We truly enjoyed French Alps skiing in Thollon-les-Mémises, a mid-sized resort just above the lake.
Nicknamed the “Balcony on Lake Geneva,” it offers more affordable lift tickets than nearby resorts – around €30 per day for adults.
Later, talking to our friends in the U.S., we were surprised they knew this place – its lake panorama makes it a rare gem in the skiing world:
French Alps skiing
Thollon-les-Mémises has spectacular views and terrain best suited for intermediate skiers; plus fun for non-skiers – a rare thing!
With Erika (10) and Andrew (7), we started on the green runs since they hadn’t skied in two years, then moved on to blue and red:
Blue and purple dashed lines on the map below – trails where you can walk for hours, many people were with kids and sleds:
Artem (15) was skiing with friends on red and blacks:
Our kids never attended ski schools, it was too pricy when we were living in States. All they did was a 1-2 private lessons each, and lots of skiing with us.
There were many beautiful tree-lined slopes. In the video below, you can see the trees gradually shorten and finally disappear as the altitude nears 2000m:
1. Where did we stay
We were lucky to find a tiny, clean Airbnb just 50 meters from the gondola, for €800 per week, for 5 people and a dog:
View from our apartment:
Pictured below: Zhuzha the dog seems suspicious about next destination:
2. Gear
We brought our own ski gear as usual, but rentals are available in the village and at the ski station. (As well as sleds, cross-country skis, etc):
Our equipment came from one of the many “Ski Bourses” in Alsace, which was much cheaper than buying gear of the same quality in the U.S., our previous home.
Pictured below: skis on the roof and the rest in the trunk:
3. For non-skiers
Thollon-les-Mémises has a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere.
Even if you don’t ski, you can enjoy sledding, relax at the café/bar, walking, and snowshoeing.
Pictured below: directions for skiers and non-skiers:
Plus, the gondola makes it easy to reach the mountaintop and return. Dogs are welcome!
Pictured below: huge sledding area, around 15 min walk from the lodge through the forest:
Below: magic carpet for beginners and rest area near the cafe/bar:
On the video below: amazing, easy hike over lake Geneva:
Skiing in Thollon-les-Mémises was one of the most memorable experiences we’ve had in 12 years of skiing with kids. We’ll come back.
P.s.
We did, in January 2025, stayed the same in Thollon, and also visited Bernex and La Chapelle-d’Abondance ski stations, liked them too.
They also have budget-friendly ski tickets! Around 100 euro for a family of 4 for a day.
Make sure to check out prices, hours, and weather conditions before you go
4. Websites we use to check the snow/weather
- Leman mountains explore (webcam)
- Bergfex (mountain weather)
Read next:
Just 20 minutes away from Thollon, another budget-friendly place to ski with a family in Alps:
Informative post about skiing with kids:
Visiting more amazing places on a budget, in North America:
Switzerland top places to visit with kids in summer, and where we stayed on cheap.
