It is almost obligatory to go skiing in February in France. The school holidays are staggered so that your two weeks on the slopes are not over-crowded. The country is divided into three regions.  Zone A takes their half-term holiday a week earlier than the second region. Zone C only starts its half-term when the first region is on their way home from the slopes. It is all carefully designed to keep ski chalet owners and mountainside restaurants in business.