Make the most of your Alpe d'Huez ski pass

Whilst it's possible to buy your lift passes when you get to resort, instead of spending your first morning standing in a long lift pass queue in the cold, buying in advance means you're straight up the mountain on day one. Buying online couldn't be easier, and the pass card itself can be reloaded / recharged if you visit resort again.

Rather than opt for them to be mailed to your home address, simply pick them up in resort - it's just one less thing to remember to pack. There are usually pick up boxes/machines you can collect them from on arrival.

As with many things these days, the deals tend to be online, and that's no different when it comes to lift passes, especially if you buy well in advance taking advantage of any 'early bird' specials.

Web-only deals
Web exclusive deals offer fantastic value for duos, families and groups on the six-days plus passes especially, these are only available if you buy online (even though you can opt to pick them up in resort or have them posted to you).

The Family Package (two adults + at least two children) essentially means everyone skis at the children's rate, and if you're coming in a group of friends take a look at the web exclusive 'Tribu' package for savings galore.

If you're topping up existing passes card, reference numbers are required. It's also worth knowing that you'll buy your passes safe in the knowledge that up until the day before all passes bought online are fully refundable.

To make the most of your lift pass, set yourself the goal of experiencing the whole area. Get up early and catch the first and last lifts every day for six days in a row and ski it all. Then if there's time start on the off-piste. This way, you'll be maximising your piste-to-buck ratio. More realistically, take your time, enjoy it, and like us, take a long leisurely lunch after three pistes.

The ski area has:

• 111 piste-basher prepared slopes
• 250km of skiable distance
• 3,300m highest peak
• 300 days of sunshine per year (admittedly, that's a bit of a weird stat the resort tells everyone about - some of those days are in the summer. The lifts are open in summer too, for biking / hiking, but that's a different pass. Anyhow, you get the gist, it's quite sunny here)
• For the advanced skiers and snowboarders there's the Sarenne piste, the longest black run in Europe - 16km of pure pleasure with fantastic views
• Fun zones
• Snow parks

The lift-barriers check hands-free passes on the LEFT SIDE, remember to:

• Put your lift pass in a pocket on the left side of your ski jacket or trousers and you'll whizz through the turnstiles. Often ski jackets come with a small pocket on the left sleeve exactly for this purpose.
• Don't put any credit cards or phones in the same pocket as your pass, you'll simply confuse the machines.
• Kids trouser pockets are often lower than the sensors - use their sleeve pockets.

There are often single person lift queues to fill spaces on the chairlifts, don't neglect to use these and make some new friends on the way up.

And in all seriousness, take-off rucksacks and hold them in front of you. The straps can get caught on the lifts if they're still on your back, or you can be pushed to the front of the seat with the extra depth, and this is dangerous.

There is so much to do in the resort's fun zones. You'll find kiddy snow parks like Marcel's Farm and Roger's Slope, and for the older ones there's the sledge on rails; France's first sledging experience whilst wearing a virtual reality mask. The six-day plus pass includes discounts on tickets for the sledge on rails, which kids will definitely enjoy.

Ski in the dark after everyone else has gone home

Your ski pass enables a discount on skiing the Sarenne by night, organised by the lift-company, with limited numbers. Or can get a cheaper rate to access night skiing every Thursday on the floodlit Signal piste.

Personally, we're not convinced about this one during a week-long stay. But if the above is not enough for you, on a six to 15-day pass you'll get two days in Les Deux Alpes and one day in Serre Chevalier, Puy Saint Vincent, Montgenevre and in the Italian region of the Milky Way. It also gives you 25% discount on a pass to the off-piste powder playground that is La Grave.

Alternatively, if you plan to spend one day skiing in La Grave, the six-day Alpe d’Huez / La Grave pass gives you five days in Alpe d’Huez and one in La Grave. A word of warning though, La Grave is extreme off-piste skiing - it's no fun for families or the faint-hearted.

Get the Leisure Plus option

If you're not already exhausted by the prospect of all that skiing, also opt for the Leisure Plus pass with your ski pass. For an additional fee you will have access to the resort's outdoor swimming pool, indoor swimming pool, outdoor ice rink and sports centre where you can play mini golf, table tennis and use the gym.

These are great options for a day off the skiing, in the event of poor weather or a great way to spend a few hours after the slopes close.

Families, at the very least, may finally have a shot at exhausting the kids with this option!

Top Tip: This one's for the boys. Remember to pack your speedos as surf style / baggy swimming shorts are still not allowed in the majority of French swimming pools.

If you're not already exhausted by the prospect of all that skiing, and you think you'll still have some energy for dancing in your ski gear, you're in luck. The famous Folie Douce Alpe d'Huez is 'the' party on the mountain, only accessible if you head up via the lifts. Open every day for fun and frolics, with DJs, live performers, loud music and an unforgettable après-ski experience.

Just make sure you leave enough time to get the last lift down to resort, a last minute helicopter taxi home isn't going to be cheap.