Family Holidays in Les Arcs

Accommodation for families

If you’re coming for a ski holiday with a young family, look for accommodation near any of the lifts. The fewer steps your little people have to take in ski boots, the better (for all concerned!).

Les Arcs is made up of four distinct holiday villages. Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000 are all pedestrianised and offer direct access to the ski slopes. There are also three outlying villages within the ski area - Plan Peisey, Vallandry and Peisey Nancroix. These are smaller, traditional villages that offer a more tranquil ski holiday.

Wherever you stay in Les Arcs, make sure that your accommodation, ski hire and ski school meet-up points are all in the same locality.

Arc 1950

Modern five star spacious accommodation here (all with access to swimming pools), baby equipment on request, childcare from nine months, and a good selection of daily family-focused entertainment.

Arc 2000

Smaller and quieter, it's linked to Arc 1950 by a short gondola ride and offers alternative activities such as the Igloo Village and outdoor ice rink. 

Arc 1800

The most lively of the resorts and home to the Mille8 leisure complex, which features an events venue and a wonderful aquatic centre. There are also great nursery and beginner slopes. 

Arc 1600

A quiet place to stay, with fewer facilities than the neighbouring villages.

Plan Peisey, Vallandry and Peisey Nancroix

For chalet accommodation you'll most likely find what you need in these three outlying villages. All three are quiet villages with a traditional feel, and all are connected to the main ski area by ski lift.

Lift passes for families

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 Les Arcs 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 12 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 Les Arcs 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 every member benefits from a discount per person. 

Ski schools for families

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
• children have 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.

Ski areas for families

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

Each village has its own beginners areas with gentle slopes and slow drag lifts

With the lowest nursery areas being at 1,600m, you're guaranteed good quality snow to learn on.

Les Arcs forms a part of the famous Paradiski ski area, with over 425km of pistes, a modern ski lift infrastructure and superb snow parks.

Activities for families

Les Arcs 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.

Childcare services

There are several options for childcare.

Arc 1950 probably has the most inclusive childcare in the resort, with its Cariboo Children's Club. But each village has good childcare options, children's ski schools operate in each resort and independent nanny agencies are also available. 

If you're here during summer

You may find that the main sports centre of each town host a kids club during the summer holidays, with activities such as swimming, climbing, tennis, basketball, ice-skating, etc. and organised hikes and picnics.