There are a few landmark trips in a lifetime of ski holidays. The first one of course, usually, if you’re a child, this will be with your parents or school, if you’re an adult already perhaps with friends and/or significant other. Then there’s the one where you first take your own kids to the slopes, nervously hoping (as you did with your significant other) that they’ll get hooked too. The family that skis together, stays together, after all.
I’ve been through all those stages (and a few extra one like the taking-your-child’s friends on a ski holiday), and last spring hit a new milestone, “Taking your first grandchild on a ski holiday.”
You have mixed feelings, the main one being great that you’re helping get the next generation onto snow. Against that there’s “where did all the time go?” and “Oh dear, I’m old.”
La Clusaz Aravis Mountains (c) C
Having got to that stage though, you want to get it right and show off your decades of experience, first in choosing the right resort. There are plenty of possibilities of course but fewer that tick all the boxes we wanted ticking – short transfers for minimal stress, accommodation by the slopes (for minimal stress), a good snow record, an authentic destination and great family friendly dining and other facilities. I opted for La Clusaz which offered all of the above plus the added cool factor of it being home to Candide Thovex, the freeskiing star widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, known for X Games titles and his groundbreaking films, like this one…
It was also a nice full-circle moment as we’d taken our oldest son on one of our own first family ski holidays here more than 30 years earlier, back when he was an only child.
I also had to quietly prove to myself (or should that by fool myself?) that I’ve still got it and can ski the same slopes Candide grew up on, plus of course see my granddaughter take her first slide on those same slopes too. We did manage a bit of it, albeit on the greens he probably ended up on getting back to the village from his off-piste exploits, rather than the black slope named after him or the scary freeride stuff. I did manage to order brunch in his cool café in the resort centre too. He does a mean brioche façon pain perdu (pan-baked French toast) served with salted butter caramel ice cream.
Of course, there can be a bit of a feeling of obligation too. Your child is only addicted to skiing, as you are, because you took them on their first ski holidays. It’s only right, therefore, that you take the lead in ensuring their child, your grandchild, becomes similarly obsessed with sliding on snow.
La Clusaz has great childcare facilities, but we didn’t need to take advantage of that as part of the deal of being a skiing grandparent is that you do shifts staying home with your grandchild to enjoy some quality time together. Actually, although you’re conscious that means missing out on quality slope time, it is great fun to hang out on neutral ground.
To get that part right though it was important we had a place we wanted to be stuck in rather than a bland apartment complex or a hotel room. We opted for a quirky chalet, Le Petit Mazot, from OVO Network, situated in a quiet location just a hundred metres or so gentle stroll to the nearest slopes and the Nant-Bossonet button lift and a 10-minute walk into the resort (a bus was available but it was so close we never felt it was justified).
‘Mazot’ in the Savoyard region along the French/Swiss border means a small, traditional rustic wooden hut or chalet Built by alpine farmers and this one had been beautifully and thoughtfully converted so that every cm of space is thoughtfully used. Le Petit Mazot was very comfortable for the five of us and had bags of character.
Its wrap around balcony and sun terrace proved great play areas as the March sun melted the snow cover. On the balcony my toddler granddaughter could run back and forth safe and fully enclosed. Having a cooker, fridge and all the other home-from-home essentials with OVO’s dedicated in resort staff providing things like cots and stairgates, made everything work seamlessly and gave the fully relaxed feeling we’d all been looking for.
Our days quickly filled a familiar pattern. Either parents or grandparents would head out onto the slopes each morning, the others staying at the chalet to babysit, or take daughter/granddaughter out for a gentle ski or sledge on the nursery slopes near the chalet. Meet for lunch in a mountain restaurant, then reverse rolls in the afternoons when granddaughter usually had a nap.
La Clusaz offers 125 km of pistes, 88 runs, and 49 lifts across five linked mountains: Beauregard, Aiguille, Étale, Manigod and Balme. About half of the terrain is rated easy and runs climb up to a snowsure 2,600m opening up about 1,500 m of vertical drop. The area is split 53% beginner, 33% intermediate, 14% advanced, with extensive off‑piste on Balme, home to that steep freeride terrain shaped made famous by Candide Thovex. We didn’t feel the need to go further during our stay, but it was good to know that the lift pass includes several other centres nearby. These include the family friendly area of Manigod or you can take the free ski shuttle bus between La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand to ski in nearby Le Grand-Bornand.
Our chalet was located between the base of Balme and L’Aiguille and we tended to ski one or the other most days, making a longer excursion out across the interlinked terrain once or twice.
Unusually, one big highlight of our stay was the ski rental shop, and you can’t say that about many ski holidays in my long experience. The family-run Skiset store not only went above and beyond to ensure we were kitted out in the best gear for our abilities across the three generations, but after getting talking with staff it became our go to on out walks down into the village to pick up tips for best spots on the mountain and where to eat in town.
In the evenings we either all ate together in the chalet, all went out together and ate in the resort, or we took it in turns to babysit again whilst the other couple had a night out.
One of these we enjoyed was to 2 Mules, a short walk from the chalet and one of the current top-choice restaurants in La Clusaz which, we found, feels both effortlessly stylish and yet warmly welcoming. Its inventive French‑contemporary dishes burst with refined flavours, beautifully presented in a vibrant yet cosy atmosphere. Alongside the great food, service was attentive without being oppressive and genuinely friendly, which, along with the great views out over the village, added to the sense that you’re somewhere special.
La Clusaz
The village’s Aquacentre is tailor‑made for young families with warm water, gentle splash zones and calm atmosphere making it simple for little ones to relax and explore, while parents and grandparents can enjoy the stunning mountain views from the pools. The baby‑friendly areas are well‑designed, with shallow spaces perfect for safe play and confidence‑building and staff work to help built the stress‑free environment.
A three‑generation ski holiday does bring you all together in close proximity for a week which can be both wonderful and challenging for both generations of parents if you don’t normally spend days in each others company. The relaxed and family-focused atmosphere of La Clusaz definitely provided the perfect backdrop for our stay and we had a stress free, relaxed holiday together, bonding and balancing childcare so we felt we were helping our son and daughter-in-law relax and get some together time alone or as a young family whilst we also got precious time with our granddaughter.
The village’s warm, Savoyard charm coupled with the lovely, peaceful atmosphere of out chalet set a relaxed tone, making it effortless for us grandparents, parents and little ones to enjoy time together. Gentle beginner areas helped our bemused young granddaughter take her first slides, while the rest of the family took it in turns to explore the extensive piste network before regrouping for long lunches and cosy evenings.
Overall, by choosing the right resort with its friendly atmosphere, walkable centre and calm, unhurried rhythm, along with perfect accommodation, we had the space to enjoy shared moments, laughter and genuine connection with a holiday that looking back is wonderfully memorable for all the right reasons. Now I’m looking forward to doing it all again.
Fact Box
Patrick Thorne and family travelled with OVO Network who have 7 nights in La Clusaz at Chalet Le Petit Mazot from £1105. The chalet has two double bedrooms sleeping up to four adults (plus cot for young child).