4-year olds

Please note: The prices given on this page are for 2012-13. We will publish 2013-14 prices as we get them.

4-year olds vary hugely. Some will schuss black runs. Some will sit down and cry. Most can learn to go up the baby pomas on the nursery slopes and the basics of skiing.

If your child is going to ski, getting a good instructor is the secret to a successful holiday. Contact the ski schools as early as possible to be sure of a place in the right class or, if you are reserving a private instructor, to get their best person. Fiona Easdale in our UK office knows a number of excellent teachers.

Lessons will only last about two hours each day, so unless parents of small children have help, most of their holiday will be devoted to child-minding. Please see our Toddlers and babies page for full details of nanny and childcare services in Val d'Isère.

The ESF (0033 479 06 02 34) charge around €40 for two hours. These lessons must be booked in advance.

The Village d’Enfants, Val d’Isère’s skiing kindergarten (0033 479 40 09 81), is right on the nursery slopes, where the buses turn. It looks after children, all nationalities, aged 18 months to 13 years while they aren’t actually skiing, and has brilliant facilities indoors and out, including a canteen, dormitories and a play area on the snow. The staff have been really nice thus far, if with slightly Allo Allo! English. It has been very popular with outgoing children.

Near our chalets Juniper, Jasmine and Jacaranda is Le Petit Poucet (0033 479 06 13 97, www.garderielepetitpoucet.com), a nursery which takes children from 3 years. The cost is around €51 for a day and €43 for half a day (including meals). It will transport children to and from ESF or EV2 group ski school classes, but you pay for the nursery while your child is at ski school as well as for the actual lessons. It has to be pre-booked, with a certificate from your GP to say that the child is in good health.

YSE child discount: 

Children aged 2-12: £50 off per week in standard beds.