Families in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d’Huez has a long-standing reputation as a family friendly resort and has been awarded Famille Plus status by the French Ministry of Tourism in recognition of its excellent services and facilities for families with kids.
Family Friendly Accommodation
Most of Alpe d’Huez’s hotels and apartments welcome families with children but the following have been given the Famille Plus seal of approval for adapting to the needs of younger visitors and providing appropriate bedding, equipment and entertainment:
Hotel Alpenrose, Hotel Les Grandes Rousses, Hotel Le Pic Blanc, Residence Le Cristal de l’Alpe, Residence l’Ours Blanc, Residence Les Bergers, and Residence Le Christiania.
Ski School and Childcare
Les Intrépides (+33 (0) 4 76 11 21 62) is a crèche that takes kids from the age of six months to four years and has English speaking staff. The crèche is located just along the road from the Hotel Royal Ours Blanc, next to the Palais des Sports, and is open from 8.30am to 6.30pm every day.
ESF Le Chalet des Enfants (+33 (0) 4 76 11 21 62) takes kids from the age of two and a half for childcare and an introduction to skiing. The centre has a fantastic indoor classroom and play area where children can participate in fun and educational activities. Those who’re ready to get on the slopes can join the Piou Piou club and learn to ski in a safe and fun environment. The club’s nursery slopes have two magic carpets and two rope tows to make progression easy, and there’s also a games area to keep things fun. Packages are flexible and you can book your kids in for morning, afternoon or full day sessions, either with or without lunch included.
The ESF also runs a range of group and private lessons for older kids, including freeride and freestyle courses for teenagers. The meeting point for most classes is at Les Grandes Rousses/Rond Point des Pistes, near Hotel Les Grandes Rousses, but some also meet in Les Bergers, near the shopping centre and Residence Les Bergers.
Activities for kids
X Fly
X Fly is an adventure park for kids aged six and up, and has zip wires, free fall jumps and a ski jump with air bag landing. There’s also a vertical maze that’s suitable for younger kids aged four to eight.
In’vertigo
Inside the Palais des Sports there’s a suspended adventure trail where anyone from the age of four can climb, swing and tightrope walk around this aerial obstacle course. There’s also no need for harnesses as there’s a massive safety net to catch you if you fall.
Palais des Sports
The resort’s municipal sports centre on Avenue des Brandes, just along from the Hotel Royal Ours Blanc, has a great range of activities for kids including an indoor climbing wall, swimming pool, paddling pool and ball pool.
(+33 476 11 21 41)
Ice Laser Game
Outside the Palais de Sports there’s an Ice Laser Game (+33 (0) 4 58 00 12 18) where kids and adults can pretend they’re in a video game as they chase each other around a snow covered maze with laser guns. Open from 2pm to 8pm daily, it’s a great fun après activity for the whole family.
Ice Skating
The resort’s open air ice skating rink is suitable for kids from the age of three,
and rental boots are available from UK kids’ size 6. Skating aids are also available to help youngsters learn to skate. Entry is free for kids under the age of 5 and there are special discounted rates for those under the age of 13.
Sledging
There’s a free sledging zone set up on the banks of Lac de Bergers where you can sledge safely, and every Tuesday and Thursday evening the Eclose piste is floodlit and set up for night sledging.