Half Term is a notoriously busy ski week. We scoured the Alps looking for somewhere ‘off the beaten track,’ where families can enjoy a low cost ski trip, with no fuss and no queues. We found something quite exceptional! Our accommodation is a quirky family run hotel in Vallorcine, a small village behind Chamonix that links with the La Balme-Chamonix ski area. What is really amazing for families, is that the hotel has its own little ski lift system so you can wander out of the door and bring the kids to ski school with your hot chocolate in hand!
This trip is fantastic for beginners who will have plenty of mileage on the hotel’s uncrowded ski slope and be very well taken care of by the friendly local ski school. It is also ideal for more proficient skiers as just across the road there is a little train that takes 5 minutes to get you to a bubble lift up to La Balme, one of Chamonix best ski areas. For the more adventurous, you are in the heart of classic off-piste and ski touring land, with guides on tap to take you on the Vallee Blanche, Grand Montet, or Le Buet.
Our hotel is wonderfully quirky! It has been in the same family for generations and not too much had changed in 50 years! The family are great characters. Two sisters run the bar. The brother is the chef. Mum and Dad, in their 90’s tell everyone what to do! This year the hotel had a rabbit, mice, a cat and a dog that the children all took care of! There is loads of space. The bar is very lively and popular amongst the friendly locals. There is a very large restaurant, a reading room and pool room, so there are always quiet areas. The rooms are comfortable double and family rooms. The en suite rooms will be given on a first come, first serve basis. The mountain views are exceptional from most rooms.
La Source trips are generally very communal affairs. On this trip famillies can either get together and share meals and ski lessons with other famillies on our trip, or stick to themselves. Saskia, the founder of the La Source, will be on hand all week to help out, and to help with organizing lessons or guides. There will be a daily check in, and she offers 4 mornings of ski hosting. Private yoga lessons are available on request (£35 per hour).
The food is prepared by the hotel chef. It is typically french fayre… a soup followed by a main course and dessert. The hotel does make every effort to buy as locally and organically as possible and in the morning there is locally produced mountain jam and delicious french bread, cereal, croissants, fruit, yogurt, and hot drinks. Lunch is available at the hotel, on the slopes or in some nice local cafe’s near by. The hotel bar is open all day for hot and cold drinks. Wifi is available but only from the bar.
There is a ski hire shop next door to the hotel.
The nearest airport is Geneva, 1 hour and 15 minutes away. There is a regular shuttle bus from Geneva that costs €35 per person one way. The most economic way to travel, if you are a family of 4 or more, is to drive. Parking is available right outside the hotel. Please ensure you have snow chains or snow tyres.
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Look here for photos of the trip or head straight to the Winter Booking Form.
