Alpe d’Huez half term - too busy?

[Snowyhalfterm]

We (me, dh, 2 dcs) are beginners looking to book our ski trip for next Feb half term - unfortunately we are not able to do term times or Easter holidays so it has to be half term.
We have spent a long time researching resorts and like the look of Alpe D’Huez in terms of altitude, good for beginners and price (via Crystal). The only thing holding us back is that everyone says that the French resorts are v busy during half term. Does anyone have any experience of alpe d’huez during half term? Are the crowd levels a show stopper?
Everyone we know who skis goes at Easter so any advice about half term would be appreciated, thank you.

[Iamblossom]

IME when it's busy this causes an issue at the first lift of the day (because it's the one everyone uses to get up and out into the resort) and at lunch time.

If you can avoid being at that lift when the ski schools all set off, and maybe have lunch at 2/2.30 instead of 1, you'll be fine.

Having said that, we now ski in Italy instead of France, rarely queue for anything, quieter wider pistes, great food and friendlier people.

[rookiemere]

I'd echo what @Iamblossom says about Italy over France.
I was skiing in Pila - admittedly not at half term - and the Italians were so nice and the pistes so empty compared to what I have experienced in France.

Having said that Alpe d'huez is a big resort and agree about skiing between 12-200 being nice and quiet as lunch is sacrosanct to the French.

[rookiemere]

Also just saw you are looking for beginners- I would totally recommend this company www.pilaski.co.uk/ or if you prefer Crystal, Pila itself is such a lovely wee resort with loads of slopes for the beginner and lower intermediate.

[stringbean]

To be honest, as beginners you won't need the size of ski area that Alpe d'Huez offers. They probably have a few free lifts for beginners for the first day or two but after that you're paying a hefty price for lift passes that you won't get the use from. You could easily go to a much smaller resort and save Alpe d'Huez for when you have more experience and will get better value from a bigger ski area.

[LIZS]

Agree, there are smaller areas like Oz or Vaujany on the same area system which are good for beginners and quieter resorts, and use a local pass or point system. If you got proficient enough you can go further up into the interlinked slopes but would only need a pass extension then. Alpe dHuez does have a range of easy runs and good non ski facilities though. We went around Easter one year and queues were not an issue .

[Snowyhalfterm]

Thanks everyone for your replies, there is lots of food for thought - some of those resorts hadn’t been on my radar so I’ll get researching.

We had also considered Montgenèvre if anyone has any experience there?

[Sunshineandpinkclouds]

IME any high resort now will be busy over Feb half-term (as less people book lower resorts due to poor or no snow). We have just come back from a high resort in Switzerland and it was super busy as in addition to the good snow factor France, Belgium, Switzerland, NL and UK all had their half-term in the same week (which is not always the case but apparently will be like this til 2027 at least!)

[rookiemere]

Montgenevre is a lovely resort for beginners and intermediates.
I have only been at Easter and it was very quiet then, but I suspect it's not quite as busy as some resorts for Feb half terms as it's nearer Italy than France. We have been at Serre Chevalier which is about half an hour further into France a number of Feb half terms and it's never ridiculously busy.

[Toomuchleopard]

I’ve just been skiing in France last week at half term, not Alp D’Huez . It was very busy and the lift queues were bad at times but we just suck it up as we don’t have any other option. Easter is usually quieter but the snow can be dodgy by then so Feb should be better. Last year at Feb we were in Les Arcs which has a fast track queue for the lifts if you buy the full area pass. That was excellent and we hardly queued at all.

[Iamblossom]

Madesimo is brilliant for beginners, lovely hotel we stayed in, but extremely quiet in the evenings as in no bars or restaurants

Madonna Di Campligio is gorgeous.

When our kids were learning we did Tignes for many years stayed in the Hotel Diva...the kids club is based in the hotel, they take them to and from lessons, ski equipment shop is 2 metres from the door and it has a big boot room, lovely big bar and great food. We went there with Crystal ski a bit 4/5 years running.

We're just back from Courmayeur which we also enjoyed.

[Iamblossom]

*about 4/5 years running

[turtletum]

I would go to Montgenevre. Not that busy at half term as it's so close to Italy. Lots of lovely beginner friendly lifts and pistes, a fab si school ( A peak).

[Radiatorvalves]

We had an early half term. 10-17 Feb and it was really very quiet in southern alps. Montgenèvre is great but still a big resort for beginners. Have a look at Les Orres and Puy St Vincent.

[Rainbowshit]

We've stopped going to France in February as got so sick of how busy it is and the transfer day chaos. Austria was much better although the food wasn't so nice.