Courchevel has a lot of instructors, from the big schools to independent professionals. Prices and promises look similar online, so it is hard to tell them apart. Here is what actually matters, from two instructors who also book lessons for friends and family.
1. Check that they are allowed to teach in France
In France, teaching skiing for money is a regulated profession. An instructor must hold a recognised ski instructor diploma and a carte professionnelle d’éducateur sportif, the professional card issued by the French state. A good instructor will tell you their card number without hesitation; independent instructors often show it on their website.
2. Ask about professional insurance
Every professional instructor must have professional liability insurance. It protects you as well as them. It is a fair question to ask, and a professional will not mind it.
3. Match the instructor to your goal
“Private lesson” covers very different days. Before you book, think about what you want from the week:
- First days on skis need patience and a calm, gentle slope.
- Intermediate skiers usually want to break old habits and feel safe on reds.
- Advanced skiers want precise technical feedback, steeper terrain or off-piste.
- Children need someone who enjoys teaching children, not only adults.
Tell the instructor your level honestly and ask how they would plan the day. Their answer tells you a lot.
4. Language matters more than you think
Technique is easier to learn in your own language. Ask which languages the instructor teaches in fluently, not just which ones they “speak”. In Courchevel you will find instructors in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and more.
5. Agree the practical details
- Meeting point. Many private instructors can meet you at your hotel or chalet, which saves time every morning.
- Times. When does the day start and finish, and is lunch together or separate?
- What is not included. Lift passes and equipment hire are usually separate.
- Cancellation. What happens if the weather closes the lifts, or if you are ill?
Planning your days on the snow? Send us your dates and we reply with availability and a price.
Request a lesson6. Book early for peak weeks
Christmas, New Year, the February school holidays and Easter fill up first, and good instructors are often booked months in advance for those weeks. If your dates are fixed, write as soon as you know them. Our guide on when to book a private ski instructor for 2026/27 has the key dates.
7. Read real reviews
Look for reviews that describe what changed in someone’s skiing, not just “great day”. Specific stories are hard to fake.
The short version
Choose a qualified, insured instructor who teaches in your language, understands your goal and answers your questions clearly. Then book the full day if you can: it is where most of the progress happens. Read why we recommend the full day, or see how our private lessons in Courchevel work.
