Ski Puy Saint Vincent, Francea ski vacation destination that's great for familiesSki Puy Saint Vincent if you're looking for a family ski resort that combines easy access to the slopes with varied terrain. It isn't hugely well known - but that's all part of the attraction, and makes it good for kids to learn to ski.
It’s a small, purpose-built ski resort in the Pays des Ecrins national park in France about 30 minutes by road from the historic town of Briancon. We first visited with a superb ski travel company that ticked all the boxes for ski lessons, children’s clubs and more. Since then, we’ve visited independently and always have excellent family ski vacations. The resort is quiet, and even during popular weeks lift queues are short. What’s the resort like?Although small compared to many in France with 75kms of prepared piste, it has:
The resort is made up of two villages at altitudes of 1400m and 1600m, with most of the skiing above the higher village.
Ski Puy Saint Vincent - view from 1600 to La Pendine What's it the like to ski?In Puy Saint Vincent, the runs are of a decent length and of good variety, so families with mixed abilities going skiing with children will find plenty to enjoy.For beginners there's a nursery slope with a rope-tow at 1600, with a larger nursery slope served by a drag-lift down at 1400. The gentle Chemin with its short-cuts and gentle bumps round trees is perfect for building early confidence. Intermediates will enjoy the blue runs La Balme and Cretes, and red Bois des Coqs is an excellent choice if you're looking for a challenge. Our youngest always enjoyed La Balme through the trees because it goes into a tunnel underneath a road. There are also two proper black runs for advanced skiers, Rocher Noir and Carmen. The top part of Carmen off La Pendine is usually groomed, but the remainder and Rocher Noir are usually left ungroomed with bumps. Is there accommodation nearby?In Puy Saint Vincent 1600 and 1400, there's plenty of accommodation right next to the slopes. You wouldn't describe the apartment blocks at 1600 as attractive, but they can't be beaten for access to the slopes and facilities if you're looking for self catering ski holidays.That's where the resort fits the bill for being an accessible, family-focussed ski resort. The slopes, lifts and shops are all easy to get to. Are there childcare facilities?Yes. The 'P'tits Loups' resort creche will take your children aged between 18 months and 3 years. If you'd prefer English-speaking childcare we'd recommend taking family ski holidays with an excellent company called Snowbizz.What about learning to skiPuy Saint Vincent has two ski schools offering a range of private lessons and group courses for children and adults. They are Ecole de Ski Francais (ESF) and Ecole de Ski International (ESI).Getting thereAlthough Puy Saint Vincent is in France, visitors from the UK would usually fly into Turin in Italy. It's then around a 2 hour transfer to the resort.By road from the UK you can travel to Grenoble then to Briancon via the Col du Lauteret. If it's snowing, going from France to Italy via the Frejus tunnel then back into France over the Col de Montgenevre is a smoother alternative.
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Thanks for the great website - very handy. We are planning our first ski trip for us and our 5 kids!Chrisna
Skiing tips for families. Written by an English couple who love to ski and play in the snow with their children.
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