Alpe d'Huez, France

Visitor reviews for Alpe d'Huez

• April 14, 2008
  Stephen from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just finished one week skiing at ADH last week and wish I was still there! Can't believe I'm sitting behind a desk when this time last week I was skiing in the sun!

  This was my second visit. Last time we stayed at Les Bergers hotel, which was fantastic - although the accommodation was a bit cramped for a family with 4 children. This time we stayed at Christiana 2. These apartments are bigger and, at around £400 for one week, offer great VFM.

  The skiing was magic, with all runs complete and plenty of new snow and sun. Our favourite run is the Omellete. Try out Le Tremplin restaurant bar!

• March 20, 2008
  Rick Paris from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Hi. Anyone who wants to "do" Alp d'Huez on the cheap should stay in the very cheap club hotel, MMV BERGERS. It's right on the slopes and you get full board, unlimited wine with meals, a cheap bar and all for around £330+ for 7 days. Even peak weeks don't cost too much more, it's fab! It's like a cheap club MED, which is right next door.
  Fill yer boots.

• March 10, 2008
  Peter from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Just returned after a weeks skiing. It was our first time in Alpe d'Huez. Had a fantastic holiday in a catered chalet (Viking with First Choice).
  As fantastic as the resort is, I spent as much spending money as I did last year on a self catering holiday in Italy. My wife and I were paying between 30-40 euros for lunch and 10-12 euros for a round of drinks in the evening. The average prices were twice as much as Italy. I don't think the skiing was twice as good so I will probably stick with Italy next year.

• February 21, 2008
  Sarah from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Returned on 18 February after 4 days great skiing. Blue skies; not a cloud in sight. Snow; fantastic. Slightly icy in the morning after a very cold night but once the lovely warm sun hit those great mountains, the runs were great.

  We have been to ADH 5-6 times now and each time find somewhere different to ski. My husband and I love the green and blue runs, which there are many of. My 6 year old son, who has now been with us 3 times, feels he can conquer the red ones.

  ADH is great for the beginner or intermediate. Easy to get to the ski lifts. Not very cheap to eat out, especially with the Euro rate being so low, but all resorts in France must be pretty much the same. Cheeseburger and chips 15 Euros (£12) on the mountain restaurants - cokes £3 pounds. So beware.

  Enjoy. We believe, on leaving the resort, they were expecting fresh snow this week.

• February 03, 2008
  skibummess from DENMARK
  

  Going back to Alpe again in a few days and just had to do a bit of advertising for this fantastic place!
  Been back to Alpe at least once (sometimes more) a year for the last 6 years. In my opinion it's a fantastic resort - it's got a great variety of pistes, so that both the beginners and the advanced skiers can enjoy the holiday. The village is very charming, and the nightlife is great fun. (Can recommend Underground bar - live music 2-3 nights a week).
  Been to a lot of French resorts, but keep returning to Alpe - it's irresistible :-)
  Can't wait to go back and check out the massive amounts of snow in the Alps - it's been too many years of too little snow....

• January 22, 2008
  Rich from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Back again from a lovely weeks skiing from the 12th to 19th Jan. Big dump of snow first day and sprinklings in the week made the conditions perfect with loads of sun too.
  Great resort I thought, lot's of bars although quite quiet from 11pm onwards but I was tucked up in bed with a poor James Herbert novel by that point. Stayed in the L'Eclose bit, Maeva Horizons d'Huez. Can ski right to the ski lockers so it is ski in, not ski out but a short walk to the lift. A sherpa near by and a ski rental place too. 5 min walk to town too so quite recommended.
  Great choice of beginner slopes and blues for the beginners/intermediates. Get further up and there is top off-piste options, no trees but that's one less worry. Sarenne has a tricky bit at the peak of Pic Blanc but if you take the Marmotte lift just short of the top then the whole of the Sarenne is like a cruisey red/blue; piece of cake! Is it really 16km? Hmmm, bit of billy bullpoo there, I reckon. Tunnel is flippin' hard I thought, especially the daunting drop-off when you emerge from it. Like to think I went down it looking pretty good but no doubt I was bolt upright and awkward as hell, as usual.

• January 21, 2008
  Michelle from FRANCE
  

  Just back from a weeks skiing in Alpe d'Huez and what an amazing week it was! The snow conditions were fantastic - best I have skied on ever!! It snowed most evenings and then was beautifully sunny the next day. The pistes were also incredibly quiet and no queues at any of the lifts either. Bars and restaurants were all good too especially the underground bar which had regular live music on and was always buzzing! Can't wait to go again!

• February 24, 2007
  skibum from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Back from 10 days second time in the same resort this season. Skiing was very good. We had just one day of morning slush/rain but to compensate there were 4-5 days of heavy snowfalls so the conditions were just bril. You could ski all the way from the Vadjany end the Auris end with no problem and in fact some of the times the edges were even better than the center. Plenty for a week or two. Tried all the apres-ski night skiing (did the tunnel and the Sarenne all the way down), badmington, table tennis, climbing wall, outdoor swimming and ice ring. We did, probably, the most skiing mileage for a good few years and my family is over the moon and even now thinking of buying something there so we can go and visit more often even during the summer. The best place is to stay near the top of the resort or the opposite of the Bergers side of it near the kind of high street. The lower parts and the corner of Bergers was very quiet in the evenings, we thought. Try and park your car indoors (50ish Euros ) that way you won't have any trouble cleaning it and clearing the way out. This year we were very pleased to stay in Grenoble on the way. We had good walks and the gondola goes up to the castle. Honestly, this year the place made a good mark and we all have very positive vibes with the whole area.

• February 12, 2007
  Nick from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Was there in mid Jan with the scary warm weather, had one powder day over the back but then lifts were closed due to high wind so freshies were out of bounds. In general conditions were awful, ice, slush and off-piste concrete, like the rest of the French Alps at the time, to a worse or less degree. It looked like the resort had potential with the right amount of snow for good off-piste. I actually thought the place was limited with pistes compared to other resorts in France I've been to, also no tree runs but this was due to the weather and the fact lower runs to outlying villages were closed.
  Liked the resort, but didn't love it, even if there had been enough snow.
  Check out the church in the village, a weird modern build and unusual organ, worth a nose!

• January 27, 2007
  skibum from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Huge resort and no comments for nearly a month about weather skiing conditions. Any news,tips and advice? Some smaller resorts have livelier reviews than this one. Grab the keyboards and type something about this lovely place .:)

• January 19, 2007
  Buzzer from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  For Michelle, I guess the Stuart you mention is Stuart Adamson of British Masterclass, He is not the cheapest but you will learn more in 3 days from him than most others can teach in 5, leaves you more play time.
  His e-mail is a little iffy, but phone numbers are tel/fax 0033(0) 476809383 and mobile 0033(0)679673456
  Best of luck and post back info on your return as to how good or not the lessons were TA.

• January 11, 2007
  skibum from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Alpe d'Huez is probably the best place for early intermediates. Everywhere you go up to 2700m there are vast and wide opened runs down to resort.
  Added bonus: The snow cover is good considering this seasons' mad weather. I have done the difficult job of teaching my wife who is now ok on skis and happy to just ski down without the risks. Different thing with my kids who are now into racing. Basically the early you start the better. Skiing is best!!

• January 11, 2007
  Millsy from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Love listening to people like Tom and Co. moaning on and on about things no one has control over, ie. gondolas closed because of wind, terrain closed because of lack of snow! Moaning Minny Tom does have control over where he stays in resort (staying central is best, obviously, not out in the sticks!), and when he visits a resort. No one has a devine right to be skiing in neck deep powder, especially before New Year, so quit complaining, you've been skiing afterall!!!

• January 09, 2007
  Michelle from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I am going skiing again to Alpe d'Huez on the 2nd of Feb 2007 and I would like to know if anyone can recommend and English speaking instructor. I have read a few people on this site recommend "Stuart". Does anyone know this man and how I can contact him. I would be really grateful as I am losing confidence with my ability year by year. Thanks

• January 07, 2007
  skibum from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Reply to Tom and company. I think you realise that it is best to stay in the center of Alpe d'Huez rather than the edges and satelites resorts. We didnt have any problems with closing lifts etc. If something was closed for reasons-wind wisibility etc., you can just ski to the other corner of Alpe d'Huez. You are right that the the interactive map was not very precise but this is a mountain and weather changes many times during the each day. We used the gondolas to 2800m only on our last 2 days .From the DMF gondola if we see that the big one your end is moving up we quickly go towards it and take it. If it was not working we stayed with the center. Actually we managed to ski almost everywhere for the 2-3 days skiing. Again snow below 1600m was not for own skis just for hire one because of many paches and rolling small rocks which damage the skis all the way from top to bottom when touching the bases. Alpe d'Huez being resort with only south facing slopes will suffer from ice in the morning or melting faster that in other places but it is briliant for a family with wife skier who is slower and less chalenging and prefer runs with perfect views all day long. In Feb we are looking forward for testing the blacks up there and the Tunnel. My kids can wait another month.
  Bad points from Tom and Co but the weather is very bad this season and lower resorts always suffer in situation like this. We were ready to go skiing before the New Year but held it until I saw tha weather forecast for definite snow coming and then quickly booked just from 1st until 4th Jan and this way we avoided the icy slopes everywhere and very thin cover up to the 1st of the month. Even in the last moment we had quite a good choice of accomodation and it was not expensive at all.
  Alpe d'Huez is probably the best resort to go now (in Europe of course) and in the next few days until the snow falls everywhere. If you want alot of powder - head accross the pond.
  Wondering if they are any forums for this resord with more traffic.
  If Yes PLEASE POST THEM ON THIS SITE.

  regards
  skibum and family

• January 06, 2007
  Tom Waterschoot from BELGIUM
  

  We were in Oz en Oisans for a week (29/12 till 05/01).
  Alpe d'Huez has the potential to be a very good resort. But they have some very WEAK points at this moment.
  Information flow is disastrous:
  - Almost no info about weather conditions + expected weather for next days
  - At none of the major elevators information about open and closed slopes/elevators of the rest of the area
  - We ended up 3 TIMES (different days) on the Alpette, hoping to take the big gondola to 2800 meter (into Huez area), but the gondola was always out of work for different reasons. We could only take this gondola 2 times during the whole stay. This was supposed to be our highway to the center of the area, but it was more a source of anger.
  - The availability of the glacier is a disaster. The gondolas cannot work when there is some wind.
  - Elevators were supposed to open at 9, one day we could only take the first Poutran-gondola at 9.35! No explanation was given. On the contrary, the CLOSING times of major elevators are respected up to the minute.
  - Information on their website is very poor. Interative map does not work. Snow and ski info is misguiding..

  I admit the exceptional weather conditions are not their fault. I expect that, if we could have done some myths like the Sarenne or the Tunnel, I would have been more positive. I can also understand that the weather was the reason for the bad condition of the lower slopes like Poutran/Olmet/Alpette/Petit Prince..

  Anyway some positive points:
  - We did some unprepared, very nice slopes at the back of the Signal, this was really fun.
  - Taking into account the circumstances, waiting times were acceptable.

  I don't think I will return to the area.
  Certainly not before they address the weak points mentioned.

• March 28, 2006
  Anthony Hartley from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  What a place! First went back in 2003 during the Summer time with my family. Since been back in Winter and WOW...so much so we've bought an appartment there. Done the Swiss ski stuff...loved every minute...but Alpe D' Huez is home!
  ESF Jac Sert-Marc; top instructor!!!!!
  Go and see d' huez ;-)
  Anthony Julie Orla and Bliss Hartley
  Preston
  Lancashire

• March 24, 2006
  Miles from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I've been going here for three seasons, and every time I introduce a new group they are amazed. The best feature has to be the vertical drop and the length of the runs - from the top of Grande Rousse to Vaujany via La Fare, or Pic Blanc through the Tunnel and all the way down to Oz. Then there are the fabulous panoramas, particularly from Montfrais or the run down to Villard Reculas, the lack of braying Sloanes, charming restaurants, off-piste possibilities .... come here when the snow's good and you can forget Courcheval. I would add though that the much vaunted Sarenne is only really two thirds of a run, and too much sun quickly turns lower levels to sludge.

• March 11, 2006
  Curt Whaymand from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I spent a week in Alpe D'huez over half-term 2006. It is a perfect resort in every aspect - Great runs, good lift system, excellent snow and good night life. I would recommend it to anyone.
  I did not get up to Pic Blanc because it was too icy for the first 3 days, and then it did not stop snowing for the rest of the time.
  Alpe D'huez is a similar resort to Val Thorens, except it is more buzzing at night. I'm off to Obertaern next year, CAN'T W8!!!

• March 06, 2006
  chloe barraclough from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Hi there. After spending three months in this beautiful resort, I can't fault it, apart from the fact that I wasn't there long enough! Can't wait to go back. I suggest to anybody who has a free winter to go and live and work there, you will never have a bad word to say about it ever again!

• March 05, 2006
  hannah and phil thomas from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We returned the 4th of March 2006. First two days perfect sunshine, last five days snow (lots). Best grub at Smithys bar. Esf ski school ok. Ski school very early; 8.50am. Very expensive but excellent skiing. Will go again as so many slopes. Lots of pomas; prefered chair lift. Brilliant for beginners and an overall fantastic holiday; would recommend to anyone. Petit Prince hotel; poor room, toilets smell but Swedish staff excellent.

• February 25, 2006
  Spencer Raw from FRANCE
  

  Alpe d'Heuz-let me say as a seasoned seasonairre I cannot find fault with Alpe d'Heuz. It's my idea of heaven and the ski school with Stuart is called Masterclass. At the moment I'm in Les Arc under the Vanoise express running a hotel between Les Arc and Le Plagne, and any fault with the resort can only be put down to the person not trying to find what they want in such a pefect ski area. There are many people who will show you the resort but the best way is to get in touch with Masterclass, an English speaking school. Not the best looking instructors (no offence Stuart) but certainly worth the money.

• February 23, 2006
  Jim from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I was in Alpe d'Huez at Christmas and the snow was a bit thin on the popular runs back into town and the blacks on the glacier were closed on a couple of occasions (I was told this was because of ice). There was plenty of snow down into Oz. We found the boarding was great and the French ski school was excellent. My only reservation is the piste into Bergers - too many good skiers travelling at excessive speeds for what is a nursery slope to many novice skiers and boarders. Having said that I'm back to Alpe D'Huez in a couple of weeks.

• February 03, 2006
  WENDY from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  We just love Alpe'd Huez!! We were there for two weeks over Christmas and New Year and had a fantastic time. I think "Dave" must have lost his piste map as there were plenty of black runs open and a super amount of off-piste to explore!
  You'd be hard pushed to find something Alpe d'Huez didn't have this Winter.

• February 02, 2006
  julie from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Hi
  I spent Xmas over in Alpe d'Huez with my family and the skiing was fantastic. I disagree with Dave who said it was crap. My daughter is a ski racer and has trained there with her team for many seasons so I don't think it is only good for beginners/intermediates. There is also brilliant off-piste skiing. Again my family had a fantastic time off piste, they have skied many places and Alpe d'Huez is their favourite. The nightlift is great too; try the underground bar, sphere bar etc and also the nightclubs, you wont get bored. Like any resort, snow can sometimes be a problem, but all resorts have this problem.
  We will be going back there.

• January 31, 2006
  Gill from FRANCE
  

  Oh and by the way, Alpe d'Huez was the only ski resort with 10ski index. My husband is an off piste skier, he had plenty of off piste skiing with his friends that came out to join us.

• January 31, 2006
  gill from FRANCE
  

  I don't believe that Dave was skiing in the same resort. I have lived here for 3 seasons and yes, maybe the odd run cannot be opened as it is a bit early in the season. Tell him to spend a bit more time there. It's a shame when you can only come out to Alpe d'Huez for a week and not see the beauty of the place. I came to live out here.
  He didn't find all the hot spots like the underground. The guys there are brill.
  My children ski with the French club and they come back having been taken to all the good places. So sorry you won't come back again Dave. Go and find somewhere you find perfect. I have.

• January 09, 2006
  David from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  I was in Alpe d'Huez for Christmas this year. I was extremely disappointed by the snow conditions and the availability of runs. The snow cover in the resort was poor initially but improved as the week progressed, even after a light snow fall the runs stayed extremely icy. As the day progressed the steaper runs became cut up and very busy. The glacier had really poor snow cover because I expected the snow to be good up there as generally glaciers have better snow than anywhere else on the mountain, they had only one black run open on the glacier and it was very rocky. I destroyed the bottom of my skis and I didnt even venture off piste. I wont be back

  As for the resort, the resort was huge and had some good amenties but was too spread out, the atmosphere during the day was packed but as night fell the people seemed to just disappear. Smithys and O'sharkeys bars were the hot spots and the only places really that I would recommend.

  Overall the resort is excellent for beginners and intermediates because all the runs around the village are greens and blues and seemed to be keep in good condition but the higher you went to reach the better runs and glacier the more inconsistent the snow became. I wouldn't recommend it in December for the more advanced skiiers and boarders. Plus the snowpark was hardly built and was extremely uninspiring.

  I wont be back to Alpe D'Huez, better skiing to be found in Les 2 Alpes. or Val Thorens

• December 27, 2005
  Chris Moore from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  Have been skiing in Alpe d'Huez for the last five years and it ranks as one of my favourites - a great variety of terrain that suits all abilities, generally the higher you go the steeper the terrain, although some great off piste can be had lower down when conditions are good - see the back side of Signal. Best runs are those from Pic Blanc with the Sarenne glacier and those alongside being great for a long run (18K's!). Fantastic resort for beginers too, but can get busy on the last run down from the DMC 2 bubble. For the intermediate skiers Combe Charbonniere (sp?) is a great run also but beware of some reds which should really be graded black (Canyon). There is also a great chair lift over to Auris down into the valley that should not be missed.

  If you want lessons, there is a great English guy out there who has been operating for some time called Stuart - can't remember his company name though.

  Night life is not bad although cannot compare to Austria - try the Underground Bar for live music, also ADH has some great restuarants serving local savoyarde dishes (also try the onion soup and creme brulee!). On the mountain there are a few good places to stop - try the cafe in the valley at the end of the run from from the Sarenne or can be accessed from Col de Cluy - does a great hot chocolate with brandy for those needing to warm their cockles!

  Anyway have fun if you are off out there - looking forward to my January trip.

• January 19, 2005
  rob from UNITED KINGDOM
  

  i did a season here and one in meribel. ADH is a little known gem. It has fantastic terrain, interesting slopes with huge veriety. The glacier is special, like being in another place then dropping out onto a mother of a black run. The lifts work well with just a few of the main lifts serving much of the area. you can in several places ski a long way without a lift. even down to the resort at last lifts is a great and varied ski.
  Its worth working the area for some of the quiet runs. try the comme charbonniere, les chocardes and la faire. they are some of the best.
  off piste is great when there is snow, offering terrain to suit all standards, long advanced routes are there to be found though the best are for those in the know. lots of sun till the end of the day, though this can lead to slushy conditions and poor snow late in the season.
  the town is modern and is more like a community than some small and spread out resorts. also very good for beginers as the green slopes are all together.