Expert guide to Alpe d’Huez
Most people visiting Alpe d’Huez stay in self-catering apartments, though there are some chalets and luxurious hotels available, as well as a Club Med resort. The resort village is split into eight small districts, or quartiers, with the Cognet quartier close to both the main DMC access gondola at Rond Point des Pistes and the nightlife, combining the best of both worlds.
The Vieil Alpe quartier, also known as the Old Town, is convenient for the nightlife, less so for main mountain access, while the lower quartiers of Passeaux and Eclose are conveniently connected to town and slopes by people-mover lifts through the village. For ski-in/ski-out, the Bergers district has chalets close to the piste and the Alpauris and Marmotte chairs.
Hotels
Résidence Le Christiania Odalys
The simple self-catering apartments in Résidence Le Christiania Odalys are of modest size, but make a cheap and convenient base for hitting the mountain – Christiania is in the Bergers district, 150m from the piste and lifts.
Price: £
Pierre & Vacances Les Bergers
Accommodation in the four-star Les Bergers residence in Bergers ranges from two-person studios to apartments sleeping up to six. It is 100m from the lifts, with parking and there’s also an outdoor heated pool and sauna.
Price: ££
Hotel Grandes Rousses
Run by the same family for over 60 years, the four-star Grandes Rousses, is reopening for winter 2019/20 following extensive refurbishment. Classily mountain modern in style, it’s located on the piste in Cognet, within walking distance of a drag-lift or the Télécentre people mover lift to the DMC. The large spa has sauna, steam room and a bubble jet pool, and the restaurant provides casual fine dining accompanied by equally fine views.
Price: £££
Club Med Alpe d’Huez
Relaunched for the 2019/20 season as a four-trident resort, all 441 bedrooms at Club Med’s huge Alpe d’Huez resort in the Bergers quartier have balconies. Facilities include indoor and outdoor heated pools, a wellness area and a children’s play area with climbing wall. Family rooms are available, and there are also adults only areas.
Price: £££
Book it: Full board from £1,548 with Ski Solutions.
Chalets and apartments
VIP CLUB Chateau
This smart seven-bedroom chalet sleeping up to 15 people operates as a chalet-hotel, and has a large living area and a professional chef offering a flexible menu with wine included. There’s a log fire, sauna and hot tub, and the VIP CLUB Chateau is very well located right by the DMC gondola.
Price:£££
Book it: Full board from £1,199 with VIP Ski.
Le Cristal de l’Alpe
A block of luxury apartments built in traditional mountain style, Le Cristal de l’Alpe is a cut above the other self-catering options in resort and has a pool as well as a spa with hot tub, sauna, steam room and massage treatments. It’s in the lower part of Cognet, with the village Télécentre people mover lift to Rond Point 50m away.
Price: ££
Chalet Les Eterlous
Also in the Bergers district, Chalet Les Eterlous sleeps 30 in simple but cheerful surroundings. It’s located 220m from the ski school meeting place at the Bergers shopping centre and well positioned for the Marmotte and Alpauris chairlifts, or the chairlift towards the hamlet of Auris. All rooms are ensuite.
Price: £
Book it: Full board from £959 with Skiworld.
Chalet La Brêche
Sleeping 16, Chalet La Brêche is the flagship of tour operator Ski Total’s four chalets in Alpe d’Huez, located in the Vieil Alpe quartier. It’s possible to reach the door via a green piste that runs parallel to the Télécentre bucket lift. The chalet is built in Scandinavian style and has a hot tub and two saunas.
Price:££
Book it: From £849 with Ski Total.
Booking.com rates above are guide prices per person per night, please note that packages can differ across accommodation. Owing to the current coronavirus pandemic, these rates may change. Please check the properties’ websites for further information on what’s included.
Unless stated otherwise, package prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room, half-board/chalet board, for seven nights, including flights and transfers.