For anyone with a family, having your own ski home can be a godsend – you can travel as and when, without being reliant on hotel availability and you can store everything year-round without needing to lug a family’s worth of baggage over every holiday. So where are the best resorts in Europe to purchase ski property for families?
1. Avoriaz, France
This beautiful resort at the heart of the Portes du Soleil has previously been voted ‘Best Family Resort’ at London’s World Snow Awards, so it’s almost a no-brainer as a spot to buy ski property for families. Completely pedestrianised and entirely ski-in, ski-out, it’s extremely safe – no need to take icy pavements or worry about traffic.
The Village des Enfants is famous for its methodology in teaching children to ski through play and fun, with alternative activities for anyone who doesn’t want to ski all day. There are even two snowparks, Kids’ Parkway and Lil’stash, which are designed especially for children aged six to 12!
There are 310km of easy runs, 210 of intermediate ones and 60km of difficult ones, so there’s plenty to keep adults entertained, too. The high altitude guarantees snow from December through to April, and you can enjoy fantastic views over the Dents du Midi and Dents Blanches.
2. Mayrhofen-Ahorn, Austria
An altitude range from 630m to 2,300m means Mayrhofen-Ahorn has a breath-taking variety of slopes for everyone from beginners through to advanced, including the Harakiri slope, with a challenging 78% downhill grade. The Kinderland Horberg, with two snow canons and a 180m T-bar lift, provides a fantastic introduction to skiing for young beginners.
There are also a large number of other activities on offer, from snow-tubing to sleigh trips and snowshoeing, perfect for varying up a family holiday. There is an active calendar of events aimed at the young and young-at-heart at the Fun-Zone Mayrhofen, with animations such as the ‘Eagle’s Stage’ bird of prey shows.
There’s a significant amount of investment in further facilities, with a lot on the horizon, from a new climbing tour, curling rink and more.
3. Les Menuires, France
Another deserving winner of the World Snow Awards, Les Menuires also holds the ‘Famille Plus Montagne’ certification. It has a range of affordable family passes and special packages for children right from 31 months up, including snowshoes, tobogganing, games and an orientation circuit.
There are two beginner’s areas, five moving carpets and one free covered carpet to help beginners get started.
Adults can also capitalise on the skiing offered by the wider Trois Vallées area, as well as the 160km of pistes in Les Menuires itself. There is around 30km of difficult slopes for those looking for a challenge.
4. Pila, Italy
With a beautiful location in the Aosta Valley, Pila is relatively well known among Italians but less so abroad. As such, it doesn’t have so many queues, making it fantastic for relaxing holidays. And, if you’re looking at ski property for families, you’ll find prices are generally more affordable here than in high-profile resorts. Plus, the ‘Chacard’ fun park organises activities like bob-sledging and tubing to help keep the children occupied.
The nearest airport, Turin Caselle, is just forty-one minutes away, so it’s an ideal location to pop out to for a weekend or a half-term break during winter. The ski season runs from the end of November to the middle of April.
Buying ski property for a family
If you’re looking at buying a ski property for your family, don’t miss your free buying guides for all the major countries. You’ll learn how to safely buy overseas, including how to make a successful viewing trip, what legalities to be aware of and what the purchase process entails. And, to find out how to protect your money against the risk of an international transfer, make sure to read your Property Buyer’s Guide to Currency.
Apr 22, 2024
