 Poster: A snowHead
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This is a feedback thread for Specialman's resort report:
Alpe d'Huez (April 2009)
Feel free to add, comment, or write your own report...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I thought Specialmans report ref. Alpe D'Huez was pretty well considered, my only comments are;-
Ref. Lifts and getting around the mountain, once you have got up the DMC it probably is best to avoid going back to resort level until the end of the day, the upper runs are pretty well linked and the lifts are less busy higher up, the Rouses sort of ties things together.
To me the enjoyment of the skiing relies on the Sarenne being open, which is not always the case, since this also ties in the slopes at Signal de l'Homme, notably Col de Cluy.
He didn't mention mountain restaurants, which I think are quite exceptional and i.m.o. are more authentic and better value than most in the 3 valleys. The one at Alpette gets a particular mention.
Ref. the town, although not the most pretty, it works pretty well and is more attractive than many, there are plenty of good bars and restaurants, i.m.o. you need to stay in the main town rather than one of the satelite areas. Some of its lack of prettiness can be made up by the setting, the historic Tour de France climb and the view back to the town from Signal de l'Homme.
Like all places, understanding how the place works, where the best runs, bars and restaurants are helps your enjoyment. I think ADH offers a good balance between the impersonality of the megaresorts and more limited scope of small resorts.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Agreed on the on-hill dining which I think is very good (and reasonable value) esp when you take into account the fact that ADH isn't exactly attracting a Megeve-type crowd! Don't bother with the self-service places - there are lots of nice little cabins which will do you a plat du jour, steack frites or (in the case of La Grange at Alpette) a great pizza for EUR10-15, which isn't cheap but not bad compared with many places
I think it is sometimes a place that doesn't reveal its charms too easily so first timers can accidentally miss all the good stuff and come away with a negative impression. Totally agree with DavidYacht on the tactic of avoiding the central bowl as much as you can - the skiing would be OK if there weren't twice as many people there as there are everywhere else.
There is fun near-the-piste off-piste, but you do need to be careful of cliff bands. There is a lot of seriously wild committing stuff off the Dome des Rousses and Pic Blanc. Well worth splashing out on a guide for that. If you want a 2 hour taster get an off-piste lesson with Vaujany ski school which will get you 2 or 3 runs off the Dome des Rousses in an area which reminds me of Spanky's Ladder on Blackcomb but with better lift access and far fewer people
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Fair points guys. We didn't do any eating in the mountain restraunts, hence the lack of reference. Thinking about it, early season I would go back, just for the off-piste, but some of those rock bands looked seriously hardcore and not for the faint of heart!! 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We stayed at hermitage also and 18 out of 20 of us got sick including one girl for the whole week.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jimmjimm, which week? 28th March - 4th April? That's when i was there and there were a few of us who felt dicky for a day or two
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I've had a look around but I can't find any information (here or on Google)
Has the big new gondola link been built and opened between L2A and Alpe d'Huez?
If not, how difficult is it to get from A->B using bus/shuttles?
I have seen that there is a direct shuttle on weds and thurs during the winter season - and there is public bus which involves going down to the valley and changing bus.
Are taxis a viable option - at what cost?
Thank you in advance for any information you may have - much appreciated!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Thank you very much for the reply - much appreciated
Seems to be an awkward transfer between the two - I've emailed some taxi companies so will see what they say
I would have assumed there would have been a direct link between the two resorts (at a cost) very surprised there is no direct bus
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@elefantfresh, the lift connection thing has been discussed for many years (decades?) - if it was genuinely viable I think it would have happened by now.
Road transfer, yeah it's only 45 minutes according to google maps but yeah it's not straightforward with all the hairpins down/up. And I guess the other thing is that they are both decent sized resorts in there own right so the need is questionable.
We actually did it a long time ago. We were staying in Oz-en-Oisans and as we drove from the UK had a car to drive to L2A. Oz is a tad easier than from ADH.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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My boss at SATA was asked the question a couple of years ago and his response was it would be great to have but in reality it's not going to be happening anytime soon. I think the next big project(my personal opinion nothing has been confirmed!) after the Jandri in L2A will be the Bourg d'oisans lift.
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My boss at SATA was asked the question a couple of years ago and his response was it would be great to have but in reality it's not going to be happening anytime soon. I think the next big project(my personal opinion nothing has been confirmed!) after the Jandri in L2A will be the Bourg d'oisans lift.
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If that happens, then it might make sense to create another one to Auron and effectively connect the two resorts. It wouldn't be a quick link, but would allow people to go there without a car. Especially now with paid parking in L2A.
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You know it makes sense.
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ADH - best French resort outside of VDI/Tignes or 3V.
Big, friendly, good links, nice locals. Skiing for all levels. Off slope stuff to do.
Don't worry about no link to L2A - that place is no comparison
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Never heard of it until I started looking for a new place to Ski last year. The village/resort is massive , probably the biggest ive been too with plenty to do of a evening or for non-skiers.
Obviously the skiing isn't bad either
Surprised it doesn't get mentioned more .
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FAQ
