Family Ski Holiday Bliss: How VIP SKI Makes Alpine Dreams Affordable
My seven-year-old daughter, Mathilde, delivered her verdict on our holiday in less than 24 hours. With a tummy full of freshly baked cake, she settled into the hot tub overlooking Mont Blanc after a day of skiing on fresh snow under blue skies and announced: 'I love my life.' My husband, Ed, and I beamed at each other across the bubbles. As lifelong skiers, we share the goal of infusing our children with a passion for what we see not merely as a sport but as a way of life.
Balancing Passion and Parenting on the Slopes
We now take almost equal pleasure in sniffing out fresh tracks off-piste as we do from following our four-year-old daughter Amalia's snowplough tracks down the nursery slopes. But how do parents like us combine the liberation of skiing together with the joy of nurturing the same passion in their young kids? Despite my penchant for luxury, the option of throwing money at swanky chalets bristling with private nannies and ski instructors is beyond our joint income as a writer and builder.
Instead, we turned to VIP SKI: a more competitively priced, wraparound childcare service that gives parents the chance to ski at their leisure while a 'Mary Poppins' of the slopes takes care of fledgling youngsters. Founded in 1989 by a 24-year-old Andy Sturt with £1,000 of savings, VIP SKI was originally an Alpine property business before evolving into one of the UK's leading catered chalet providers.
Graciosa in La Plagne: A Skier's Dream Destination
VIP SKI's newest property, Graciosa in La Plagne, caught our eye for several reasons. Comprising 16 'chalet suites'—spacious apartments decorated in chalet style with hosted catering—the extensively renovated property sits on the blue Mont St Sauveur piste at the top of Plagne Centre. This is widely considered the best lift-connected hub of La Plagne's eleven villages.
Ski-in/ski-out access to La Plagne's 225km of pistes is a skier's dream, particularly when you consider that 70 percent of those snow-sure trails are set above 2,000m. With all the trimmings of a luxury stay, the accommodation has opened for the 2025/26 season. Further convenience was provided by an impressively stocked Oxygene ski rental shop in the basement and an on-call shuttle service.
Childcare That Delivers Freedom and Fun
VIP SKI's childcare service is a game-changer for families. Together with its sister property, Bear Lodge in Arc 1950, Graciosa offers parents the ultimate freedom: to ski safe in the knowledge that their offspring are having just as good a time as they are. In addition to private nannies, both properties offer five and a half days of childcare per week in age-appropriate kids clubs, supervised by a crew of smiley, fully qualified nannies.
Our girls skipped into Bear Cubs on the first morning without a backwards glance, fuelled by fresh croissants and heart-shaped pancakes cooked by our chalet host Ellie. This allowed Ed and me to hit the slopes by 9:15am, enjoying pristine snow conditions with a guide to explore La Plagne's diverse terrain.
Personal Touches and Memorable Experiences
We quickly adopted the habit of picking up our ski-ready girls from Graciosa at 2pm to enjoy some family skiing. Afterward, we were welcomed back by fresh cake, baguette, and tea. Ellie prepared separate dinners and packed lunches for the girls each day, including sweet handwritten notes. These thoughtful touches were echoed by the staff at Graciosa, from hot chocolate deliveries to laundry help.
When I asked Amalia what her favourite part of our trip was, she said: 'Everything!' Her answer was less surprising than mine, as one of my standout experiences was a husky sledding ride on the Dou du Praz plateau. Bathed in sunshine, Amalia and I snuggled together as a pack of tail-wagging huskies whisked us along narrow snow trails with Mont Blanc as a backdrop.
Travel Facts and Practical Information
Seven nights at Graciosa with VIP SKI start from £1,356 per adult, including catering, in-resort shuttles, concierge service, and transfers. Return easyJet flights from London to Geneva are available from £180 per person. A six-day La Plagne lift pass costs €359 per adult, while Oxygene offers six days of group children's lessons from €260. Hors Trace Adventure provides dog sledding experiences from €170.
