Your next trip to the mountains starts long before the first snow. Accommodation, travel, lift passes, equipment, lessons: the more you plan ahead, the simpler and cheaper your holiday will be. Here is our 10-step timeline, drawn from almost 30 years of welcoming holidaymakers to Val Thorens, to make your next trip to the slopes a success.
Your Next Trip: 6 Months Before
1. Choose the Resort and Dates
The first decision for your next trip is the resort. Altitude, size of the ski area, atmosphere, access: Val Thorens, the highest resort in Europe, offers quality snow from late November to early May. Discover our 7 reasons to choose Val Thorens. As for dates, school holidays are the most popular; January and March are often quieter.
2. Book Your Accommodation
This is the most important step of your next trip. The best places at the foot of the slopes go quickly, especially at Christmas, February half-term and Easter. Our Silveralp apartments, Silveralp 329 and Silveralp 330, each sleep 6 just 20 m from the slopes, from €204 per night.
3 Months Before Your Next Trip
3. Organise Travel
Car, train or plane? By car, check the mandatory winter equipment and read our tips on driving on the snow. By train, book your tickets to Moûtiers early. By plane, compare Chambéry, Lyon and Geneva airports and book your transfer.
4. Book Ski Lessons
During school holidays, group lessons for children fill up fast. Book them at the same time as your accommodation if you can.
5. Check Your Gear
Try on last year’s ski clothes: children grow fast! List what you need to buy or borrow: ski suit, gloves, goggles, helmet, thermal underwear.
1 Month Before Departure
6. Buy Lift Passes Online
Buying ahead is often cheaper and avoids the queue on the first morning. Our guide to ski passes helps you choose between the Val Thorens and 3 Valleys passes.
7. Book Equipment Hire
Our partner Goitschel Ski Set, across the street from the Silveralp residence, gives our guests a discount. Booking ahead guarantees the right equipment in your size.
8. Check Your Insurance
Cancellation insurance, ski insurance for mountain rescue: check what your bank card and existing policies already cover before taking out new ones.
The Week You Leave
9. Pack Your Bags
Warm clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses, chargers, ID and your health insurance card: make a list and tick things off. In our apartments, bed linen and towels are provided, so there is no need to bring them.
10. Watch the Weather and the Roads
A few days before your next trip, check the weather on our Val Thorens webcam and the forecasts from Météo-France. On the day, check road conditions and leave early.
Keeping Your Next Trip on Budget
A ski holiday is a significant budget, but a few simple choices help keep it under control. The first item is accommodation: an apartment with a kitchen lets you make breakfast and some of your meals, which cuts the bill compared with eating out three times a day. The second item is lift passes: bought online and matched to everyone’s level, they cost less. The third item is equipment: booking ahead with a partner hire shop often gets you a discount.
Think about your dates too. Outside school holidays, prices for accommodation and lessons are often lower, and the slopes quieter. If your schedule allows, a week in January or March can turn your next trip into a real bargain.
Your Next Trip with Children
Skiing with children takes a little more organisation. Choose accommodation close to the slopes and ski schools: little legs tire quickly when walking in ski boots. Plan regular breaks, snacks and spare clothes. The youngest can start with lessons suited to their age while the parents enjoy the ski area.
In the evening, a spacious apartment makes all the difference: everyone has their own corner, the children go to bed early in their room, and the adults enjoy the living room. That is one of the strengths of our Silveralp apartments, where all the beds are upstairs. Your next trip as a family will be as restful as it is active.
On Arrival: Enjoy!
Our concierge hands over the keys at the apartment from 5 pm. Beds are made, the WiFi works, all you have to do is put down your bags and plan the first evening. The next morning, the slopes are right across the street.
Your Next Trip: the Summary
- 6 months before: resort, dates and accommodation.
- 3 months before: travel, ski lessons, gear.
- 1 month before: lift passes, equipment hire, insurance.
- The week you leave: packing, weather and roads.
With this timeline, your next trip to the snow will be stress-free. Ready to book? Head to our booking page, or contact us with any question. Enjoy the slopes!