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Alpe dHuez Ski Resort France...

Description

A relatively modern, purpose-built ski-resort, set out in a roughly triangular shape and terraced down a gently sloping plateau. Relatively compact, the centre is only about 1 ml sq and it is possible to walk the circumference of the resort (including the newer area of Les Bergers) in a few hours.

The old town is situated at the SW end of the village, where the streets are narrower and more winding than those in the more modern areas to the NE of the commercial centre. There is quite a mix of building styles, with copious amounts of wooden cladding on many of the modern hotels, added in an attempt to maintain an alpine atmosphere. Despite the higgledy-piggledy nature of the architecture, it seems to work successfully in the setting, except for a few ugly ducklings like the church (possibly the most unattractive place of worship in W Europe!).

Suitability:
Predominantly young people and families, with the majority of visitors from Britain. All levels of skier are well catered for and there is a selection of activities for the nonskier. Solidly middlemarket with the emphasis on active enjoyment on the slopes and surrounds rather than showing off the latest designer labels. The up-beat atmosphere continues in the evening as lively apres-ski crowds hit the streets.

Accommodation:
Variety of family-run hotels, larger impersonal aparthotels, plenty of self-catering accommodation and several club hotels, all giving the impression of a large town; only a very few have genuine alpine appeal. Most are in the 2- and 3-star categories, with quite high standards for these ratings.

Resort Guide

Snow Range: 1480-3330m

Village Heights: 1,860m (6,102ft)

Highest Lift: 3,330m (10,989ft)

Transfer Times: 2-3 Hours

Apres Ski

Full of action with lots of live music. Try the Crowded House Bar in the Hermitage for a British atmosphere, Smithy's Tavern, the Underground Bar in the Hotel Chamois. For a more French ambience try Zoo bar or L'Etalon.

Nightlife: range of friendly bars and cafes (some with live music); a few rather expensive nightclubs; cinemas; torchlight descents (high season only); star gazing at astronomic observatory.

Activities

alpine, off-piste and cross-country skiing
snowboarding, snowshoeing
kite boarding
snow scooters
tobogganing
curling
Ski-dooing
Ice-skating rink FREE with full weekly Visalp lift-pass (skate hire extra)
Ice driving
Night skiing
Sledging slope
Visit to ice grotto to see local artists carving snow and ice

Eating Out

From high-quality haute cuisine to pizzerias and creperies. With almost 100 eateries and 47 bars, no-one will go hungry or thirsty. Good choice of mountain restaurants for lunchtime sustenance. More than 40 restaurants, all categories:

Pizzas from €6.8
Fondues from around €14
3-course menus from €17 to €30
Les Epiciers in the resort centre for an excellent à la carte menu
Genepi and La Pomme de Pin for French cuisine
Smithy's for Tex Mex
Le Roi Ladre for pizzas

Other Amenities

Sports Centre with tennis and squash courts
Archery
Gym
Indoor golf
Handball, Basketball, Volleyball and Indoor-football
Outdoor swimming-pool, FREE with full weekly lift-pass
Excellent mountain access for non-skiers with many marked walks
Cinema
Fashionable boutiques
local history museum

Extras Services

Shopping:
Little to entice the serious shopper apart from a couple of expensive clothing shops on the main street. Mainly ski- and sports outlets, the usual postcard-touting souvenir shops, a photo lab, a couple of supermarkets and amenities like pharmacies etc.

Public Transport:
A ski-bus circulates every 15 to 30 mins and is free to all ski-pass holders but the "basket" lifts are the best mode of transportation between the main ski-lifts as you avoid the steep twisting roads. A once-daily shuttle service to the ski-resorts of Les Deux-Alpes, Puy St Vincent, Briançon and Serre-Chevalier operates Wed and Thurs in winter. Coach service to Grenoble 5 times daily. A few taxis.

Excursions:
Full day: Grenoble for shopping; shuttle to ski-resorts of Les Deux-Alpes, Puy St Vincent, Briançon and Serre-Chevalier (free day pass available with local ski-passes of 6 days or more).

Ski Area Terrain

Beginners:
Newcomers to skiing are well catered for with a free lift and the option of buying locally a limited access daily ski pass (around €10 for 11 lifts) which covers gentle green runs. Progress can be quickly made under the expert guidance of the local ski school (a full lift pass is necessary for those in ski school).

Intermediaries:
There is a vast choice of blues and reds with some of the best being on the Le Signal d'Homme and Plat des Marmottes. With the possibility of a day's skiing in Les 2 Alpes and Serre Chevalier (both covered on your lift-pass), the choice becomes endless.

Advanced:
Amazing challenges lie in store for expert skiers. Try the Sarenne, the longest black run in Europe at 16km but beware as once started, you have to finish it, as there are no exits on the way down! Other exciting black runs include La Balme, the Tunnel and the thigh-pumping Super Signal mogul field.

Snowboard Guide:
Alpe d'Huez offers some amazing and varied terrain, keen freeriders will be in their element here. You can go in search of powder in areas such as Villard-Recluas, Avris and the Glacier de Sarenne. Freestylers will be smiling too as there is a pipe and snowboard park, though there is an abundance of natural kickers and rollers all around the resort.

How to Book...

0871 226 2812

France Ski Resorts