I’m going to start with a confession. I am not a skier, nor am I a snowboarder. In fact, my only attempt at snowboarding ended quite dramatically- (with a broken arm!)- on our very first trip to Courchevel five years ago. I gave it a go, I really did… but, as Deborah Meaden would say, “It’s not for me- I’m out”.

This time though? No broken bones. No sliding down a mountain with questionable control. Just pure, snow-dusted magic (from a safe distance, of course). Here’s why:

a) I was strictly on Team Après-Ski.
I wasn’t there to hit the slopes—I was there for the views, the chocolat chaud, and the wine, thank you very much. Mountains are even more majestic when you're looking at them from a sunny terrace with an aperol spritz in hand, in my opinion.

b) We made it a family adventure.
This time we had our two little ones with us! And we were with a big group of friends who also had their kids in tow. Think: snowball fights, giggles, and the occasional tantrum—but all the fun of a family holiday with built-in playmates for the little ones.

c) We switched up the season.
The first time we went, it was New Year’s—peak winter wonderland vibes with layers of deep, powdery snow. Gorgeous, but cold! This time, we went in April for the very last week of the season, and honestly? I think we cracked the code.

Where we stayed, there was no snow—just bright sunshine and what felt like low 20s all week. It felt like a summer holiday in the mountains, which was perfect for wandering around with the kids, soaking up the views, and not freezing our fingers off.

And if we wanted some snowy fun? We just hopped on a bubble lift up the mountain, where there was still plenty of snow for those winter sports, sledging and general frolicking about.

It really like the best of both worlds—sunshine and snow. I’d go back at this time of year in a heartbeat. ☀️

I was very pleasantly surprised with how kid-friendly a ski holiday can be! We had an amazing week- we completely switched off from work, had so many laughs with our friends and the kids had a brilliant time too. So- if you are wondering whether you can keep enjoying your ski trips now you have had children… the answer is, yes! And here is how…

Where did we stay?

We stayed in an area of Courchevel called La Tania in a cosy place called Chalet Chamille. It’s ran by a company called Pleisure Holidays and it was such a treat having everything organised by them and not having to think about anything other than getting our kids onto a plane and then into a minivan! They picked us up from Geneva airport and drove us to our chalet, which took about 2 hours. Once we were there- our chalet host looked after us and cooked us some delicious meals. Our breakfasts and evening meals were sorted for us and there was even a freshly baked cake each afternoon to keep us going! (Ray Ray is really going to miss her daily dose of cake…!) 🍰

My ultimate hack for a family ski holiday

Alright, let's talk about the best part about this trip: going with a group of friends. Our crew of 8 adults and 4 kids took over the entire chalet, and it was perfect. There’s something about having a big group that just makes everything feel more relaxed and, dare I say, easy.

If you’re thinking about doing a ski holiday with kids, my number one tip is: go with friends who also have kids! Seriously. The “it takes a village” idea is so true. There’s just something comforting about knowing that everyone has each other’s backs. Need to pop to the bathroom? Don’t worry, there are plenty of eyes on your little ones. Want to sneak away for a quick shower? No problem – someone’s got it covered. It made the whole experience so much more relaxing knowing we were all in this together.

Also, you know when your kid decides that napping is overrated and throws a full-on tantrum at the most inconvenient moment? Well, guess what? Everyone else gets it. No one’s raising an eyebrow, no one’s giving you that “oh no, not again” look. It’s a full-on judgment-free zone where everyone’s dealing with the same chaos, and that makes all the difference.

So if you’re planning a family trip (and especially one with little ones), I can’t recommend enough finding your crew of fellow parents and sharing the load. It makes the moments of chaos that much easier to handle and the laughter, memories, and wine (let’s be real) flow a lot more freely!

Case in point… this little dude just refused to sleep one evening! He was looking rather pleased for himself, considering this was at about 10pm! 👉

What to do?

The obvious- skiing or snowboarding! ⛷️
As I mentioned at the beginning- this isn’t for me. However- unsurprisingly- we were away with a group of die-hard ski and snowboard enthusiasts! Being away with other families meant that each day there was a clear divide between the “on-piste” crew and the “off-piste” crew. The other couples took it in turns to be on the slopes so that the other partner could stay with the kids, for the most part they’d do half a day each. We were also able to babysit for each other’s kids so that couples could get couple of hours of skiing in together, or even go out for a drink together on an evening once the kids are in bed! 🍷
To be able to enjoy the slopes on your skis or snowboards you need a ski pass, you can buy them at the lift station in La Tania and Le Praz (the neighbouring village). I got a pedestrian pass, which is much cheaper and meant I could still go up to enjoy the drinks and the views. Kids under 5 go free- you just need to take their passport with you when you go to purchase your tickets.
Ray Ray loved going up in the bubble lifts! It’s an adventure in itself! The bubble lifts are pram accessible and the staff were brilliant. They slow the lifts down and help you get on and off- everyone was really friendly. 😊
We also chose to put our little girl in for ski lessons with ESF. She wasn’t loving the group sessions, so for the last couple of days we switched her to private lessons with a different instructor and that was much better- the little smile on her face was priceless and I was so proud of her!

2. Sledging

Fun for all ages! The sledge was only €5 to rent, even the mums had their own race!

3. Bouc Blanc for drinks and a play in the snow ❄️

Get the bubble up from La Tania and you arrive at the Bouc Blanc bar. The views are beautiful and it’s perfect for a crisp glass of rosé (only about £6 each if you share a bottle between four of you.. I was pleasantly surprised!) This place was a firm favourite with the group as it’s easy to sit in the sun loungers and enjoy a drink whilst the kids play in the snow. I had some time to myself one afternoon so I brought myself here for a solo lunch and it was delicious! I sat with a wine and a book. Was it the most well-written piece of literature I’ve ever read? Pas du tout! Was it an easy read and mildly interesting? Oui!

4. Take in the views at the top of Saulire

Starting in le Praz and taking three different bubble lifts up to the top of Saulire is well worth it for the amazing views and the hot choc (if you can get over the fact it costs €9.50!!) We went a few times on a morning and it was lovely and quiet- plenty of space to set the kids up with some toys so the grown ups could enjoy their drinks and a chit chat.

5. Courchevel 1850- soft play and very fancy shops

The bubble lift from Le Praz will take you up to Courchevel 1850, the more exclusive side of Courchevel. This place is great for people watching and for peering in all the designer shops (think Rolex, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Chopard…) 💎 The free soft play was also a great spot for when the kids wanted to burn off some energy. It was really quiet and clean every time we went. You could easily spend an hour in there with young children (Our eldest is 3 and loved it). Older children might get bored a bit more quickly as it’s quite small. The soft play is in the children’s centre, underneath the La Croisette building.

Also in 1850 you can find a bowling alley and an ice rink, so plenty to keep families entertained!

*Yes… that is a Christmas tree 👇, yes… we were there in April 😂

6. La Tania playground 🛝

La Tania is the name of the village we were staying in. It was perfect because it was small enough to be easy to get around, but enough to do- so convenient for staying with a family! Our chalet was less than a minute walk to the bus stop to catch the bus into le Praz, a couple of minutes walk to the lift station and less than 5 minute walk into the town centre where you can find the ESF ski school, a playground, a (small) supermarket and a few different bars and eateries.
Ray Ray loved the park and given the beautiful warm weather, we were able to make the most of it!

7. Le praz

Le praz is a beautiful village down the road from La Tania. Free buses run between the two places regularly throughout the day. The bus journey takes about 10 minutes. There are a few different things to do with your little ones in le Praz.

There is a stunning lake- we walked around it and did a bit of a nature trail. Our friend Will found a toad and showed it to the kids, they were fascinated! There are spots around the lake for picnics and sunbathing, on a particularly warm day we even saw some people going for a dip! 💦It was also lovely to see locals playing boules just next to the lake… and hard not to feel jealous of them living in such a beautiful part of the world!
There’s a gorgeous playground- it has got to be the most picturesque playground I have ever seen! 📷 I think J enjoyed it even more than the kids. 😉
The town itself is very pretty and worth an explore. We had a walk to one of the bakeries for a delicious pain au chocolat. 🥐 There are also a few different bars where you can stop for a hot choc (or a cocktail… depending on what time of day it is!) 🍹

8. Treat yourself in the Spa at Aquamotion

Now **this** was a treat. Friday afternoon the mums passed the kids over to the dads and we went for some quality time at the spa and it was DELIGHTFUL. I was so excited.
As well as the *stunning* outside pool that you can see in this picture there is an indoor pool, saunas, a steam room, a foot spa, ice showers, a salt pool and glorious lounge areas outside where you could soak up the sunshine. The best part? The price was so reasonable! Less than £40 entry!!
There is also a larger swimming pool downstairs with slides and a really great kids area but this was less reasonable- €20 per adult for a swim. 👀

Food & Drink in La Tania 🍕🍔🥗🥖🥩🍻

Pub le Ski Lodge

We frequented this place quite a lot. Yummy food and great value for money. €9.50 for a very substantial steak sandwich! My baby boy even fell asleep in the pram just as my food came… #winning!

Les Chanterelles

Another reasonably priced eatery- yummy crepes and great salads!

Restaurant Pizzeria Les Marmottons

Does what it says on the tin- pizzas!

La Taïga

We didn’t eat here but this place was pretty much next door to our chalet so convenient for drinks! It seemed to have quite a lot going on each evening (if you can stay up late enough, which most of the time I could not… tell me you’re a mum in your 30s without telling me you’re a mum in your 30s…) We were there for some live music one afternoon though and that was a lot of fun! We set the babies up with some toys on the floor and enjoyed some drinks in the sunshine. A perfect set up! 🕶️

Sherpa

A supermarket where you can grab all the essentials and snacks. More expensive than your average supermarket but hardly surprising given where you are. I drew a line at a bag of M&Ms for €8 though… that was a step too far! 💰👀

So… would I go again?

YES!

We are actually already discussing booking the same trip again with the same people at the same time next year. Even though extreme winter sports aren’t really my cup of tea, I honestly can’t recommend it enough. 🤙Is it a budget holiday? Not really, no. Ski holidays are always going to cost a pretty penny. But it’s not always about doing things on a shoestring. The term *“work hard, play hard”* comes to mind… and we felt very grateful that we were able to share this week with a group of such lovely people! 💖

Until next time,

Katie x