Easter has proven to be one of the most popular times of year to ski, with recent years offering fantastic snow, with some of the largest snowfalls falling at the end of April into early May. However some resorts of course are safer and more reliable for Easter Skiing. Popular with families as a warmer and sunnier time to travel and with more amicable prices than half term, Easter is one of the best weeks to enjoy a family holiday.

When looking for an Easter holiday there are a few things to consider, primarily the type of resort and choosing a snow sure resort, one that is high, ideally with glacier skiing but also has easy home runs and plenty to do on and off the piste. If you are looking for childcare or will need lessons, check this at the time of booking so you don’t miss out. Secondly the accommodation, the best quality chalets and hotels get booked early, many of these get booked within the first four weeks of skiers returning from their Easter ski holiday and many are booked by half-term returners from February onwards. Some of our chalets are already taking bookings for Easter 2020, now is the perfect time to book. Booking early means the best discounts and also first choice.

For me personally, I love Easter Skiing, the snow can still be excellent and it is the perfect time of year to enjoy a long lunch with a glass or two of ice cold rosé. There is nothing better in the mountains than having a plat du jour and sitting on a sun terrace, enjoying the breaktaking views.

Here are five resorts that we know to be excellent for Easter skiing:

Val Thorens
Located in the Tarentaise Valley, in the Savoie region of France, excellent for local charcuterie and cheeses, Val Thorens is Europe’s highest ski resort with the village set at 2,300 metres. 99% of the ski area is above 2,000 metres. An excellent resort for families and beginners, with a central easy access nursery slopes, plenty of superb English speaking ski schools and hot chocolate stops with guaranteed snow, it is no wonder Easter is the best time of year to visit. For the more advanced skiers you can enjoy the 600 kilometres of pistes which the Three Valleys offers, and ski to the sister resorts of Méribel and Courchevel. Val Thorens is open late in to the season often closing in early May and has excellent snow coverage.

Another fantastic aspect for the keen or more advanced skiers is that you can still find, with some luck, a fantastic powder day at the end of April, if you are up early you can watch the sunrise over the whole valley, and unlike resorts such as Val d’Isère you’re still able to make fresh tracks.

Val d’Isère
Further down the valley from Val Thorens is Val d’Isère, also in the Savoie region it is part of the world famous Espace Killy ski area. Val d’Isere village is at 1,800 metres and reliably snow sure it is home to two glaciers within the 300 kilometres of pistes. The skiing is above 1,800 metres and there is a fantastic beginner ski area as well as nursery slopes, with multi-million pound investment, with three magic carpets, renovated buildings and a new Solaise Gondola, it is the perfect place to learn to ski. The resort offers excellent childcare and ski school options, a resort close to our hearts that never disappoints. With a beautiful high street, excellent restaurants on and off the piste, world class après ski, which is surprisingly family-friendly it ticks all the boxes. The high quality and lavish chalets and hotels in the resort mean you have somewhere that will ensure that you make memories which last for a lifetime.

Zermatt
There is nowhere quite like Zermatt, views of the iconic Matterhorn are to be seen from all over the ski area and resort. Offering skiing for all abilities, fresh powder and being snow sure, guests can even enjoy skiing in August, it is certainly full of Swiss charm and luxury. An incredible town that is part pedestrianised and car free, serviced by electric taxis, Zermatt is one of a kind. Fine dining is a must when visiting here, there is excellent shopping, beautiful architecture, extravagant hotels and chalets, it is a place you will dream of visiting again. Like all the other resorts, there are family-friendly chalets, ski schools and childcare as well as a fantastic ski area. Part of the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, set at 1,620 metres high it is the lowest of the resorts recommended but more than makes up for it with skiing up to 3,899 metres. Perfect for groups, couples and families, Zermatt really does offer it all.

La Plagne
The most visited resort in the French Alps, La Plagne is made up of 11 villages and is the perfect destination for families. A much quieter resort than all mentioned so far, there is little in the way of après ski or nightlife. On the plus side, many of the chalets and hotels are in incredible locations with excellent ski access, which means not only do you not have to carry your skis or little ones, you can also ski down to the ski school meeting points to start the day in style. La Plagne is more purpose built and offers a range of accommodation less luxurious than the likes of Zermatt or Val d’Isère, yet it has a fantastic family atmosphere and no doubt your children will come home from ski school with numerous friends. With more British instructors and English speaking ski schools opening in the various villages of La Plagne, and the use of the wider ski area of the Paradiski offering two glaciers within one lift pass, it is somewhere that should be on your list when booking your next ski holiday.

Avoriaz
The highest resort in the Portes du Soleil, with a ski area of up to 2,254 metres high, Avoriaz is only 90 minutes from Geneva airport, an incredibly close destination, perfect for travelling with little ones. A family-friendly resort with a large nursery area and snow park, it has quick access to the skiing in the Portes du Soleil but the advantage of being set much higher at 1,800 meters than its neighbour Morzine. A quieter resort than some of the more famous ones, you can enjoy empty pistes and clear runs, with excellent skiing for beginners and children, but not forgetting the more advanced skiers who can ski over to Switzerland and attempt to master the Swiss Wall.

Not only is Avoriaz great for skiing there is also a large water park the Aquariaz, horse drawn carts due to the resort being completely car free, and many of the chalets are ski-in/ski-out. The Portes du Soleil also offers excellent restaurants, you must make a trip to the Goat Village if you are visiting Avoriaz, and the choices for ski school are aplenty.