Avoriaz family holidays and breaks

An Alpine paradise perched at 1,800m, above Morzine, Avoriaz – once dubbed the ‘Saint Tropez de Neige' but now more down-to-earth – is great for family holidays and breaks with younger kids by virtue of being a car-free resort. Horse-drawn taxis jangling along its streets, traditional wooden chalets jostling with quirky 1960s architecture, panoramic views, central nursery slopes and facilities for skiers of all abilities make it hard to resist. This pedestrian resort is at the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski domain, offering 650–700km of piste runs stretching right into Switzerland.

In summer, meanwhile, Avoriaz is transformed into a centre for hiking, mountain-biking, golf and other outdoor activities.

16.00

Today

14°C
58°F

Flying Time	3 hours
Timezone	GMT +1
Local Currency	Euro

What to do

Ski. Avoriaz is directly linked to Morzine and Châtel and also to Swiss resort Les Crosets. The Super Morzine, connecting Avoriaz mainly with Morzine, is popular with ski schools and beginners. The beautiful Lindaret valley is home to several red and blue runs and one black, plus The Stash, a unique conceptual snowpark based on ecological principles. The Fornet is a big bowl with rocks and crevasses to ski between, plus access to La Chavanette or the ‘Swiss Wall’, one of Europe’s steepest pistes (part of Les Crosets). Haut-Forts has several black runs and the opportunity for plenty of off-piste action although does suffer frequent avalanches. 

Snowboard. The resort is rated among the world’s best for the sport, having welcomed snowboarders before most other places.

On family holidays with older kids, try downhill mountain-biking – again, Avoriaz is one of Europe’s top downhill cycling stations. Or just kick back and watch the Tour de France – Avoriaz and Morzine are frequent hosts to a stage of the world-famous cycle race, which takes place in summer.

From July 2012, come to Avoriaz for the new year-round state-of-the-art, eco-friendly mountain waterpark, Aquariaz, with a lazy river and a water playhouse among other enticements, created by Pierre & Vacances (see below) in partnership wtih Center Parcs Europe.

Take an evening stroll  – Avoriaz is truly magical after dark, with children sledging in the heart of the resort until bedtime and lights twinkling in the trees. 

Where to stay

Late 2011 saw apartment specialist Pierre & Vacances open 3 new family-friendly residences in this resort already known for its self-catering accommodation: L’Amara, Les Crozats and Maeva Electra. All offer childcare and ski tuition for all abilities. There’s also the older Maeva Antares.

Other options for family holidays in Avoriaz include Club Med Avoriaz Resort, with its Snow Garden for younger kids and teens’ ski program.

When

Avoriaz’s altitude makes it the most snow-sure resort in the whole of the French Alps, with snow guaranteed from early December to late April.

Family holidays based on summer pursuits can be enjoyed from June to August, but do remember that the French take their holidays en masse in August.

How

The nearest train station to Avoriaz is Thonon-les-Bains, which is easily accessible by train from Paris or Geneva. Geneva is also the nearest airport, just over a 1hr transfer away; see our flight deals page.

If you come under your own steam, the ferry port of Calais page is just over 8hrs’ drive away.

Eat

Although you’ll most likely be self-catering on family holidays in Avoriaz , there are plenty of options when it comes to eating out, from takeaway pizza and Tex Mex to traditional  Savoyard cuisine featuring lots of cheese, potatoes, crozets (tiny square pasta) and sausages. For local fare, Les Boules de Neiges is a good bet.

For tips on eating out on family holidays in the Haute Savoie and the region as a whole, see our French Alps destination guide.

Cost

A wide range of accommodation for different budgets, with the emphasis on self-catering, means that Avoriaz can be a good-value destination for family holidays and breaks despite the current strength of the Euro.

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