If you are torn between a skiing/ snowboarding holiday and spending the holidays

If you are torn between a skiing/ snowboarding holiday and spending the holidays with your children, here's a solution that doesn't involve leaving them cooped up in your chalet- Val d' Isere!

Anyone who was ever a child who spent holidays with parents on a mountain- Alpine or otherwise- will recall the joy of spending winter in a magical, snowy place. With the picture-postcard perfect setting of this resort, a host of activities that children can enjoy, and the fun of staying in a castle-like wood and stone Alpine chalet, Val d'Isere offers many attractions and activities to keep a child occupied.

Nannies and Ski Schools

To make sure that children have a lot of fun outside the ski chalet, Val d'Isere has many offerings that are designed with the family in mind. In fact, the resort town boasts at least eight expert and professional nanny services and child-orientated ski and snowboarding schools. With highly trained professionals used to amusing young holidaymakers with specially designed activities, you will hardly have anything to worry about on your ski holidays! Here are a few tips that will help make sure your family holiday in the snow is enjoyable for you, as well as the youngest members of the family.

Be Prepared

The altitude, the sun and the cold temperatures are the main things you will need to be ready for when travelling with your children- especially toddlers- to the ski resort.

Altitude

Being one of the highest resorts in the French Alps, parents are discouraged from taking babies under one year old here, or any other resort higher than 1200 metres. Children under three years of age are not encouraged to go on ski lifts, but, for those old enough, make sure you take regular breaks on your adventures away from the ski chalet. Val d'Isere's high altitude needs taking a little getting used to, so also give them plenty of fluids and something to suck on to equalize pressure in the ears.

Cold

Children's temperature regulation systems are not yet fully developed, so waterproof and high quality boots, mittens and ear protection are necessary in order to protect children from chilling, or worse, frostbite, when spending time out of doors. Temperatures averaging below the 20s, can be a bit tough on children as they tend to lose heat faster than adults - so dress them well according to the weather conditions.

Sun

With the cold temperatures and high altitude, very light, clean and dazzlingly white snow may be expected - which makes for very good skiing, but not so much for unprotected eyes and skin. When going outside the chalet, Val d'Isere visitors should ensure that eyes and skin are protected with category 3 or 4 UV sunglasses/goggles, and SPF30 suncream applied at least once every two hours - especially for children!

A final safety reminder

As a final safety tip, it is a great idea to make sure to have a contact phone number and address in your child's jacket pocket in case you somehow become separated on the mountain.