French Alps family ski week
Ski school, a nanny, and the Three Valleys from the door.
Photo: Florian Pépellin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why go
Private France holidays: ski chalets in Courchevel, Méribel, and Val d'Isère, and villas in Provence and on the Côte d'Azur.
France is two holidays. In winter it is the Three Valleys and the Espace Killy: huge ski areas and chalets with a chef. In summer it is a house in Provence with a pool and a market town nearby.
Either way, we plan from the house and arrange the rest: instructors and childcare in winter, a driver and the right restaurants in summer.
In the Alps, the Three Valleys and the Espace Killy give the most skiing per holiday, and chalets in Courchevel, Méribel and Val d'Isère set the standard for catered service. We match the resort to the group's ability, then the chalet to its character.
Beyond the mountains, France is a villa and a driver: Provence and the Luberon in early summer, the Côte d'Azur by boat, or Paris with private access to museums and ateliers.
- Best time
- January to March for skiing. May, June, and September for Provence and the coast.
- Journeys
- 1 example itinerary
What to see and do
The France we would show you
- Catered chalets in Courchevel, Méribel, and Val d'Isère
- Ski school and nannies arranged before you arrive
- Villas in the Luberon and Alpilles
- A private boat on the Côte d'Azur
Example journeys
Itineraries in France
Starting points with a guide price. Each is redrawn around your dates, party and pace.
Ways to travel here
France by the kind of trip
France ski
The Three Valleys or the Espace Killy from a catered chalet.
France villas
A house in Provence or on the coast, with a driver and the right tables.
France for families
A catered chalet in the Alps with ski school, a nanny and a chef, so the adults ski too.
France for couples
A chalet or a small hotel in the Alps for two, with doorstep skiing and dinner in the village.
Where to stay
Stays we use in France
Courchevel chalet
The Three Valleys from the front door.
From the journal
Planning notes
Planning a holiday for three generations
Grandparents, parents and children on one trip: where it works, how to pace it, and what to decide first.
Chalet or hotel: which suits the party
The right answer depends on the group, the ages, and how much of the week you want to leave to someone else.
Good to know
Questions about France
France or Switzerland for skiing?
France for the size of the ski area; Switzerland for the villages. Both have excellent chalets.
Is Provence good for a family?
Yes. A pool, a market, and a few easy outings fill a week comfortably.
Which resort for a mixed-ability family?
Courchevel, Méribel or Val d'Isère for the scale of the ski area and the quality of ski schools; Megève for charm and gentler terrain.
How do catered chalets work?
A chef and host look after breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner on most nights, with one night off. Nannies, instructors and in-chalet massages are arranged on request.
Plan a private journey to France
A specialist replies personally with a first private proposal: stays, pacing, and a guide price. No obligation for the first conversation.