Easter ski breaks with kids? Think Val d’Isère and start off slow

Driving from London to Val d’Isère isn’t the fastest way to do an Easter family ski holiday, but here’s why Georgina Blaskey thinks taking it slow makes everything more special.

Noah and Georgina, Val d’Isère ©Georgina Blaskey

One of the best decisions we made on this year’s Easter family ski holiday, was driving out from London to Val d’Isère via the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. We’ve driven to a few different ski resorts over the years and while it’s not the speediest route compared with flying, for me, my husband Adam and son Noah,  it’s part of the holiday.  No airport queues, no transfers, just door-to-door with our kit in the back, music up, and time to talk.

Our ideal route for an Easter family ski holiday in Val d’Isère

This time we made an overnight stop in Annecy. It was our first time taking a pit stop at the foot of the mountains (rather than pushing through) and it was a smart move.

Val d’Isère is notorious for its queues on changeover days. By leaving London a day early and arriving in time for dinner in Annecy, we spent a relaxing evening exploring the city and enjoying a delicious, meal close to our hotel, Splendid Lac Annecy.

We were also on the road early the next morning, missing the traffic jams and kicking off our Easter family ski holiday by midday, having checked in to the hotel, with ski hire and lift passes sorted in record time. With the long April days upon us, we must’ve skied five hours on day one – a travel day! Now that was a Blaskey first.

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Experimental Chalet Val d’Isère ©Mr Tripper

Experimental Chalet: a cosy hub at the heart of Val d’Isère

For this Easter family ski holiday, we made our home at Experimental Chalet Val d’Isère, a four-star hotel that promised comfort, convenience and a touch of alpine chic.

With 113 rooms and suites, it’s stylishly designed: wood and marble, warm earthy tones, and that comforting mountain-lodge vibe. Also, it’s nestled right in the centre of the village, just a short stroll from the slopes, good choice for enjoying a post-ski walk around the town.

After long days carving snow, the indoor pool, sauna and steam room were absolute salvation, and the hotel’s two restaurants (plus a cocktail bar) made evenings easy. There’s lots of lounging space and a pool table if you’re feeling game.

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Perfect conditions for parents ©Georgina Blaskey

Val d’Isère is ideal for an Easter family ski holiday

What really sold me on Val d’Isère for an Easter family ski holiday was the vastness and variety of the ski area: we never repeated a day’s route. Together with neighbouring Tignes, Val d’Isère offers around 300km of pistes across nearly 160 marked runs, served by dozens of lifts, gondolas and cable cars.

We began on the slopes of Le Bellevarde where gentle blues and mellow reds were perfect for warming up after travel, with sweeping views of the peaks including the Great Casse and Mont Blanc towering on the horizon.

Add in Tignes if you’re feeling adventurous

On the second day, itching for more altitude and challenge, we ventured to the glacier of Grande Motte, part of the Tignes side. At over 3,400m it felt sensational: crisp air and stunning panoramas plus the best snow for what was a very mild weather week at the end of the season. It was here we found wide high-alpine runs and more challenging reds and blacks, perfect, because we love to push ourselves on the slopes.

One morning we traversed over to Le Fornet, a quieter sector with long, open pistes and, when conditions allowed, some surprisingly generous off-piste terrain. The contrast between the buzzy Bellevarde/Solaise zones and the serene Fornet valley felt almost meditative. It’s also a good choice on bad weather days as there are lots of trees to help you navigate.

By the end of our week long Easter family ski holiday, we’d skied almost every corner of the domain, from tree-lined blues to glacier-high pistes. And, even as regulars in vast resorts like Verbier and Méribel, we all agreed it was one of the best ski areas we’d experienced.

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Easter family ski holiday, Val d’Isère ©Georgina Blaskey

Easter holiday bonus? Mountain lunches and après-ski vibes

One of the reasons an Easter family ski holiday here doesn’t feel exhausting is the ease with which you can break for lunch, and do it well.

Lots of the slopes link up to mountain-side restaurants, many with huge terraces and breath-taking views, ideal for a relaxed break in the Easter sunshine. As it was such a warm week, we opted for longer ski mornings before the conditions deteriorated, and late lunches in sunny spots.

Evenings? Now that’s where this place comes alive. When we felt like dipping a toe – or boot – into the local nightlife, there was no shortage of lively après-ski energy. And the mix of ski-in/ski-out options, as well as bars in town, meant we could check out the scene easily.

Back at Experimental Chalet, the warmth of the fire in L’Aigle d’Or and the cosy, convivial atmosphere of L’Aiglon made for sociable evenings. Rustic plates of tartiflette, fondue and local cheese were washed down with local wines, just what we needed after the day’s exertions.

Sunshine & snow, Easter in Val d’Isere ©Georgina Blaskey

Why an Easter family ski holiday in Val d’Isère works so well

As someone who loves to ski proficiently, I appreciate terrain, altitude and good snow. But on an Easter family ski holiday with my kids, I cherish accessibility, variety and comfort. With its massive interconnected ski domain, village charm and a base like Experimental Chalet, Val d’Isère delivers it all.

In a single week, we had days of adrenaline and powder; peaceful hours on mellow runs; sunshine-soaked lunches with alpine views; cosy evenings by the fire, and easy access to nightlife when we wanted. We skied hard. We rested hard. And, as we packed up to leave, with snow still glistening on rooftops and skis drying on the balcony, I looked at Adam and Noah and thought: that was one of the best ski weeks we’ve ever had.

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