Are you looking at skiing with teenagers? Family ski holidays are magical when the little ones are really small. In the mountains, you can watch your tots experience their first snow, toddle about in crèches and don their first skis at nursery. As they get older, navigating their needs can get a little tougher, but they’re more ready for a challenge too so you can do more together. You definitely won’t hear a teenager cry ‘I’m bored’ on a thrill-filled trip to any of these Alpine ski destinations. There’s plenty to keep them busy on and off the slopes. Take a look at our three best ski resorts for teenagers.
Flims Laax, Switzerland
Flims Laax is one of the most exciting, modern resorts for freestyle in Europe, so if your teens want to get into snowboarding, or hone their slopestyle ski skills, this is the place to start. There are long, undulating blue runs for those who are less confident, or for the more ambitious, there’s the red 66 from Crap Sogn Gion, where they can fly over some adrenaline-fuelled kickers, before carving down the wider part of the run.
When you’re not skiing, keep things exciting with dog-sledding, sleigh rides and ice-skating. Try something new together with curling lessons – your teenager might just be the next Olympic champion.
At Rocks Resort, a stylish complex of modern apartments, trust your teens to go off on their own and make friends at the indoor Freestyle Academy during the day, and night-sledding in the evening. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, they’ll be dying to tell their friends about, book a hot air balloon ride, helicopter trip, or go paragliding.
Tignes, France
At an altitude of 2,100m, Tignes is truly snow-sure. Part of the famous Espace Killy, Tignes has access to more than 300km of pistes, ranging from green to black so your teenagers skiing can progress throughout the holiday. The ski resort has great ski schools so they can socialise while learning in a group. ESF (École du Ski Français) is one of the best in France, or try the Snocool school for snowboarding.
Keep the whole family happy in a fun hotel like the Hotel Village Montana, where the outdoor pool offers the novelty of swimming in the snow and the chance to make friends. If the kids still have energy left, you can embrace your intrepid side by taking them heli-skiing or snowmobiling.
La Plagne, France
Give your teenagers access to a huge and varied range of skiing, however late in the season. La Plagne makes one half of the large and dramatic ski area known as Paradiski. Hiring a local ski guide will increase your teenager’s confidence, giving them the skills to take on more challenging slopes and impress their younger siblings. It also has Europe’s longest Funslope, featuring jumps, steep curves and bank waves.
If you can persuade the brood out of their skis for a moment, try tobogganing, or the formidable bobsleigh run. There are plenty of options for accommodation including Club Med La Plagne 2100. While you sip drinks by the open fire, your teens can relax at Juniors’ Club Med and enjoy a bit of independence.
Our top tips for skiing with teenagers
The best family-friendly ski resorts will have perfect beginner ski areas for teens making their first steps on the snow, and they shouldn’t be afraid to do so. As they grow more independent, teenagers will want to explore the slopes on their own. We can help you choose the right place with easy areas to let them go off for a few runs.
If you have central accommodation it will be an easy meeting point, as teenagers might want to go out to meet their new ski school friends after lifts close. To remove some of the worry of free-roaming kids, why not choose a ski resort with a car-free centre such as La Plagne or Avoriaz or Zermatt, that is entirely car free?
All of the best ski resorts for families will have extensive snow parks with features for all levels so your teenagers can practice their freestyle tricks and jumps. Ski schools are now set up with instructors to help guide them through learning how to use these parks properly.
We can help advise on the best family ski hotels, chalets and apartments that will have facilities to help keep teenagers busy in the evenings and on snowy days. Whether that’s swimming pools, snooker tables and table football, extensive games rooms or even private cinema rooms.
Call our ski experts to find out more about the best ski resorts for teenagers.
