The 6 Best Ski Resorts For Families By Train

Ski Line are delighted to have been appointed agents again this winter for the Travel Ski Express, a charted Eurostar train that’s making the journey between London and The Alps every week of the winter. Packages include a Eurostar seat, resort transfers, accommodation and a 7-day ski pass (you get an extra day’s skiing by train).

Why travel by train for your family ski holiday

Everything about air travel with children is stressful, from choosing what not to pack with just a 20kg allowance, to arriving at the airport 2 hours before departure and often meaning a very early start to the day. After a summer of delays and cancellations, this is probably quite rightly still a worry for many parents already dreading the journey for their family ski holiday this winter.

As airports are never close to the mountains, transfers are at least 3.5 hours, more on the peak dates when families travel. That final long bus journey is always the bit I hate the most about skiing. As a parent, these transfers often became a nightmare. I can remember all too well the occasion my son Sam, then aged about 6, was travel sick and threw up all over the unlucky passenger allocated the seat next to him.

In contrast, a holiday by rail is an altogether more relaxed way to travel. The total travel time is about the same as flying but without the stress, with an ever-changing view and where family games are the order of the day, not family rows!

A very good reason to ski via the train is the environment!

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) cost per person on a return journey to the Alps

• Flights LGW to Val d’Isere with taxi transfers from Geneva – 207kg
• Train London to Val d’Isere with taxi from Bourg – 36.94kg

Various standards of accommodation from simple apartments to Luxury 4* slope-side hotels.

This winter families will be choosing from four ski weeks that match school holiday dates.

Pre-Christmas week family ski holiday 17/12/22

Schools break up on the 16th December and our first Eurostar train of the season departs 10:01am on the 17th! Parents will need to plan for the family Christmas at home, as the train arrives back to London on Christmas eve at 16:00. But the prices make this the cheapest week for families to ski this winter.

Christmas Family Ski Holiday 23/12/22

Christmas week is a great time to escape the stresses of a family Christmas at home and the only way to guarantee a white Christmas. On this week only the outbound train is overnight. The train departs London at 20:04 on the 23rd and arrives in the mountains at around 6am on Christmas eve. The journey home on the 31st is by day and arrives back to London 16:00, meaning you get to enjoy the New Years festivities. Most Schools re-open on the 3rd January, meaning a New Years ski holiday probably won’t work for most families this winter.

February Half-Term week 11/02/23

Half-Term is the most popular week for families to ski, the weather and snow are normally at their best. The train times are from London at 19:46 Friday evening, it arrives at around 06:00-07:00 then on a day service departing at around 09:30-10:30 the following Saturday returning to London on Saturday afternoon at 16:00.

Two easter school holiday dates 01/04/23 and 08/04/23

In 2023 our Easter weeks are the 31st March and 7th April. On the 31st March the train times are from London at 19:19 on Friday evening, it arrives the next day at around 05:30-06:30. The following week you’ll be departing on a day service departing around 09:30-10:30 the following Saturday returning to London on Saturday afternoon at 16:00.

On the 7th April the train times are from London at 18:31 on Friday evening, it arrives the next day at around 05:30-06:30. Coming home you’ll be travelling on a day service departing around 09:30-10:30 the following Saturday returning to London on Saturday afternoon at 16:00.

Which ski resorts are best for Families?

La Rosiere

One of the best all-round family ski areas, it is high, but with predominantly south-facing slopes, a great fast modern lift system, you can see Italy too, which is great value for family ski lunches on the mountain. Our school holiday dates start at just £701. Based on a family of 4, that includes return Eurostar seats, resort transfers, ski passes and accommodation.

Tignes

What’s not to like about Tignes? It’s high, so high that when other resorts are getting rain, Tignes get fresh snow. A huge ski area of over 300km of groomed pistes with easy-to-hard runs for all the family. Our school holiday dates start at just £713. Based on a family of 4, that includes return Eurostar seats, resort transfers, a ski pass and accommodation.

Val Thorens

Val Thorens is another high-altitude ski resort, this one’s the highest in Europe. Connected to the hugely popular Three Valleys ski area, there is more skiing here than even the most passionate ski family could do in a week. Our school holiday dates start at just £791. Based on a family of 4, that includes return Eurostar seats, resort transfers, ski passes and accommodation.

Les Arcs and La Plagne

Les Arcs and La Plagne have been linked for several years now and these two ski areas are the most popular with Skil Lines guests. Both ski areas offer families safe wide slopes and a huge ski range from 1,200m in low-lying villages to a heady 3,250m, so snow is guaranteed for a long season here.

Our school holiday dates start at just £576. Based on a family of 4, that includes return Eurostar seats, resort transfers, ski pass and accommodation.

Val d’Isere

Val d’Isere is perfect for families with a few weeks of skiing under their belt, only because the homeward runs are on more challenging blue runs, that might even be classed as a red in other resorts. But if you are an accomplished ski family Val d’Isere is a brilliant ski resort for anyone. Our school holiday dates start at just £784. Based on a family of 4, that includes return Eurostar seats, resort transfers, ski passes and accommodation.

Looking for Extra value?

For Families demanding better value, why not stay in Brides Les Bain, it is connected by gondola to the Three Valleys. Our school holiday dates start at just £596. Based on a family of 4, that includes return Eurostar seats, resort transfers, ski passes and accommodation.

Don’t forget a Ski Line Eurostar Ski Holidays include a Free Lift Pass in the price, that’s worth up to €1,456 to a family of 4.