Family holidays in Avoriaz

If you’re coming for a ski holiday with a young family, the beauty of Avoriaz is that all the accommodation is ski in/ski out. The fewer steps your little people have to take in ski boots, the better (for all concerned!).

Avoriaz is always popular with families. It has: 

• a good mix of terrain for people of all abilities
• ski in/ski out accommodation
• lots of family-sized accommodation
• a good selection of bars and restaurants

It’s also a little closer to Geneva, if you’re keen to keep journey time to a minimum.

Lift passes make up a significant portion of the cost of a family holiday to the mountains, so it pays to check you’re buying the right ticket for your group. 

Here in Avoriaz there are various concessions to help you keep your costs down, such as:

• kids under 5 use the lifts for free
• kids between 5 and 16 pay a reduced ('youth') rate
• there are reduced-price ski passes if you only want to use the beginner areas
• you can buy a pedestrian pass - if maybe you or your partner don’t ski, but you still want to go up and watch the kids

You can buy half day lift tickets if a full day on the mountain seems too long for the little ones. It’s not a lot cheaper than an all day ticket, but it’ll save you a little bit. 

Lift passes in Avoriaz for families of four or more

If you're a family of four or more, you'll be able to save money on the regular ticket price by buying a 'family lift pass'. With one of these:  

• two adults pay full price - can be parents or grandparents 

If you have designs on raising the next Shaun White or Chemmy Alcot, then getting your children into ski school will be a priority!

The main ski schools cater for young children, offering: 

• full and half-day sessions
• English speaking guides
• your kids to a dedicated area where they can learn how to snow plough, stop, turn and glide safely

Ski schools usually take weekly bookings, so if you’re only here for a few days it’s good to check if there’s any space for your children.

What age can children start ski lessons

Ski schools will take them from 3 years old. At this age, the focus is on having fun in the snow, so there are normally inflatables and games to play. 

Most beginner areas also have a ‘magic carpet’ travelator (a bit like the ones you get at airports) to get kids and beginner adults to the top of the slopes without having to contend with lifts.

Whether you’re a kid or an adult, half-day lessons are normally more than enough if you’re a novice.

What’s included in the price of a lesson

The price you pay for a ski lesson is for tuition only. Ski passes are not included.

So for kids aged 5 and over, you’ll need to make sure they have: 

• a valid ski pass (you can get discounted passes if you're only using the nursery slopes)
• skis, helmets, goggles - you can hire these from one of the many ski hire shops in the resort
• appropriate clothing, like salopettes and a jacket, warm layers and gloves  
• sunscreen

A ski pass isn’t necessary for those under five, but you'll still need to buy a hands-free card for them to use on the turnstiles. You can get one of these from any lift station, take ID to prove their age.

A decent mix of terrain should keep all the family happy.  

The ski area in Avoriaz is well suited to beginners and the nursery slopes can be accessed without a lift pass, so you can build up your confidence without having to commit to buying a pass.

Once you feel happy to try some blue runs, buy a beginners ski pass and explore some of the lovely wide blue runs such as Proclu and Seraussaix. Find out more about the beginners ski areas in Avoriaz.

For more advanced skiers, you have the whole of the Portes du Soleil ski area to explore. With 426km of pistes and six snow parks spread over 12 resorts, there is terrain suitable for everyone.

Avoriaz is renowned for its snow parks and there are six freestyle areas to choose from. There is a permanent halfpipe, a Burton Stash and parks beyond Avoriaz in the wider Portes du Soleil area. There's no way even your most experienced teenagers will get bored here! There are two snow parks especially designed for children, the Kid's Parkway and Lil'Stash, both are in Avoriaz itself.

The Portes du Soleil ski area
For more advanced skiers, you have the whole of the Portes du Soleil ski area to explore. With 426km of pistes and six snowparks spread over 12 resorts, there is terrain suitable for everyone. The best access to the Portes du Soleil is via the Super Morzine gondola and on through Avoriaz.

Avoriaz is a year-round resort, and it’s a great place to come whether it’s winter or summer. It all depends on what you love doing.

If you’ve got children, here are a few things you might want to try.

There are several options for childcare in Avoriaz. 

If you're here during summer

The sports centre of each town sometimes hosts a kids club during the summer holidays, with activities like swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball and ice-skating.

Check availability at the local tourist offices.