near Grenoble
Best Ski Resorts near Grenoble
There’s a wide choice of flights heading for Grenoble this winter, so here are some of the best resorts within easy transfer distances of this popular airport.
Best Ski Resorts near Geneva
Best Ski Resorts near Geneva
Ski resorts near Geneva airport where the transfer time is less than 90 minutes. Fly into Geneva and take advantage of speedy transfers to some of the best ski resorts in France.
Discover winter activities for everyone
Winter Activities with Animals
Winter Activities with Animals
Among the host of activities on offer in the mountains, the most special for us are those which bring us closer to nature.
Snow shoeing with a guide in the Pyrenees
Snow shoeing with a guide in the Pyrenees
We take a look at how snowshoeing with a guide in the Pyrenees can give you the freedom to explore these magnificent peaks alongside a small group of people who share your sense of adventure.
Winter Canyoning
Winter Canyoning
Try winter canyoning as part of a multi-activity holiday in the Luchon area in the French Pyrenees with The Adventure Creators adventure holiday specialists.
Mountain Living
Property, lifestyle and tradition
There’s a better way. Aim high and you’ll find not only a privileged environment, but also considerable comfort, including spa pampering and wellbeing relaxation options. We look at traditional mountain chalet style, visit artisan cheesemakers and offer inspiration to home-makers.
Live the high-life
Beaufort Cheese
Beaufort Cheese
In the high alpages beside Mont-Blanc we go in search of an award-winning producer of Beaufort, one of the most highly-prized of all mountain cheeses.
Alpine Regional Cheeses
Alpine Regional Cheeses
Discover traditional methods of cheese-making in the valleys and the alpages, see the production process, buy and sample the best the region has to offer.
Traditional Alpine Chalet
Traditional Alpine Chalet
Widely emulated and now highly coveted, the mountain chalet is an enduring design classic whose original constructors succeeded in creating a comfortable and supremely practical home.