Planibel Apartments La Thuile Review: Are They Good for Families?

If you're planning a family ski trip to La Thuile, there's a good chance you'll come across Planibel Apartments La Thuile, also known as Planibel Residence La Thuile or Hotel Planibel La Thuile. As one of the largest and most popular accommodation options in the resort, it's often recommended to families, but is it actually worth staying there?

This review is for families looking for practical, well-located accommodation that makes a ski holiday easier to manage, rather than the most luxurious place in the resort.

Quick Answer: Are Planibel Apartments La Thuile Good for Families?

Yes, we'd happily stay at Planibel Apartments La Thuile again as a family.

The apartments aren't the newest or most stylish accommodation in La Thuile, but they get the things that matter most right:

• an excellent location next to the lifts and ski school

• more space than a typical hotel room

• easy access to restaurants, shops and childcare

• a practical setup that makes ski days much simpler

We've stayed at Planibel Apartments La Thuile several times as a family, usually as part of a Crystal Ski package, and they've become our go-to base in the resort. In this review, we'll share what's good, what's not, and whether Planibel Residence La Thuile is still one of the best family-friendly places to stay in La Thuile.

Planning a trip to La Thuile with kids? Start with Is La Thuile Good for Families? to understand more about the resort before choosing where to stay.

This guide includes links to accommodation we've personally used or considered. Some may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend accommodation we'd genuinely book again ourselves.

Where Is Planibel Apartments La Thuile?

Planibel is located in Frazione Entreves, around a 2.5‑hour transfer from Turin Airport. This transfer is a bit of a drive for families but generally manageable with preparation for a long drive.

It sits just outside the centre of La Thuile (around a 5‑minute walk), in one of the most practical positions in the resort for skiing.

La Thuile itself is a small, relaxed village in the Aosta Valley, on the border with France. The ski area links to La Rosière, giving access to a wider ski area without needing to move accommodation.

We have visited many times over the years and really rate the area, if you want a feel for the village itself, see What La Thuile Village Is Really Like.

What Is Planibel Hotel & Residence?

Planibel is a large, functional ski complex split into two parts:

• the hotel (with catering options)

• the residence (self-catering apartments)

It’s not a traditional alpine chalet — more of a practical ski in / ski out base right next to the lifts and ski school — for families, this is what counts. If you’re deciding between the two, we’ve covered that here: Planibel Hotel vs Apartments: Which Is Better with Kids?

This location is what makes the biggest difference — being this close to lifts and ski school removes a lot of stress from the day, especially with kids.

If you want to see what is included I have linked directly to Planibel here

What Facilities at are available for Families at Planibel?

What’s Available

• Manned reception

• Bar and lounge

• On site restaurant (La Raclette)

• Spa and wellness centre, swimming pool (extra charge)

• WiFi (works, but can be variable)

Some listings still reference a gym, which is no longer there.

Does Planibel have a Swimming Pool?

The pool is free for hotel guests. If you stay in the apartments, you’ll need to pay. When we visited, it was around €40 for a family of three.

Other things to know:

• swim hats are required

• pool towels must be rented there

We treated it as a one-off rather than a regular activity.

La Thuile and the Planibel area have lots of different activities available beyond skiing, see here for more details of our top picks: Things to Do in La Thuile with Kids

Does Planibel have a Bar and Restaurant?

Yes, the bar area is easy and relaxed, with comfortable seating, a pool table and occasional entertainment. The on-site restaurant, La Raclette, is simple and family-friendly. It’s a convenient option rather than somewhere you’d go every night.

The local area itself has some amazing places to eat, I have summarised our favourites here: Where to Eat in La Thuile with Kids

The Apartments 'Residence': What You Actually Get

Planibel apartments range from studios to two-bedroom options.

All include:

• kitchenette (hob, fridge, microwave)

• kettle

• basic cookware and utensils

• dining area

• towels

• TV and safe

• hairdryer

You’ll also have:

• ski stand on the balcony

• lift or stair access

Smaller apartments include limited in-room boot space, but larger ski lockers are available elsewhere in the complex.

What’s Not Included (Important)

This is where a lot of people get caught out.

You won’t get:

• toaster

• washing-up liquid or sponge

• tea or coffee

• more than one bin bag

We’d recommend bringing:

• a tea towel

• a small sponge

• extra bin bags

Our Planibel Apartment Review

We stayed in a “Superior 1 Bedroom Apartment”, which included:

• a separate bedroom for the adults

• living area where the kids sleep

• bathroom plus separate shower

• space for up to 4 people

Some apartments have two toilets, others don’t — this seems to vary. For us, this setup just worked — having space, flexibility and everything nearby made the whole week feel much easier to manage as a family.

Overall we find the apartments practical for families and so continue to come back each year. The biggest draw is there proximity to the ski slopes.

If you want to see the various options available for families, you can find that here

How Close Is Planibel Apartments to the Slopes?

Planibel is effectively ski-in / ski-out.

In reality:

• 3–5 minute walk to lifts

• 3–5 minute walk to ski school

That’s about as convenient as you’ll get in La Thuile.

Check-In and Check-Out Experience

Check-in can be slow:

• official time is 5pm

• rooms are rarely ready earlier

Our usual approach:

• leave bags

• collect ski equipment (usually open from 3pm)

• go for a lunch or a drink

Check-out is straightforward — just drop keys and go.

What are the staff like at Planibel?

In general, staff were fine, but experiences can vary. We did have one issue with a noisy room, which required pushing to resolve. Once escalated, it was sorted and we were moved. Since then, we always request rooms away from lifts in advance.

Are Planibel Apartments Family Friendly or Not?

Yes — and that’s why we keep coming back.

They work because they are:

• practical

• central

• easy to manage

• and set up for real family needs

They’re not luxury, but they make ski trips simpler.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• excellent location

• very practical for families

• good space compared to hotel rooms

• strong value

Cons

• not particularly characterful

• check-in can be slow

• pool access costs extra

• you need to bring a few essentials

• some rooms can be noisy

Final Verdict: Are Planibel Apartments worth it or not for Families?

They are absolutely worth considering. We’ve stayed here multiple times and would absolutely stay again.

If you want:

• an easy, low-stress ski base

• everything within walking distance

• and accommodation that works with kids

Planibel Apartments aren’t about luxury — they’re about making a ski trip with kids simpler and more manageable. For us, staying here as part of a package made everything feel straightforward from the start. If your priority is making the trip as easy as possible with kids, this setup made a big difference for us.

We would happily stay in the Planibel Apartments again, particularly for a family ski holiday, so they're definitely one of the first places we'd suggest looking at when planning a trip to La Thuile.

Frequently Asked Questions: Accommodation La Thuile

Is the swimming pool included when staying in the Planibel Apartments?

No. Apartment guests typically need to pay extra to use the pool and wellness facilities. Hotel guests may have different access arrangements, so it's worth checking current policies when booking. If swimming is important to your family, factor this additional cost into your budget.

Do the Planibel Apartments have kitchens suitable for family self-catering?

Yes. Apartments include a kitchenette with essentials such as a hob, microwave, kettle, fridge, cookware and dining space. This makes it easy to prepare breakfasts, packed lunches and simple evening meals, which can help keep ski holiday costs under control.

How close are the Planibel Apartments to the ski school and lifts?

The apartments are one of the closest family accommodation options in La Thuile. The gondola, ski lifts and ski school meeting area are only a few minutes' walk away, making them particularly convenient for families managing ski equipment and young children.

Are the Planibel Apartments suitable for families with young children?

Yes. The large apartment options, ski-in/ski-out style location, nearby ski school, children's play facilities and access to onsite restaurants make them a practical choice for families. Many parents also appreciate having separate sleeping and living areas rather than a standard hotel room.

For families considering booking through Crystal Ski our article covering Crystal Ski Beanie Club in La Thuile: Is It Actually Worth It? is worth reading.

What should families bring that isn't provided in the Planibel Apartments?

Some everyday self-catering items are not provided, such as washing-up supplies and tea towels. Bringing a few basic kitchen essentials can make your stay more comfortable, particularly if you're planning to cook regularly.

Is it better to stay in the Planibel Hotel or the Planibel Apartments with kids?

Families who value space, flexibility and self-catering often prefer the apartments, while those wanting meals included and less day-to-day organisation may prefer the hotel. The best choice depends on your budget, children's ages and how much independence you want during your ski holiday.

For a deeper comparison on the two options, see: Planibel Hotel vs Planibel Apartments.

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.