The award was launched in 2006 and and is a guarantee that the resorts cater well for families. There are 45 Famille Plus resorts in all – some you’ll have heard of, some you probably won’t! Here are 10 of the best:
AUSSOIS (SAVOIE)
Nearest airport: Chambery (one hour)
A quiet, relatively undiscovered family- orientated village in the Maurienne Valley suited mainly to beginners and intermediates. Its south-facing ski area has 21 runs, with easy cruising greens down to the village. A wide choice of non-skiing entertainment includes dog sledding, tubing and a big air bag. If you get twitchy over the lack of runs, Orelle, backdoor into the 3 Valleys, is a 20-minute drive away.
WHO GOES THERE? Peak Retreats
LES HOUCHES (MONT-BLANC)
Nearest airport: Geneva (one hour)
Just up the road from its illustrious neighbour Chamonix, Les Houches is a friendly, relaxed resort and a great base for families. Its 55km of runs (22 pistes) are normally uncrowded and have some good easy runs at the top of the mountain. It is particularly suited to beginners with magnificent panoramas over the Mont Blanc mountain range. The Tourchet slope is brilliant for first timers.
WHO GOES THERE? More than a dozen firms, including Erna Low, Peak Retreats, Ski Collection
LA ROSIÈRE (ESPACE SAN BERNARDO)
Nearest airport: Chambery (1hr 30)
Quieter and less frenetic than many resorts, mainly because the experts and intermediates take the long lift over the border to La Rosiere’s linked Italian neighbour La Thuile, which has all the best advanced terrain. Skiing at La Rosiere is a perfect balance between easy and more technical runs with wide, long downhill slopes in the forest. There are good nursery ski slopes near the main village and the blue runs just above are perfect for progression, making it an ideal resort for families with children and beginners of any age.
WHO GOES THERE? More than 25 operators, including Crystal, Erna Low, Esprit, Ski Beat, Peak Retreats, Skiworld, Ski Solutions
MÉGÈVE (MONT BLANC)
Nearest airport: Geneva (one hour)
Megeve has a beautifully preserved medieval centre – now pedestrianised – with cobbled streets, tastefully restored buildings, a pretty church, horse-drawn sleighs, a weekly market, an open-air ice rink and plenty of marked paths for walkers. It is also a great area for beginners with the nursery slopes at Mont d’Arbois easily accessible by cable-car or ski-bus.
WHO GOES THERE? More than 25 operators, including Flexiski, Inghams, Peak Retreats, Ski Collection, Ski Solutions, Simon Butler Skiing
PUY ST VINCENT (PAYS DES ECRINS)
Nearest airport: Turin (2hrs 20)
A much underrated small, modern resort, Puy-St-Vincent is brilliant for intermediates and beginners, with 75km of mostly N and NE-facing slopes. There are gentle runs for learners, while good skiers will enjoy the black runs and off piste, along with a snowpark which is floodlit at night. Larch forests give Puy its picture-postcard appeal, and also make off-piste skiing through the trees a very attractive alternative for the more adventurous. Great for non-skiing activities, which include ice-climbing, stargazing, snowshoeing and skidooing.
WHO GOES THERE? Ski Collection, Snowbizz, Erna Low among others
VAL THORENS (THREE VALLEYS)
Nearest airport: Chambery (2hrs 15)
Val Thorens doesn’t fit the usual ‘smaller, quieter’ profile of Famille Plus resorts, being one of France’s highest and most snowsure resorts and also part of the immense Three Valleys ski area. However, Val Thorens has recently invested €1.5 million into creating a special 10-hectare ski area for beginners. There are plenty of non-ski activities too – for all ages. The impressive 6km toboggan run is the longest in France and the indoor sports centre is the largest in the French Alps – boasting 20 activities including two swimming pools, a spa and a brilliant fun park for the kids. Older teens – especially non-beginners – will likely prefer this to one of the quieter resorts.
WHO GOES THERE? More than 30 UK operators, including Crystal, Club Med, Inghams, Neilson, Powder White, Ski Collection, Skiworld, Thomson
LE GRAND BORNAND (ARAVIS-LAKE ANNECY)
Nearest airport: Geneva (55mins)
A combination of relaxed family skiing, quick flight transfers, easy road access and great value has made Le Grand Bo’ (and its near neighbour La Clusaz – also a Famille Plus resort) popular with an increasing numbers of UK skiers. For children who are still learning, consider a mini-domaine skipass which will give access to all the easy slopes at the top of the Joyère and Rosay cable cars and key lifts from Le Chinaillon for €17 (under 8 years old) or €20 (under 15) per day.
WHO GOES THERE? Peak Retreats, Ski Weekender, Erna Low
LES CARROZ (GRAND MASSIF)
Nearest airport: Geneva (1hr)
Perched on a wide, sunny plateau at 1,140m, Les Carroz d’Arâches is a traditional alpine village just one hour from Geneva and Chamonix, making it one of the most accessible resorts in the Alps. It is a spacious family resort with pavement cafés and quirky little shops centred around a main square. With direct access to 265km of slopes in the Grand Massif, Les Carroz provides extensive skiing for all levels with little queuing. Non-skiing fun includes hot-air balloon rides, a night-time luge, dog sledding, tennis, ice skating and snowshoe walks.
WHO GOES THERE? A dozen or so UK operators, including Crystal Finest, Peak Retreats, Powder White.
MONTGENÈVRE (MILKY WAY)
Nearest airport: Turin (1hr 15)
An historic sunny village in the Southern Alps, Mongenèvre is the only French resort in the vast Milky Way ski area which extends into Italy and which has 400km of pistes. There are three free toboggan areas for kids, including one for two to six year olds and one for older sliders. There are kids’ games areas at the ‘front de neige’ and at the top of the Le Chalvet gondola. Skiing is brilliant for beginners and experts can revel in some wonderful, abundant off-piste.
WHO GOES THERE? About 20 UK operators, including Crystal, Neilson, Peak Retreats, Erna Low
LES GETS
Nearest airport: Geneva (1hr)
Les Gets and its larger neighbour Morzine (see feature, page 66) share one of the best ski areas in the Portes du Soleil, with plenty of terrain for all levels, from beginners right through to experts. The village has bags of rustic Gallic charm, with traditional chalet buildings scattered along the valley bottom. The beginners’ area is located in a quiet and secure environment away from the main ski area. Two magic carpets, a snow cable and a rope tow enable learners to ski smoothly on four slopes. The snow garden, the luge run, the Grand Cry Tepee Territory, the Mauve Milka ski run and the ice skating rink provide endless possibilities for family fun.
WHO GOES THERE? 25+ UK operators, including Esprit, Ski Famille, Peak Retreats, Crystal Finest, Alpine Answers, Ski Solutions, Ski Weekend
