Val Thorens for Families & Kids

Val Thorens is a child-friendly resort, making it suitable for families to visit. Obviously the main activity in winter is skiing and snowboarding and there are a number of ski schools who offer kids' lessons and may also arrange child-minding, pick-up services, and other activities.

The Tourist Office organise regular children’s shows and events (usually only in French). For details, visit the Tourist Office. The sports centre has a childrens funpark and aqua-club, and there is an area set aside for tobogganing at the Place Caron in the centre of town. ... see "Val Thorens Activities - Families & Kids" for more

Most ski teachers wouldn’t recommend starting skiing before the age of three or four at the earliest. The right age will vary from child to child, and depends upon the child’s strength, co-ordination and attitude. For this age group skiing should remain a play activity, so don't expect a young child to ski all day - a couple of hours is ample. ... see "Val Thorens Skiing for Children" for more

In Val Thorens, there are two mini-clubs, taking babies from three months and children from 3 years. Le Montana, situated at the bottom of the resort, takes children from 3 months. Le Roc, situated at the top of the resort, takes children aged 18 months and over. Each mini-club includes a rest room and a playroom, ground floor access to the snow area and a dining room for lunch.

In Les Menuires, there are two Villages des Piou-Piou, which take babies from 3 - 30 months in La Croisette (reservation necessary), and both take children aged from 31 months to 5 years. Saint-Martin has a Club des Piou-Piou taking children aged from 30 months to 5 years. ... see "Val Thorens Childcare" for more

France divides its school holidays into a regional timetable to ensure that the entire country doesn't go on holiday at once - however this staggered system can mean that some months (particularly February) can be busy from beginning to end as one region after another arrives in resort! Planning ahead can help you avoid the crowds...

• Zone A - Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes & Toulouse
• Zone B - Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Limoges, Nice, Orléans-Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen & Strasbourg
• Zone C - Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris & Versailles

• When taking babies and toddlers on a ski holiday, you will need to take special precautions against the altitude, sun and cold.



• As you drive up to the resort, the rapid drop in air pressure may cause problems for a young child’s ears. Take a 15 minute break on the road up to the resort, and give young children a drink or something to suck to help them equalise the pressure in their ears.



• Paediatrician Nathalie Blot suggests not taking a child under one to above 1200m altitude. A baby may suffer acclimatisation problems due to the drop in air pressure and decrease in oxygen level. Aged one year, one can safely go higher but, she suggests, not above 1800m. (Note that Val Thorens is located at 2300m).



• She strongly advises against taking any child under three years on a gondola lift as they find the changes in altitude too sudden.



• The cold is another danger for very small children, whose temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed. Waterproof boots, good quality mittens and ears protection are essential to protect from frostbite. Do not take a baby skiing with you on your back – immobilised, he will quickly lose heat, and the risk of collisions or falls on the piste is always present.



• Remember children lose heat faster than adults so dress according to the weather conditions and make provision for it changing - hats, waterproofs and gloves are essentials. Helmets are recommended for skiing and boarding too.



• Remember to protect your child's eyes and skin from the sun - not only are the infra-red and UV rays less filtered by the atmosphere at altitude, but 85% of the rays are reflected by the snow. Use category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and reapply SPF30 suncream at least every two hours.



• It's a good idea to have a contact phone number and address in your child's pocket in case you become separated on the mountain.



• Lift passes are free for children under 5 in Val Thorens, but only with proof of date of birth.