Family Ski Guide to Les Deux Alpes
Les Deux Alpes has held the French government’s Famille Plus certification since 2009 — a label given to only 41 resorts in France, awarded for meeting over 110 requirements covering childcare, safety, pricing and family activities. In practice, that means a resort genuinely built around making life easy for parents, not just marketed that way.
Getting around with kids
The village itself is mostly flat and largely pedestrianised, and a free shuttle bus connects the main resort with the quieter Les Deux Alpes 1800 and Mont de Lans areas every 15 minutes. That means you’re rarely dragging tired children (or heavy kit) very far — see our guide to the best areas to stay for which end of the village suits families best.
Ski schools and lessons
Children can start lessons from age 3 in dedicated snow gardens (“Jardin des Neiges”) run by ESF and ESI, using magic carpet lifts and fun obstacles rather than throwing toddlers straight onto a drag lift. Group lessons for ages 6-12 run in small groups (typically 10 children max) from 9:30am, with afternoon sessions added during school holidays. Both ESF and ESI operate English-speaking instructors, which is worth confirming when booking if English is your family’s first language.
Childcare, from 6 months
A resort crèche (Bonhomme de Neige) takes children from 6 months old, based at the foot of the slopes in the resort centre, and most ski schools’ kindergarten classes offer lunchtime childcare (roughly 12:00-14:30) for children over 4 — useful if you want a full, uninterrupted day on the mountain yourselves.
Beginner slopes and lift passes
The main beginner zones sit right by the village at the Alpette and Bosquet lifts, many of which are free to use, so young or nervous skiers can progress without needing a full lift pass straight away. On pricing: children under 5 ski free, 5-12 year-olds get a reduced rate, and families of four or more can save further with a family lift pass that typically bundles in a swim, skate or night-skiing session each day.
Keeping kids entertained off the slopes
Sledging at the Alpette and La Côte lifts, an outdoor ice rink, husky dog sledding, bowling with kids’ lanes, and an English-language cinema all give you options for afternoons when little legs are done skiing for the day.
When to go
Christmas and February half-term are liveliest (and busiest); March and April combine good snow with milder, sunnier days — often a nicer balance for families with young children who feel the cold. Check current conditions in our Les Deux Alpes snow conditions guide.
Ready to book? Browse all family-friendly Les Deux Alpes accommodation, or start with our full Les Deux Alpes ski guide.