Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Villages & Accommodation
The Alpe d’Huez Grand Domaine ski resort comprises seven main villages all ranging in size & altitude, plus numerous nearby hamlets & towns. All seven resort villages have direct lift & piste trail access to & from the ski resort, with many accommodation providers offering ski-in ski-out convenience.
Search & book all lodgings via our Alpe d’Huez ski accommodation listings page.
From north to south the first village of Vaujany is perched on the side of a valley at 1250m elevation and is connected by lifts & pistes to Oz En Oisans (1350m). On the main resort access road, first are the more traditional villages of Villlard Reculas (1500m) & Huez (1500m); then finally the sprawling, but ordered, modern behemoth of L’Alpe d'Huez (1860m). Further south across a deep defile, the small hamlet of Maronne (1450m) & resort style village of Auris En Oisans (1600m) round out the options.
Best Alpe d'Huez Mountain Lodgings
L’Alpe d’Huez
L’Alpe d’Huez is a sprawling, monstrosity replete with 6-storey hotels & apartment blocks. Better planned & somehow more acceptable to the eye than the hodgepodge development at Les 2 Alpes, it is still a resort village that in the end one either loves or hates. The village is large enough to have several separately named neighbourhoods (or 'quartiers') which vaguely from top to bottom are - Cognet, Bergers, Jeux, Outaris, Eclose, Passeaux & Vieil Alpe (so much for quarters!). Regardless of where one stays, most of the village is cunningly connected to the slopes by a series of open or enclosed passenger gondolas. Where the gondolas don’t go, regular buses fill the transport void. The major car parks for day-trippers is near Bergers, so it can get crowded in the vicinity early & later in the day.
To get a sense of the breadth of the village & proximity to ski lifts & services, see the Alpe d'Huez village map here.
Unlike 2 Alpes, L’Alpe d’Huez has a fine range of high-end lodgings, all with south-facing views & catering to a more well-to-do clientele. Whilst the predominant accommodation type is a typically French array of mostly privately owned apartments, there are also about 30 hotels to choose from.
The hands-down best accommodation on the hill is the ski-in, ski-out, 5-star Hotel Au Chamois d'Or. Located at the top of the village in Cognet, it is next to the main Grandes Rousses gondola. Practically next door, is the simple & affordable 3-star Hotel Le Dome, also in the resort’s prime position. Further down, but backing onto the slopes of Signal & still in Cognet, the 4-star ski-in Hotel Les Grandes Rousses is the perfect well-heeled alternative.
In Bergers, close to the day car park & lifts to Auris, aside from the sprawling all-inclusive Club Med, the pic (sic) of the accommodations is the 4-star elegance of Hotel le Pic Blanc.
Other hotels worth consideration are toward the centre of town, where the Chalethotel Belle Etoile offers an affordable option. And in Eclose, one of the better Alpe d’Huez hotels in style, but not necessarily location, is the classy Hôtel Daria-I Nor. If the hotels hold no interest but you are keen to stay in the main village, look at the host of private apartments & chalets for rent via the accommodation listings.
Huez & Villard Reculas
Just down the road from L-Alpe d’Huez, the original Huez, sits pretty, but overlooked by the looming apartment blocks above. It retains the traditional charm of a French Alps mountain village, albeit surrounded by the busy (& nightmarish) road made famous by the pain it induces on professional cyclists in the Tour de France race. Off the Huez road is the quiet, traditional village of Villard Reculas. The perfect spot to rent a chalet in a rural setting, it has a small ski area base connected to the broader domain but relatively few services & shops. It is best for those that are keen to be self-sufficient.
Maronne
Above the valley town of Le Bourg d’Oisans, the tiny authentic hamlet of Maronne has lots going for it, but the circa 1970s chairlift may not be one of them! Situated in the Auris lift pass sector of the Grand Domaine, the hamlet's location is seemingly a world away from L'Alpe d’Huez until you note the high-rise apartment skyline visible in the background. Never mind because the deck of the ski-in ski-out Hotel La Foret de Maronne faces the opposite direction! Stay here for traditional French hospitality away from all the hoi polloi.
Auris en Oisans
Maronne's opposite in the Auris sector is a small, slightly dated resort style village called Auris en Oisans. Families will enjoy its sunny aspect, reasonable affordability & fewer skiers. Views across to Les 2 Alpes are magnificent. All lodgings are ski-in ski out or damn close to it! Try the Résidence Odalys Les Balcons d'Auréa Apartments or the Hotel Le Beau Site.
Vaujany
The lowest of the resort villages at 1250m, Vaujany is the only one with lifts, but no ski trails directly back to it. Some excellent accommodation is within a short stroll of the cable car & two gondolas perched alongside the village. The villages main hotel is the excellent Hotel Le V de Vaujany. For a quality selection of apartments, try Résidence Prestige Odalys La Cascade - Les Epinettes, Les Balcons de Vaujany or the cleverly, but appropriately named My Second Home - Le Saphir - you may never want to return to your first home! Numerous holiday homes & privately managed apartments are also generally available for rent in Vaujany also.
Oz en Oisans
The ski-in ski-out village of Oz en Oisans is at a modest 1350m elevation but provides the best access to the Grand Domaine after L’Alpe d’Huez. Self-contained apartments & chalets are the main accommodation type. Choose from Résidence Couleurs Soleil Apartments or Chalet des Neiges Apartments. A new gondola below the Eau d'Olle dam connects the valley to the ski resort at Oz station, improving access for day-trippers.
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Best Accommodations in the Valley
Just off the road up to the resort village of Oz en Oisans, the original village of Oz retains its traditional mountain charm. Only 7.5km from the closest ski lifts, Oz has the superb Auberge La Cure providing simple, but gorgeous rooms & delectable dining.
If all else fails & you are after well priced accommodation in a central location, the main valley town of Le Bourg d'Oisans provides several options plus a range of local services not available in many of the higher villages. The best of the hotels is the Hotel des Alpes located right in the heart of town. Several other alternatives, including some pleasant homes, are also available, particularly at short notice. Some of the other hotels in town may not match the review scores, be wary! Bourg d'Oisans is convenient for skiing Les 2 Alpes & La Grave as well as Alpe d'Huez. Due to the confusing & often unreliable local buses, staying here is best for those with their own transport to drive up to the ski lifts. That said, there are bus services up to Alpe d'Huez throughout the day in winter, plus a free shuttle to Vaujany.
Search & book Le Bourg d'Oisans accommodation.
For anyone with a car and looking for somewhere quiet, beyond Le Bourg d’Oisans toward Venosc is a Powderhounds favourite, Ecrins Lodge. The drive to Alpe d’Huez may be longer, but the location, hosts, food & ambiance at the Lodge are worth it!
