Chalet guide to Alpe d'Huez

When booking your chalet in Alpe d'Huez, you’ll find that there are two main options: catered or self-catered. Essentially your meals are included in the price of your chalet rental or they're not.

Catered chalets in Alpe d'Huez
Catered chalets include accommodation and meals under the same roof. Generally managed by one or more chalet hosts who take care of cooking, serving and cleaning, the chalets are usually half-board and include at least breakfast and dinner in the price of your accommodation. Usually rented by the room and priced per person, they suit small families and groups of friends, as well as couples and solo travellers who want an easy, effortless holiday with no cooking or washing up involved. Some chalets have triple or family (quad) rooms available and sometimes the chalet company may rent out a catered chalet as a whole property for large groups.

Pros:

• Catered chalets are the best option for those searching for a hassle-free holiday, as there’s nothing much you need to do other than enjoy your stay.
• You’ll wake up to the smell of freshly cooked breakfast, come back from skiing to homemade cake and tea, and sit down to a three or four-course dinner in the evenings.
• Chalet hosts will also clean rooms and common areas.

Cons:

• The price per person of catered chalets is usually higher than that of self-catered chalets. However, you also get more bang for your buck since chalet hosts will cook your meals and clean after you.
• You will be sharing your accommodation with other people you haven't met before.

Worth noting: Chalet staff usually have one, sometimes two, evenings off during the week. When this happens, you’ll get a continental, self-service breakfast left out for you by your host, as well as afternoon tea and cake. For dinner, you’ll get the chance to sample the local restaurants. Alternatively, some companies provide self-service dinner, carefully prepared and left out for you, often in the form of a traditional Savoyarde fondue or raclette.

Self-catered chalets in Alpe d'Huez
Self-catered chalets include only the rental of the accommodation, so you need to take care of your own meals. They are ideal for those who want the chalet all to themselves, don’t mind/like cooking and ordering take away, and are happy cleaning up after themselves throughout their stay.

Pros:

• Self-catered chalets are rented out as a whole property, so you get the chalet all to yourself.
• They are generally cheaper than catered chalets, which means that you'll have more cash to splash on Alpe d'Huez's great selection of restaurants.
• If you have children, fussy eaters or those with specific dietary requirements in your group, it can be easier to cater for them in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Cons:

• You'll need to sort out your meals and clean up after yourself.

Worth noting: Many companies can arrange mid-stay cleans and linen/towel changes if booked in advance, and self-catering nowadays is much easier than ever thanks to the array of catering options available. Some chalet companies provide welcome packs or can arrange shopping deliveries and private chef services. And in the post-Covid world, food and drink delivery services are springing up in resorts making flexible self-catering much more of an option. Gone are the days when self-catering meant someone cooking every night of their holiday (however, someone definitely still has to load the dishwasher I'm afraid!)

When booking your chalet in Alpe d'Huez, you’ll find that there are two main options: catered or self-catered. These depend on whether your meals are included in the price of your chalet rental or not.

Catered chalets in Alpe d'Huez
Catered chalets include accommodation and meals under the same roof. Generally managed by one or more chalet hosts who take care of cooking, serving and cleaning, the chalets are usually half-board and include at least breakfast and dinner in the price of your accommodation.

Catered chalets are generally rented by the room and priced per person, based on two people sharing a room. If you’re a solo traveller, you won’t share a room but you may be charged a supplement for the empty bed. Some chalets have triple or family (quad) rooms available and these are priced slightly differently.

Pros:

• Catered chalets are the best option for those searching for a hassle-free holiday, as there’s nothing much you need to do other than enjoy your stay.
• You’ll wake up to the smell of freshly cooked breakfast, come back from skiing to homemade cake and tea, and sit down to a three or four-course dinner in the evenings.
• Chalet hosts will also clean rooms and common areas.

Cons:

• The price per person of catered chalets is usually higher than that of self-catered chalets. However, you also get more bang for your buck since chalet hosts will cook your meals and clean after you.
• You will be sharing your accommodation with other people you haven't met before.

Who should book a catered chalet in Alpe d'Huez?
Since catered chalets are usually booked by the room, they suit small families and groups of friends, as well as couples and solo travellers who want an easy, effortless holiday with no cooking or washing up involved. Some companies may be able to rent out their catered chalets as a whole property for large groups too.

Worth noting: Chalet staff usually have one, sometimes two, evenings off during the week. When this happens, you’ll get a continental, self-service breakfast left out for you by your host, as well as afternoon tea and cake. For dinner, you’ll get the chance to sample the local restaurants. Alternatively, some companies provide self-service dinner, carefully prepared and left out for you, often in the form of a traditional Savoyarde fondue or raclette.

Self-catered chalets in Alpe d'Huez
Self-catered chalets include only the accommodation in your rental, so you need to take care of your own meals.

Pros:

• Self-catered chalets are rented out as a whole property, so you get the chalet all to yourself.
• They are generally cheaper than catered chalets, which means that you'll have more cash to splash on Alpe d'Huez's great selection of restaurants.
• If you have children, fussy eaters or those with specific dietary requirements in your group, it can be easier to cater for them in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Cons:

• You'll need to sort out your meals and clean up after yourself. However, many companies can arrange mid-stay cleans and linen/towel changes if booked in advance, and self-catering nowadays is much easier than ever thanks to the array of catering options available. Some chalet companies provide welcome packs or can arrange private chef services. And in the post-Covid world, delivery food services are springing up in resorts making flexible self-catering much more of an option. Gone are the days when self-catering meant someone cooking every night of their holiday (however, someone definitely still has to load the dishwasher I'm afraid!)

Who should book a self-catered chalet in Alpe d'Huez?
Self-catered chalets are ideal for those who want the chalet all to themselves, don’t mind/like cooking and ordering take away, and are happy cleaning up after themselves throughout their stay.

If you’re looking to organise a group or corporate ski trip, Alpe d'Huez is the perfect place to host it. A charming Alpine village with great nightlife and loads of choice when it comes to group accommodation, Alpe d'Huez has lots going on and it’s situated in one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

What should you look out for when booking a chalet for a big group in Alpe d'Huez?
Many ski chalet operators in Alpe d'Huez offer large chalets that can accommodate big groups with huge communal spaces. These are located near the resort's main action hot spots, including local bars, restaurants and, of course, the slopes. However, even if they're not, dedicated transport will whisk you around.

There are plenty of budget-friendly accommodation options in Alpe d'Huez, especially outside the main resort area.

How can you save money on your Alpe d'Huez chalet?
The towns of Villard-Reculas, Oz en Oisans and Vaujany have a large selection of chalets which, because they are not located within Alpe d'Huez itself, tend to be more budget-friendly. Providing excellent access to the Grand Domaine ski area, most are situated only minutes away from the lifts.