Spanning altitudes between 1,250 and 3,330 metres, Alpe d’Huez is an up-and-coming resort in France’s central Western Alps. Its summer cycling is world famous, partly because of the Tour de France, but its winter sports are fast gaining recognition as another great reason to visit Alpe d’Huez. Chalets, apartments and luxury hotels, meanwhile, ensure that all visitors are satisfied.
A Family Resort
The resort is currently in the middle of a big push for more customers and publicity, particularly families. It has already earned the Famille Plus certificate for its wide range of options for parents and children. Read on for just some of what’s available.
Amazing Activities
Probably the most important activity for any winter holiday is the skiing, and Alpe d’Huez caters well to families in that regard. Various lift passes are available, and many are discounted. What’s more, kids under five can use the lifts for free.
But what if your young ones haven’t learned to ski yet? Not to worry: the resort houses schools which teach kids as young as three the basics, encouraging play while they learn. Older kids, meanwhile, can take on more challenging lessons.
Even the most avid winter sports fans can be put off by the weather, which changes fast and often hard in the mountains. Young ones especially might find it hard to deal with especially biting cold or the dreaded low-visibility whiteout. Luckily, there are indoor activities that mean guests won’t be confined to their Alpe d’Huez chalets should the weather take a turn for the worse.
The resort has an amazing indoor sports complex, complete with a heated pool, squash and tennis courts and a climbing wall. There’s also a gym for fitness fanatics and a ball pit for younger children. And in case you weren’t enthusiastic enough about all that, there’s something special in the building next door: ice laser tag!
Seriously Cool Snow Parks
Alpe d’Huez boasts two snow parks to complement its range of runs. The park in Montfrais is smaller, but the one above the village at 1,800m is a larger and more beginner friendly. Fully equipped with ramps, jumps and grind rails, the park is the perfect place for older kids to test their skills and take skiing to the next level.
Beginner lines are on offer, allowing inexperienced skiers to build up to the bigger and more impressive tricks. The star attraction, though, is the big airbag, which allows daredevil guests to hurl themselves high into the air without risk of a hard landing.
Each snow park also offers automatic filming. Why not encourage your young ones to log in with their ski pass, watch a video of themselves on the big screen and get a link to show their friends back home?
Cosy Alpe d’Huez Chalets
The resort is split into several different sectors, so your first goal when booking should be to make sure your accommodation is close to your chosen activities. Parents with younger kids, for instance, should book close to the ski schools.
Luckily, each sector comes with a wide variety of good accommodation choices. Apartment blocks can get crowded with kids, so why not stay in one of the Alpe d’Huez chalets? They offer comfort and affordable prices, and kids are sure to love having a distinct family space.
There’s snow better place for family fun than Alpe d’Huez!
Tim Heal is the founder of Chaletline, a travel agency offering catered chalet accommodation in worldwide ski resorts. With an extensive knowledge of resorts and excellent post booking care, they pride themselves on the personal touch they offer to each and every client. If you're looking for the perfect Alpe d'Huez chalets they can quickly and efficiently match you with the ideal accommodation. Catering for individuals, couples and groups up to 50, the knowledgeable Chaletline team will help you choose the right chalet in the right resort.
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