Avoriaz Apres Ski Report: 30th January 2013
Apres With Kids in the Portes du Soleil
The start of February sees the start of the school holidays in French ski resorts. We’re bracing ourselves for a huge influx of families over the next month which affects après activities in two ways. Firstly, it’s easier to get served at the bar. Second, it’s harder to get anywhere.
Owner of Morzine childcare company Morzine Kids, Helen Barnett lives here all year round and has spent the last four winters entertaining children while their parents enjoy some guilt free skiing. If you’re heading to Morzine, Les Gets or Avoriaz for the school holidays, here are Helen’s favorite après activities for children.
1 – Ice Skating
There are two ice skating options in Morzine. The indoor rink at the Palais du Sport is where the Morzine Penguins ice hockey team play, and it’s open Monday to Friday between 2.15pm and 5.15pm. Adults are priced at €4.60 per session and children at €3.50. However Helen prefers the outdoor rink in the centre of Morzine village. Until the middle of March the rink is open every day between 10.30am and 12.30pm and then again between 3pm and 7pm. Ice skates are available to hire at the rink and there are handy Penguin shaped stabilisers for new skaters. The outdoor rink is €4.10 per adult and €3.50 for children.
The ice rink is located in the main village square, just next to the Office de Tourisme. The Coup de Coeur bar, with its huge sunny terrace is just opposite the rink, so you can treat your kids to a delicious chocolat chaud after skating!
2 – Night Sledging
Great for older kids and adults alike, Helen recommends night sledging to large family groups with children aged eight and over. An organised descent of the Pleney on Piste B can be arranged with Indian Ventures. At dusk (around 5pm) they take you up the Pleney Telecabine, complete with sledges and head torches. The piste is closed as you head down towards the twinkling lights of Morzine below. Children aged between eight and 11 years must share a sledge with an adult. Don’t forget to wrap up warm and wear your helmet! Night sledging is priced at €23 per person, and children aged between eight and 11 years are priced at €12 each.
Night sledging should be booked in advance and you need 10 or more adults to have a private group. Call +33 (0) 4 50 49 48 60 to book.
3 – Carousel
Helen loves taking smaller children on the carousel in the centre of the village and usually finds children don’t want to get off! Priced at €2 per ride, the carousel is best in the afternoon when the village centre is sunny and warm. The carousel is open every day from 9am until 12.30pm and then from 3pm to 7pm.
4 – Aquariaz
Designed by the people at Centre Parcs, Aquariaz is a big indoor water park in Avoriaz. Helen recommends it to families who like to ski in Avoriaz and then take the bus back to Morzine from the bottom of the Prodains gondola lift, which runs until 8pm during the week. Aquariaz is open every day from 2pm to 8pm (apart from on Saturdays when it is open from 4pm to 7pm) and water features include a sidewinder (think aquatic halfpipe), a water playhouse, a paddling pool, a climbing wall and massage benches too. Before 4pm entry into Aquariaz is €8 for adults and €4 for children. After 4pm the price is €10 per adult and €6.50 per child (up to the aage of 12 years).
I’ve mentioned the L’Aubergade quite a few times in my blog already this winter and that’s because they seem to be filling so many gaps that I didn’t even know existed! They have a large playroom with a toy box and games, a proper baby changing room with spare nappies and a children’s lunch menu pried at €6.50. Helen recommends taking your kids there on a Wednesday when there’s a face painter too! L’Aubergade is a great place to sledge – they have a load of free ones for parents to use and a nice gently snow covered slope in the back garden.
Busy days ahead, but lots of fun to be had for everyone....
Bon apres!
