The 15 best ski resorts for a multi-generational winter holiday
Winter ski holidays are fun for all the family – and there’s no need for grandparents to miss out either. Even if the oldest generation has hung up its ski boots for good, or the youngest members have never worn them in the first place, a stay in the mountains can still be a successful and memorable family break.
A family resort geared to every ability can tick the boxes for novices and veterans alike. A destination with a good choice of off-the-slope activities for youngsters, a varied ski area for mid-lifers and scenic walking trails around a lively pedestrianised centre for those who’ve retired from the slopes can give every member of the family ways to fill the day.
And whether the budget runs to a private, catered chalet with a playroom for the little ones; a family-friendly hotel offering a kids club and relaxing spa; or a spacious self-catering apartment with enough room for all the generations to eat together, there’s bound to be something for you.
We’ve picked 15 resorts which cater well for multi-generational groups. From Les Arcs with its competitively-priced, ski-in/ski-out apartments with onsite crèche and indoor pool, to Alpe d’Huez with its handy in-chalet food shopping service for larger families. And from the Swiss resort of Arosa with its grandparent-friendly “mountain host” programme to Pragelato Sestriere in Italy where all-inclusive activities are provided for the youngest to the oldest guest.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your granny and your toddler, and head off on an exciting winter break to suit the whole family this season.
1. La Rosière, France
Best for combining hiking and skiing
Easy slopes and good ski schools make this low-rise resort, linked with the Italian resort of La Thuile, a draw for young families while adult non-skiers can use free chairlifts to access scenic walking trails. New for 2023/24 is a covered picnic area on the slopes where skiers and hikers can meet up for sociable lunches.
Book it: Peak Retreats (023 9283 9310; peakretreats.co.uk) offers stays at four-star Hotel Alpen Lodge, with indoor heated pool, close to the ESF ski school meeting point and main chairlift, from £392 self-catering, self-drive, including a Flexiplus Channel crossing with LeShuttle. Departs March 30. Plan the perfect holiday in La Rosière with our expert guide.
2. Les Arcs, France
Best for family entertainment
Competitively-priced ski-in/ski-out apartments, an onsite crèche, an indoor pool, sauna and steam room and a pedestrianised resort centre are among the family-focussed plus points of Arc 1950 Le Village. Celebrating its 20-year anniversary this season, families can expect an enhanced entertainment programme too.
Book it: Erna Low (020 3011 1222; ernalow.co.uk) offers stays at five-star Arc 1950 Le Village from £529 self-catering, self-drive, including a Flexiplus Channel crossing with LeShuttle. Departs March 30. Plan the perfect holiday in Les Arcs with our expert guide.
3. Gausta, Norway
Best for saunas and scenery
New to Ski Safari’s programme for 2023/24, this Norwegian resort west of Oslo offers a family-oriented improvers area, slopes to suit all abilities and cross-country skiing. Best for a late-season break when temperatures warm up, off-piste diversions for non-skiing grandparents include lakeside saunas and an excursion by train into the Gaustatoppen mountain to discover the region’s Cold War history.
Book it: Ski Safari (01273 224060; skisafari.com) offers stays at three-star Lake View Cabins, with private sauna and views of Kvitåvatn Lake near the ski school meeting point, from £985, self-catering. Departs April 7.
4. Tignes, France
Best for activities to suit all energy levels
There’s something for everyone at this snow-sure French resort. Off-piste activities include ice diving, tobogganing, ski-bungee jumping, snow-shoeing trails and dog-sledding. The giant Lagon aqua centre has pools, water slides and a wellness area, while the free, shuttle bus system links the villages to a network of walking trails.
Book it: Ski Independence (0131 243 8097; ski-i.com) offers stays at four-star Residence Nevada in Tignes Val Claret, with large open-plan living, shared pool and wellness area, from £1,321, self-catering. Departs April 6. Plan the perfect holiday in Tignes with our expert guide.
5. Passo Tonale, Italy
Best for good-value half-board
For a hotel stay without breaking the bank, head to Italy where competitively priced half-board packages are a good option for multi-generational families. Passo Tonale, on the border of Trentino and Lombardy offers gentle winter activities for non-skiers, and a weekly torchlight descent for children, with face-painting and hot chocolate.
Book it: Crystal (020 3451 2821; crystalski.co.uk) offers stays at five-star Hotel Grand Paradiso, a ski-in/ski-out hotel with a spa and childcare clubs, from £975. Departs March 30. Plan the perfect holiday in Passo Tonale with our expert guide.
6. St Anton, Austria
Best for family train travel
Inghams’ newly-introduced train-based holidays include breaks to the popular resort of St Anton. Departing St Pancras at 8am, arrival time in this attractive Tirolean mountain village is at around 9pm. Free resort buses, the pedestrianised Dorfstrasse with its shops and bars, walking trails and plenty of resort restaurants make it an excellent option for older family members.
Book it: Inghams (01483 319 513; inghams.co.uk) offers Chalet Rendle, a family-friendly lodge with plunge pool and wellness area in the resort’s Gastig area, from £1,459 including train travel. Departs March 23. Plan the perfect holiday in St Anton with our expert guide.
7. Alpe d’Huez, France
Best for no-hassle catering
Located on a sunny plateau, Alpe d’Huez may not be the prettiest resort but it has great pistes for all abilities and plenty of non-skiing activities too – including a large sports centre. Ski France offers a contactless catering service in this resort, allowing self-catering families the option of pre-ordering food and drink (including unlimited wine) to save on shopping time.
Book it: Ski France (020 3475 4756, skifrance.co.uk) offers Chalet Nightingale, sleeping six, a five-minute walk to the resort centre, from £1,616 including contactless catering. Excludes flights and transfers. Departs March 30. Plan the perfect holiday in Alpe d’Huez with our expert guide.
8. El Tarter, Andorra
Best for free family guiding
Part of the Grandvalira ski area, El Tarter is a quiet, laid-back resort. Non-skiers can take a 30-minute bus ride to Andorra’s capital, La Vella or take a husky ride along mountain trails. Family money-saver packages offered by Neilson include free ski guiding and coaching, plus a free lift pass for under 12s with every pre-booked adult pass
Book it: Neilson (0333 014 3351; neilson.co.uk) offers stays at Neilson Hotel Del Clos with kids’ clubs, an in-house massage therapist and spacious sun terrace, from £1,736. Departs February 11.
9. Pragelato Sestriere, Italy
Best for all-inclusive Easter break
For a multi-generational Easter week, consider a stay at this low-key Italian resort in Piedmont for an all-inclusive week of family fun. Group skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing lessons, kids clubs for four to 17 years and lift passes, plus hiking or fitness programmes are all included in the price.
Book it: Club Med (03453 676767; clubmed.co.uk) offers all-inclusive stays at Club Med Pragelato Sestriere from £1,807, including lift passes, equipment hire, lessons and kids clubs. Departs March 23.
10. Obergurgl, Austria
Best for Alpine atmosphere
This resort attracts many returning families who love its traditional village centre with its 18th-century church and original inn, the Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl, dating from 1889. Snowsure for skiers and snowboarders, non-skiing family members can buy single or six-day tickets for panoramic gondola rides around the resort.
Book it: Ski Solutions (020 7471 7700; skisolutions.com) offers stays at four-star Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl, a ski-in/ski-out hotel with indoor and outdoor pools and kids club, from £2,345, B&B. Departs March 30. Plan the perfect holiday in Alpe d’Huez with our expert guide.
11. Avoriaz, France
Best for traffic-free trips
Part of the huge Portes du Soleil ski area, guests are transferred from the resort entrance by horse-drawn sleighs and snowcats to their accommodation – the traffic-free centre makes it a relaxing resort for young and old. Non-ski activities include snowshoeing, fat biking and dog sledding.
Book it: VIP Chalets (020 3820 0030, vip-chalets.com) offers stays at Chalet Ipaka, sleeping six in the resort centre with indoor pool and hammam, from £2,201. Departs March 31. Plan the perfect holiday in Avoriaz with our expert guide.
12. Whistler, Canada
Best for spacious family accommodation
While bob-sleigh and skeleton may not be top of the grandparents’ must-try activities, Whistler also offers laidback horse-drawn sleigh rides, a choice of spas and a cinema. Family-friendly Creekside is a quiet base of condominium apartments and lodges with spacious living areas and easy access to Whistler mountain.
Book it: Frontier Ski (020 8776 8709; frontier-ski.co.uk) offers stays at four-star First Tracks Lodge, with kitchens and dining area, plus heated outdoor pool, by the Creekside gondola, from £2,283 room-only. Departs March 25. Plan the perfect holiday in Whistler with our expert guide.
13. Lech, Austria
Best for luxury hotels
Top-end hotels, a speedy 90-minute airport transfer from Innsbruck, a good snow record and an efficient lift network are among the reasons to choose this resort for a multi-generational break. Experiences offered by the Kristiania Lech hotel include guided forest walks and nature trails.
Book it: Elegant Resorts (01244 897581; elegantresorts.co.uk) offers stays at four-star Kristiania Lech Hotel, a family-run residence with stylish rooms and a complimentary shuttle service to the lifts and resort centre, from £2,648, B&B. Departs March 30. Plan the perfect holiday in Lech with our expert guide.
14. Val d’Isère, France
Best for catered chalets
Linked to neighbouring Tignes, this resort is a snow-sure option for families. Purple Ski offers a selection of three luxurious chalets in the resort which are well-suited to extended family groups of 12 to 15, looking for fine dining and attentive service.
Book it: Purple Ski (01885 488799; purpleski.com) offers stays at Chalet Machapuchare, sleeping 14, with swimming pool, cinema room and gym, from €4,985 (£4,293), including private minibus service, and in-chalet equipment fitting. Excludes flights and transfers. Departs March 31. Plan the perfect holiday in Val d’Isère with our expert guide.
15. Arosa, Switzerland
Best for guided mountain excursions
In a sunny valley and linked to the neighbouring resort of Lenzerheide, Arosa, offers wide, cruising slopes and children’s ski areas. Family operator, Powder Byrne offers complimentary guided skiing and a “mountain host” programme of supervised nature walks for non-skiers.
Book it: Powder Byrne (020 8246 5300; powderbyrne.com) offers stays at four-star Valsana Hotel, a lakeside, eco-hotel with spa, onsite crèche and children’s ski programmes, from £3,133, B&B, including transfers and ski guiding. Excludes flights. Departs March 23.
Prices are per person, based on a family of six (grandparents, parents and two school-age children), including flights, transfers and half board unless otherwise stated, and are subject to availability.