Ski Chalets with Childcare

Besides the universally popular pools and spas that are often part of the chalet hotel package - the properties above all come with in-house crèches where rug rats can mingle, meet other young skiers and, with any luck, not make a nuisance of themselves in the care of qualified British nannies. As they have the resources to run tiered programmes for different age groups, some even organise special teen programmes of lessons and activities, ideal if your “young adults” bristle at the term “childcare”.

A huge hit with most ages, many chalet hotels also hold monitored film evenings to keep young eyes locked on the screen so that parents can sit back and switch off with grownups-only dinners, as well as longer lasting evening childcare, so that getting out on the town doesn’t have to just be something you did when you were younger.

Kids can get up to no good without the need for constant supervision in the safe environment of a chalet, and there are dedicated family properties where they can make friends with other children too. Letting you explore in the morning or afternoon, many are linked with local crèches, who usually offer pick-up/drop-off services between nursery, ski school and chalet to save you from cutting your adventures short.

If privacy’s your priority, look out for properties affiliated with private nannies – who’ll arrive with a Mary Poppins style suitcase of toys, books, puzzles and delight your brood for an agreed number of hours before disappearing and returning again the next day. Practically perfect in every way, they’re unbelievably affordable, especially when costs are shared by two families.

These properties are as popular as a hot chocolates after ski school for their popularity, so you’ll need to be quick to score spaces on peak weeks like Christmas, Half Term and Easter. Check out our report on the best family ski resorts, and read up on the places as well as the properties that put kids on a pedestal.