This year we were lucky enough to pick Les2Alpes as our destination, here's why it was a good choice, along with one or two bad points about the place.
To get to this high mountain resort we flew from Gatwick to Grenoble, a 1 hour 5 minute flight with a 1 hour 30 minute transfer on the ... Read review
Directly linked to the main mountainside of the ski area and to the glacier via a ... more
detachable quad: the \"Télésiège 1800 (télé village)\", the residences are generally south or southwest facing in order to soak up as much sunshine as possible all year round. The infrastructure of the neighborhood is made up of a network of covered free public parking lots that lead to small buildings settled on one side and to the village streets reserved for skiers and pedestrians. Arcades plaza, Grande Place, and Ecrins plaza that is filled with shops (bars, restaurants, bakeries, mini-marts, and sports stores) and the Activities Center dedicated to recreation (Club Forme 1800 with pool, bowling, and squash. Night clubs, game hall, and different businesses) are the highlights of the neighborhood. It's like one big club with all of the equipment and services you need, but allowing you the liberty to take advantage of whatever you like. A free shuttle to and from the resort.
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - A stones throw from the centre of the village and 300 ... more
m from the Diables cable car, this superb traditional wooden chalet-hotel is south facing with a panoramic terrace overlooking the glaciers of the Ecrins National Park. At the heart of the Oisans and the mountains of the Ecrins, Les 2 Alpes boasts the largest glacier in Europe and 300 days of sun a year. A large number of activities are available on the 220 km of slopes, making it an unmissable experience for snow enthusiasts.
Found high-up in a peaceful quarter of the Deux Alpes resort and offering magnificent ... more
views over the Vénosc valley, the Mercure is an ideal base for winter or summer breaks.Enjoy stunning views and a wide-range of cuisine, including themed buffets, at the hotel's restaurant La Muzelle. If you're planning a big day out, picnic baskets can be arranged at reception.After a hard day skiing guests can warm up with crepes and mulled wine in the bar, Les Ecrins, then admire the view from the heated terrace. In the summer, relax on the sun loungers provided.The Mercure's activity programs include ski lessons and a Kids' Club during the French and Belgian school holidays in February. Activities such as tobogganing, paragliding and quad biking are also possible.The resort's exceptionally high glacier allows guests to ski even in the summer and its terrain park is popular amongst snowboarders. Other activities offered include archery and swimming.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Located in the famous ski area Les Deux Alpes, Hotel La Meije offers a warm and friendly ... more
welcome in a charming and cosy setting and free Wi-Fi.La Meije boasts great flexibility. They offer any-day arrival or departure, and a bed and breakfast or half board option. The choice is yours.Hotel La Meije welcomes you in a chalet-style hotel featuring double, triple and family rooms. Most room have a balcony offering a beautiful view of the surroundings. Their wooden features create a cosy atmosphere.After an exciting day on the ski runs, relax in the jacuzzi or by the fire in the hotel's bar. Enjoy the sunny terrace in the spring.Hotel La Meije boasts a central location and is the perfect choice to enjoy all that Les Deux Alpes has to offer. It offers easy access to sport activities, shops, bars and restaurant.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Located in the resort of 2 Alps, next to the ski tracks, the hotel Les Mélèzes reserves ... more
you a warm and friendly welcome. Ideal for ski lovers.The hotel has 34 comfortable rooms with a cosy decoration. 4 rooms are junior suites which are ideal for families. Some rooms have a balcony with a mountain view.The hotel features a sauna, a Californian bath, a solarium, a private car park, without forgetting a restaurant and a brewery that offers local specialities.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
This cosy 3-star hotel is located high up in the mountains and boasts a relaxation area ... more
with an outdoor swimming pool, solarium, Turkish bath and a fitness room. Rooms at Le Souleil'Or have been decorated in a warm and refined style using wood and high-quality materials. Some of the rooms feature a private balcony. As you sample local cuisine in the restaurant you can admire magnificent views over the Alps from the hotel’s outdoor terrace.The Deux Alpes region is ideal for a hiking holiday. In the wintertime guests at Le Souleil'Or can benefit from the hotel’s proximity to the ski slopes.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Near the centre of the resort, Le Flocon d’Or offers direct access to the Pied Moutet ski ... more
slopes, fully furnished accommodation and unrestricted views of a splendid natural mountain setting.The spacious apartments with private balcony present fully equipped, ready-to-live-in spaces, complete with optional hotel services including bed and bathroom linen and cleaning service.In July and August, Le Flocon d’Or offers free guided hikes upon request, a children’s club for children between 4 and 11 years of age, and entertainment for adults and teenagers.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Situated 800 metres from the shops, main facilities and the nearest ski lifts, the ... more
Résidence Du Soleil is an elegant chalet-style residence featuring spacious apartments fitted with a balcony.The apartments present fully equipped, ready-to-live-in spaces, complete with optional hotel services including bed and bathroom linen and cleaning service.In July and August, on 2 half-days each week, free guided hikes are available upon request. A children’s club for children between 4 and 11 years of age, and a teenagers’ club for teenagers between 12 and 15 years of age are also available in July and August.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
HOTELYEAR BUILT 1988ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION LOCATED AT THE FEET OF THE ... more
SLOPES, IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE. THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT OFFER MAGNIFICIENT VIEWS OF THE DEUX ALPES RESORT AND THE MASSIF DE L OISAN MOUNTAINS. BAR AND RESTAURANT WITH A PANORAMIC TERRACE FACING THE WINTER SUN. KIDS CLUBAND SKI LESSONS DURING THE FRENCH AND BELGIAN WINTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN ADDITION TO SNOWMOBILING, TOBOGGANING, PARAGLIDING AND QUAD BIKING. ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ARCHERY, TABLE TENNIS, WALKS, ETC. AVAILABLE IN SUMMER. FREE ACCESS TO THE SWIMMING POOL.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
HOTELYEAR BUILT 1988ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION LOCATED AT THE FEET OF THE ... more
SLOPES, IN THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE. THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT OFFER MAGNIFICIENT VIEWS OF THE DEUX ALPES RESORT AND THE MASSIF DE L OISAN MOUNTAINS. BAR AND RESTAURANT WITH A PANORAMIC TERRACE FACING THE WINTER SUN. KIDS CLUBAND SKI LESSONS DURING THE FRENCH AND BELGIAN WINTER SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IN ADDITION TO SNOWMOBILING, TOBOGGANING, PARAGLIDING AND QUAD BIKING. ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ARCHERY, TABLE TENNIS, WALKS, ETC. AVAILABLE IN SUMMER. FREE ACCESS TO THE SWIMMING POOL.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Snow almost guaranteed Disadvantages: Awkward accessibility
...food we had was at Les Sagnes (Yummy Tartiflettes) and L’Auberge, which had a Michelin star and was excellent value at 155 Francs for the set menu. Both of these were at the Venosc end of the village. The best apres-ski we found was The Dutch bar in the Club Med complex. This was full of – amazingly – Dutch people, who really liked to party. Mikes bar in the town centre was good too with live bands at 5 o’clock, although it’s ... ...which has 4 PCs you can check your dooyoo reads on :-) At 40 Francs for half an hour you need to be a bit desperate though. Like I was.
Late nighters included La Casa, reputedly the place to score Coke. It looked more like a brothel to me, with its leopard skin seats and horrible Europop. We lasted about five minutes in there. Corrigans was the mandatory Irish bar that looks like a bunker – know the one? Thrown in was “Trad-Irish” ... more
This year we were lucky enough to pick Les2Alpes as our destination, here's why it was a good choice, along with one or two bad points about the place.
To get to this high mountain resort we flew from Gatwick to Grenoble, a 1 hour 5 minute flight with a 1 hour 30 minute transfer on the back of it. We were booked into a First Choice Chalet as a group of 8, along with another group of 6. The Chalet Grand Tetras wasn’t particularly grand, but this was more than made up for by the truly excellent food provided by the Chalet hosts, including L’Escargot as an aperitif one evening. Their claim to fame was that Paddy Ashdown had stayed there a few weeks earlier, coincidentally we had his bedroom – that’s probably as close to fame as I’ll ever get.
I’ve a few things to say about First Choice but won’t get bogged down on them, as they aren’t the point of this opinion. Whilst the Chalet reps were great, the holiday reps were so laid back they might as well have still been in bed. This was compensated for in several ways though. First Choice provide their own ski hire and technician. Most people would blanche at this, wondering what the con is. Well there didn’t seem to be one. Reasonable Carving skis were standard and they had a selection of newer skis, blades and boards available to play with. I got a buckshee pair of Salomon 720’s (Twin tips in the same mould as, but cheaper than, the Xscreams, 1080s etc. Offer more edge than Carvers and are good for tricks) for the last 4 days, which was a great bonus. They also provided a decent selection of trips and activities and made the effort to interest the customers without being pushy.
The village itself is un-picturesquely spread out along a valley and offered fairly poor skiing access. There is a free bus that goes around in a loop every 15 minutes, but it is annoyingly un-punctual. The reps said it was always like this, so be warned. A good tip is to take the bus to stop 14 at Club Med and catch “La Village” chairlift, which was never too busy. The poor access was enhanced by the fact that most of the runs back to the village are black, and the one green was closed. This meant the majority of skiers had to take a lift back to the village at the end of the day. I found the nearest black to our end of town, Combo Valentin, fairly manageable, so was able to ski right back to the Chalet, except when the pub beckoned.
In case you don’t know, runs are graded like this –
Black – Difficult runs Red – Intermediate runs Blue – Easy runs Green – Beginners runs
The skiing itself is very varied and includes 77 runs served by 57 lifts (See http://www.les2alpes.com/M-HI9899/FR/PLAN-HIV.HTM for a piste map). This is the official website piste map and the most up to date I could find. Unfortunately it’s tiny. Combo Valentin is the run on the bottom left with the piste shaded yellow. This indicates snow cannons in place – probably why it was the only run back to town open on the sunniest days. To the left of this run is Le Village, the end of town that we stayed in that was basically an accommodation village.
Above the valley lie a bunch of green and blue runs, which were horribly crowded at the start of the week as people found their feet. It was difficult at times to get higher than this quickly, because there is a real bottle neck in the middle of the mountain. One of the lifts from 2100 – 2600 metres burnt down last summer, and has yet to be rebuilt. This will really make a difference once it’s repaired.
The run from the top of the mountain to the town is about 13km, so makes for a good long ski. Near the top you can get onto La Breche, a long, interesting, but not to demanding red. This takes you down to Plan du Nord, a long and unfortunately often crowded blue, at the end of which you take your pick of the runs down to the bars. There are several interesting looking blacks on the hill. Super Diable has a fearsome bottom section that had me very worried at some points. Le Grand Couloir looked too horrific for me to attempt - a good challenge for the more experienced/insane.
If you really want to test your mettle the back of the mountain offers what is touted as “The 3rd most highly rated extreme ski area in the world, behind BC and Alaska”. A big claim, but La Graves’ 2200m vertical drop is not to be sneered at. It claims several lives each year and hosts the annual “La Grave Classic” every April. A freestyle race from top to bottom, the record stands at 5 minutes 25 seconds and this feat included a 40metre-cliff jump. To the chagrin of the locals a Canadian set this record in 1999. My mates tried it with a guide and said the route they took wasn’t too difficult, but enjoyable just for the sheer beauty.
The one trip the Chalet hosts threatened us with violence if we didn’t take was to Serre Chevalier. This was truly awesome. A huge ski area an hour away, with loads of powder, it’s a must do if conditions are right. Unfortunately this is the first year since 1998 that they’ve had decent snow, so I wouldn’t rush out to book up.
We took some group lessons with the ESF. My instructor was very good at his job, but on two of the days it was an hour before we got skiing due to his lateness and love of chin wagging. The day he spent making us ski greens on one foot without poles probably gave me the biggest step change in my skiing so far though, so I wouldn’t knock them too much. The classes were very small, varying from 5-7 which was another good point in their favour. I wouldn’t like to have been a beginner at this resort as the mountain just isn’t the right shape, having the difficult runs lower down.
On to the food. The mountain restaurants at Les2alpes were a bit of a disappointment. Panoramic at 2600m had ok food but very slow and surly staff. Chalet La Fee was good, but stupidly situated three quarters way down a black. A 6-man fast chair that was always empty served this black. An odd investment when you look at some of the horrible queues elsewhere. I ate most days at Le Capricorn at the foot of the Valentin Combo in the Club Med complex, quick service and not too busy.
The village offered a number of eateries and a numerous watering holes. The best food we had was at Les Sagnes (Yummy Tartiflettes) and L’Auberge, which had a Michelin star and was excellent value at 155 Francs for the set menu. Both of these were at the Venosc end of the village. The best apres-ski we found was The Dutch bar in the Club Med complex. This was full of – amazingly – Dutch people, who really liked to party. Mikes bar in the town centre was good too with live bands at 5 o’clock, although it’s very difficult to find. Upstairs from Mikes was Smokey Joes which has 4 PCs you can check your dooyoo reads on :-) At 40 Francs for half an hour you need to be a bit desperate though. Like I was.
Late nighters included La Casa, reputedly the place to score Coke. It looked more like a brothel to me, with its leopard skin seats and horrible Europop. We lasted about five minutes in there. Corrigans was the mandatory Irish bar that looks like a bunker – know the one? Thrown in was “Trad-Irish” music, which included anti-British rebel songs. Strange choice considering is was decidedly full of British skiers.
Well that’s about that. The snow conditions were very good, we had about a metre of fresh over a 4 day period with plenty of sunshine in between. To summarise the skiing, it was very varied and plentiful but let down on occasion by the poor lift system. This should be improved by next season though so don’t let it put you off. The nightlife is a big plus if that’s you thing, if not there are quieter areas to accommodate you.
For more info try http://www.les2alpes.com/M-HI9899/GB/INDEX.HTM This is the English language link to Les2Alpes home page. I would probably go back here because with a careful choice of accommodation (Club Med is ideally located, and had a bowling alley, swimming pool etc) and the lift improvements that are due, this high altitude resort (3600m at the top) has a lot to offer.
Advantages:
Good for beginners, good nightlife, sunny, access to La Grave, free swimming/skating Disadvantages: Limited skiing, not ideal resort layout, frustrating slope and lift layout at hometime
...Alpe D'Huez and Serre Chevalier, Les Deux Alpes might not be the first ski resort that springs to mind when you think of European skiing.
It's a little unfair as, on an individual basis, the resort compares extremely well to just about any in France. It is the second oldest in resort in the country, after the world famous Chamonix and can boast more than 200km of runs to itself. However, while 2 Alpes may individually have a large ski-area, it lacks ... ...or Espace Killy when it comes to a linked network of slopes. Essentially, with 2 Alpes what you see is what you get.
For most this won't be a problem - almost 100 different pisted slopes plus good opportunities to drop into off-piste powder fields should keep all but the most demanding skier happy for a week or two.
For the very demanding skier, an area lift pass will get you access to nearby resorts - but these require a bus journey (or a helicopter ...
tomstainer 28.06.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Les Deux Alpes
Advantages: Varied Skiing for ALL abilities Disadvantages: One big Road.
I have been skiing for 20+ years and have visited many of the resorts in the Alps during this time. Last winter though I spotted a cheap last minute deal to Deux Alps.
Cost- £299 Catered Chalet (skiworld) this included Flights from Manchester and a transfer of only 11/2 hrs, which is great for the Alps.
'Catered' chalets, I have found, can vary mainly due to the staff running them, but still offer the convienience of having a good bread based breakfast, ... ...a 3 course meal in the evening. With food taken care of a Hot dog on the slopes usually surfices. Most Catered chalets nowadays also offer free wine with the meal. If you are in a group then this is fantastic as when you have gotten over the vinigary taste, It sets you up nicely for hitting the bars!
The SKiworld chalet in Deux Alps was basic, but friendly staff who were effecient and could cook/clean, made this holiday.
The £299 price tag did ...
wompie99 27.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Les Deux Alpes
Advantages: Large and varied terrain. Disadvantages: The road. The aspect of the slope means icy afternoons.
Les Deux Alpes is a purpose built ski resort, it does not seem to have been planned at all. A large road runs straight through the middle of town, which seems to have sprawled alongside. Many of the buildings have obviously attempted to create a rustic, mountain feel, but for me the road interrupts feelings of charm.
But what about the terrain. A rapid and efficient lift system services a wide and varied landscape, that is suitable for all abilties. ... ...top, and links to other resorts are also possible. One thing that should be mentioned however, is the route back down to the village, in some sections it is steep and often icy. There is also a "beginner" trail down but this could not be recommended for riders, it is narrow and has flat spots.
All in all, a good skiing experience, but with a few definite drawbacks. ...
joffrey 10.12.2000
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Advantages: Steaming nightlife Disadvantages: No trees, fairly bland surroundings.
The above is just one opinion given to this resort, which is slightly cruel, but the road so meanly layed between the vallies holds the bars and clubs to one of the best nightlifes in the Alpes!! so forgiven. Just 1 hour transfer from Grenoble it is accessible and versatile for most levels of skiers. Terrain is varied, with great long runs from the glacier for crusing, mogul fields, chalenging steeps and a difficult red pieste on return to the resort ... ...the Eggs down. (Most of the begginers runs are at the top of mountain, a wrong way round?!?) But for snowboarding i have had some of the best powder days in my life there. If you know the spots, the off pieste is supplied by lifts and is varied as fields of powder to picking a line down a cliff face. And with La Grave just over the hill there is alot of fun is to be had. The lifts can bottle neck and during the Febuary half term queing can be very ...
cathyp 18.09.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Les Deux Alpes
Advantages: Great for all abilities Disadvantages: none
...first time I went to les deux alpes. Wow, it is the best skiing resort I have ever been to! There are loads of different pistes for all abilities and even a snow park. You never have to queue for more than a minute at chair lifts etc because there is so many. As it’s a glacier you can ski all year round. The resort has many other facilities like bowling, swimming etc. There are lots of shops, pubs etc and plenty of chalets and hotels. There is a ...
PrinceCharles 12.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Les Deux Alpes
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Advantages: Good variety of runs Disadvantages: Snowfall seems to have reduced
the appartment (Raclette, Fondue or local produce from the market).
In summary:
Lifts - a good mix of chair, "eggs", T-bar
terrain - varied from very easy green to nice steep blacks with tracks through the trees and other off piste.
Accomadation - clean but basic (more expensive Hotels are also available here)
Driving time from Calais - around 10hours
Lift pass price - 100GBP for 6 days (this includes a day at Alpe D'Heuz, LesDeuxAlpes )
People - We found them all very friendly and not many UK people. You even get to see Luc Alphand's dog!! (Luc Alphand was World Champion Downhill skier from Serre Chevalier)
Snow making - they do have snow cannons that are used whenever possible.
I have never had bad snow but friends of mine have and they hated the place because if there is no snow there is not a fat lot to do (like most ski resorts ...
Advantages: Great range of slopes, good night life Disadvantages: No tree line ski-ing, expensive
hr (Grenoble) and 2-3hrs (Lyons/Geneva) and will depend on traffic and weather conditions.
The journey tends to be pretty uneventful, passing by a few old chateaux, some French countryside and motorway, that is until you reach the Casino supermarket! Since it’s creation in 1999, the car park behind Casino has proved to be a popular stopping point with coaches before the ascent into the mountains to reach the resorts of Alpe d’Huez, LesDeuxAlpes, Serre Chevalier and Montgenevre. The stop boasts the supermarket, obviously, but more importantly the toilets! Most people tend to be bursting by this time and I always look forward to the stop so I can leap out and relieve myself... but believe me, relief is certainly not for the faint-hearted! You see the toilets occur in the form of 4 portaloos. Now we’re not talking ...
wease 06.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Alpe d´Huez
