For many families, the February holidays are an opportunity to spend time together in the mountains. The Alps are a popular winter sports paradise, with a huge choice of resorts ready to welcome families. There are beginners’ ski areas for the very young, as well as a packed calendar of events for all ages.
Read on to find out where to take your family skiing in February…
Choosing the ideal resort for skiing in February
The advantage of heading to the mountains in February is that good snow cover is practically guaranteed in all the high-altitude resorts. However, it’s important to choose your destination carefully, depending on the people in your group and the activities that interest you.
For a family holiday, we recommend choosing one of the many “Famille Plus” resorts throughout the Alps. These offer facilities, services and activities for all ages.
Good to know: If you want to take some time for yourself and enjoy a session on the slopes, a wellness session or a romantic restaurant, some resorts offer childcare solutions.
Choose your chalet in the Alps
Our tips for avoiding crowds and making the most of your experience
Les vacances de février sont sans surprise l’une des saisons les plus populaires pour se rendre à la montagne.
It will come as no surprise that the February holidays are one of the most popular times to head to the mountains. You’ll need to plan your stay well in advance, to make sure you can get the accommodation and equipment you need. It’s a good idea to book your ski pass online, before your holiday, so that you can collect it on the day you arrive.
Good to know: Saturday is the traditional arrival and departure day in resorts. It’s the day when the equipment hire shops and ski pass offices are packed, but also the day when the slopes and lifts are least busy.
The best way to avoid the crowds is simply to stay away from the most popular destinations. Smaller family resorts, with less publicity, often offer the same entertainment and facilities as their bigger counterparts.
The best places to ski in February
Morzine & les Portes du Soleil: a winter wonderland
A cosy little haven in the splendid Portes du Soleil, Morzine is one of the favourite Alpine destinations for families. Holder of the “Famille Plus” label, it combines Savoyard charm with top-quality facilities, varied entertainment and a wide choice of activities.
Its ski area offers 650km of pistes at altitude, including beginners’ areas and night skiing. There are plenty of activities for children, including sledging, horse-drawn carriage rides, bowling, an indoor swimming pool and an ice rink.
Combloux & Évasion Mont-Blanc: a well-kept secret
The charming village of Combloux is still one of the best-kept secrets in the Alps. Yet it can easily stand up to the biggest resorts when it comes to skiing, thanks to the 400km of pistes and 109 lifts in the Évasion Mont-Blanc domain.
With several runs for beginners, family events, traditional Father Christmas village charm, and fun activities like ice skating, this resort is sure to appeal to children of all ages!
Samoëns & le Grand Massif: a thrilling playground
The Grand Massif ski area is a real playground for adults and children of all ages. The Samoëns ski area is particularly extensive and includes an area for beginners, with facilities for children as young as three years old.
What’s more, with altitudes of up to 2,500m, the snow conditions are excellent, making it possible to enjoy a “ski-in, ski-out” holiday throughout February. Off the slopes, you can enjoy dog-sleigh rides, explore caves, climb glaciers and much more.
Le Grand-Bornand & the Aravis: an authentic experience
Le Grand-Bornand has managed to hold on to its authentic charm without ever feeling old-fashioned. It offers up-to-date facilities and a whole range of activities for all the family, including tobogganing and ice skating. It has also been awarded the “Famille Plus” label for its children’s programme, family atmosphere and slopes suitable for toddlers.
The Aravis mountains have more than 220km of pistes accessible to skiers of all levels, a fantastic off-piste offering and snow conditions that rival many of the big resorts.
La Clusaz: the place for families
The typical Savoyard atmosphere of La Clusaz is making it very popular with families looking for Alpine charm away from the hustle and bustle of bigger resorts. In fact, the village goes out of its way to welcome children, with ski schools dedicated to the very young.
La Clusaz has a fantastic ski area and excellent snow conditions in winter, thanks to the altitude of some of its slopes – up to 2,600m. Nearby Manigod offers free sessions on the paret, a traditional toboggan that children love!
Les Sybelles: the wonder of nature
Nature flourishes in the Domaine des Sybelles, which comprises six resorts, including La Toussuire, Les Bottières and Le Corbier. It has 310km of pistes, 68 ski lifts and rises to an altitude of up to 2,620m, guaranteeing good snow until the spring.
As well as its incomparable natural scenery, the region offers a host of winter activities for all ages, including paragliding, dog-sledding and snowmobiling, and a heated public swimming pool.
Planning a successful ski holiday in France
Once you have decided on your destination, there are other important factors to consider…
Choosing the right accommodation
It is important that your holiday accommodation meets the expectations of your whole group and that you feel comfortable there. If you’re staying with a large group, it may be practical to rent a private chalet rather than several hotel rooms.
Think about the needs of children and people with reduced mobility, as well as the distance from the slopes, ski lifts and resort facilities. Finally, accommodation with relaxation and entertainment facilities can make your stay even better.
Good to know: Many OVO Network partner chalets offer safety, care and entertainment facilities for babies and young children. These properties can be recognised by our “Cool for Kids” and “Cool for Kids Extra” labels.
Choose the right ski pass
A ski pass is essential, as it allows you not only to use the ski lifts, but also to access the slopes in the ski area, even if you’re not skiing. Many resorts offer discounts on ski passes if you book them for a whole group.
You’ll be able to choose between passes of different durations (half-day, day, week or all season) and for areas of different sizes. For example, Combloux ski passes give access either to the village slopes, the Portes du Mont-Blanc ski area or the entire Évasion Mont-Blanc ski area.
Choosing your ski equipment
Your choice of ski equipment depends on your skill level, weight and height as well as your chosen activity: for example, you’ll need different skis for touring and downhill skiing. See our detailed guide, which also gives a guide to prices.
At the height of the season, ski hire shops are extremely busy, and often can’t stock the equipment you need. To make sure your holiday goes smoothly, it’s important to book online in advance.
Good to know: As an OVO Network guest, you’ll get a discount of up to 55% on your ski equipment if you go through our partner Skiset.
Planning your activities
Ice-skating, paragliding, hot-air ballooning, glacier-climbing, a day at the spa… The resorts of the Alps are full of activities to enjoy as well as skiing. And if it’s raining, or if a member of your group doesn’t want to hit the slopes, it’s a good idea to have a plan B.
If you want to enjoy different experiences off the slopes, it’s worth booking online before your stay. Visit the official website of the tourist office at your chosen destination to find out about the activities on offer and the service providers.
Now you know where to go skiing in February! Thanks to their range of activities and entertainment for all ages, each of these ski resorts promises an unforgettable family holiday in the mountains. Snow cover is guaranteed at this time of year, and the variety of slopes means there’s something for everyone, from complete beginners to experienced skiers.
Book your stay in the Alps
If you enjoyed this article, here are some others you might like:
- The pros and cons of planning your own ski trip
- The best places to ski in the Alps
- Top tips for mountain holidays with the kids
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