Avoriaz is a resort with families at its centre. The heart of the resort is free from motorised traffic, the town has an incredible Children’s Village area and there is a wide range of pistes from thrilling Black runs to safe nursery slopes.
One of the brilliant aspects of this resort is that there is a wealth of great snow schools with lots of highly qualified instructors offering one-to-one or group tuition for everyone from total beginners to experts. Whether it is your first time on the slopes or your kids were born with skis attached, you’ll find your ideal instructor in one of the fabulous schools below.
Ski Schools
French Ski School
With two hundred instructors, this large snow school offers lessons for children – from the age of four – and adults. Not only can you learn to ski but you can also learn to snowboard, telemark, cross-country ski and more. If you want to expand your alpine skills, why not try Nordic Walking or Snowscooting? The school is open everyday from 8.30 am to 6 pm. Group lessons take place between 9.15 and 11.15 am and 2 and 4.45 pm. Enquire with the company for rates.
Avoriaz Alpine Ski School
With 25 years of experience behind it, the Alpine Ski School is a great choice for Brits on holiday. A British-run school, the friendly instructors provide snow camps, private lessons, private group lessons and clinics. They offer specialised kids’ classes and performance clinics for all ages. Private lessons can be booked from 9.15 to 11.45 am, 12.15 – 2.15 pm, or 2.30 – 4.30 pm. Enquire with the company for rates.
Snowboarding Schools
Avoriaz Snowboard School
A recent endeavour set up by Johann Baisamy, internationally renowned snowboarder. The slopes around Avoriaz are full of experienced snowboarders and Johann’s team offer you all the instruction you need to join them. Private lessons start at 75€ per hour for one person. A great option for a family who wants to learn together is the four-day group lesson from 192€. Group lessons are available Monday to Friday.
Miscellaneous
Evolution 2
The Evolution 2 team offer a really wide range of activities and instruction in many different Alpine sports. The school is open from 8.30 am to 7 pm. Prices for group ski lessons – 8 people max – begin at 195€. You can also hire one of their highly qualified instructors for private lessons from 74€ for 1 hour 30 minutes in low season. Other activities include snowshoeing, paragliding, speed riding, night sledging and more. If you want to push your boundaries this is the place to do it.
Independent Instructors
Another option is to find an independent instructor who can provide exactly what your family needs. The best way to find a good independent instructor is word of mouth. Have any of your colleagues, family or friends been to Avoriaz and absolutely raved about their instructor?
Of course, some simple internet research is also a good way of finding great instructors. For example, Stephane Vrinat has been a mountain guide for a decade and knows the Portes du Soleil like the back of his hand. He can guide you through some truly thrilling off-piste trails. Yvan Bertrand is a better option for more inexperienced skiers or those who want to give snowboarding a try. Rates can vary but expect to pay around 250-350€ for a half-day session.
Just for Kids
The Village des Enfants, part-leisure centre part-ski school was designed and built by Annie Famose. This fun-filled area is open for children from the age of three from 9 am to 5 pm. The Children’s Village has excellent resources, over 100 experienced instructors are available to teach children, and also will feed your kids both lunch and tea. It’s a great chance for younger skiers to make friends and build up their skills before they hit the slopes.
Where to Stay
Résidence Pierre & Vacances Premium L’Amara – These beautiful self-catered apartments allow families to relax in luxurious settings. The complex boasts a heated swimming pool, bar and restaurant and on-site spa. In the bright rooms, guests can read books and play the board and computer games provided. During the winter a shopping service is available.
Hotel des Dromonts – With direct access to the slopes, the Hotel des Dromonts is in a great location for powder hounds. The stylish rooms come with free toiletries, a mini-bar, free Wi-Fi and a television. The hotel has a lovely wellness centre and a popular restaurant.
How to Get There
To get to Avoriaz take a short plane journey to Geneva Airport (GVA) using one of the four airlines that fly direct from the UK. From Geneva, take an airport transfer to Avoriaz. This journey will take around two hours and I recommend pre-booking a Shuttle Direct transfer. The Shuttle Direct website is easy to use, and you can book a private car and personal driver for your transfer.
Overview
UK to GVA Flight Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
GVA to Avoriaz Distance: 109 kilometres
Shuttle Direct Transfer Time: 2 hours 3 minutes
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct provides the easiest way to book ground transport for your airport transfer. We pride ourselves on offering a great service, professional drivers and easy booking process.
