Val d'Isere ski holidaysan expert’s paradise or a great family ski resort?Val d'Isere ski resort has a well-deserved reputation for being a serious skiers dream with plenty of tough terrain over a large linked area.It also has a reputation for a lively après ski scene, popular with skiers looking to party. With these in mind, can it also be a good destination for family skiers and beginners? The answer is yes. For variety of skiing, Val d'Isere really does have something for everyone and is suitable for mixed-ability family groups. Before you set off on your first day’s skiingDon’t do what we did on our first day. Looked at the piste map and chose what we thought would be a nice run meandering through trees. Past the point of no return we discovered we’d picked one of the resort’s famous mogul (bump) runs on the Solaise mountain.And that’s the thing about skiing in Val d'Isere. It’s great for all levels of skier providing you know where you’re going. Of all the many resorts we’ve visited, this is the one where the difficulty grading of runs can be under-estimated.
Looking down on Val d'Isere ski resort with Solaise in the background. Val d'Isere ski areaTogether with neighbouring Tignes, it forms L’Espace Killy (named after the local downhill racer Jean-Claude Killy). The resort stretches several kilometres along the valley between La Daille and the hamlet of Le Fornet at the end of the valley. The skiing is in three areas: Bellevarde, Solaise and slopes accessed from Le Fornet.Good slopes for skiing with childrenThere’s a good nursery slope with a free lift easily accessible just of the resort centre, that's great for beginners. Once your children have got their skiing legs, steer clear of runs leading back to the valley floor. You’ll need to take them up to the wide runs above Solaise such as the green Madeleine.
The gentle Madeleine run - a great confidence builder. There are also lovely wide green runs at the top of Bellevarde – and the ride up in the Funival (Val d'Isere’s funicular railway that disappears into the mountain side) – is a great hit with children. Unless your children are competent and confident, don’t be tempted to ski run down to La Daille. These runs can get crowded, and in many resorts the green run would be marked as more difficult. It can get icy and can really shake a beginner’s confidence. Ride the gondola down instead. Over in the La Fornet / Col d’Iserean sector there’s a choice of blue and green runs well suited for beginners. The snow here is usually excellent and gives access to the blue runs on the Pissaillas glacier. Getting aroundIntermediate skiers can ski from one end of the resort to the other quite happily. Val d'Isere has one of the best bus services linking the different areas with plenty of stops throughout the resort. Now, we’re not usually fans of having to catch a bus whilst juggling small children and ski equipment. That said, if you do need to get from one area to another without skiing the service is regular and free with your lift pass.Where to stayFor pure functionality and if you're happy to self-cater, you can’t go wrong with an apartment at La Daille – though be warned, some of these buildings don’t win any awards for being nice to look at.Throughout the resort there’s a wide choice of accommodation, from hotels to apartments and catered ski chalets. Val d'Isere ski resort is popular with skiers from the UK and there are numerous companies selling family ski vacation packages. If you need English-speaking childcare, then why not look for a UK tour operator or chalet holiday company that operates its own creche or children's clubs. |
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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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