Les Deux Alpes Information

Apres-ski

There is a huge selection of après-ski bars in Les Deux Alpes catering to all crowds.

Notable establishments include the British-themed Pub Le Windsor (tel: +33 476 792 295) and Smithy's Tavern (tel: +33 476 11 3679; www.smithystavern.com), a cavernous restaurant, bar and party spot that attracts a lively crowd. Motown Café (tel: +33 476 805 547) in the centre of the resort is another good choice, especially for cocktails, live music and an all-round cool vibe.

Those seeking to let their hair down into the early hours can head to nightclub L'Avalanche (5 rue du Cairou), which attracts a lively gathering of skiers and boarders.

Eating out

There are around 70 places to eat in Les Deux Alpes, serving everything from classic French cuisine to cheap and cheerful fare.

Of the former, La Porte d'A Cote (tel: +33 476 805 002) serves quality food at decent prices and is good for a family meal; while Le Cellier (3 Place de Venosc) and Le Paellou (tel: +33 476 805 154) specialise in hearty, traditional food.

Other good choices include Casa Nostra (tel: +33 476 792 910), which receives consistent rave reviews for its beautiful meals and evening specials, including the regular sushi night. The intimate Chez Le Gaulois (70 avenue de la Muzelle) is also great, especially for its fondue and other regional French specialities.

For high-class gastronomy, try Le Raisin d'Ours (tel: +33 476 792 956; www.leraisindours.fr), which offers good value set menus composed of exquisitely presented dishes.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Les Deux Alpes is a nice place to explore off the slopes, and there's a huge range of activities beyond skiing and boarding. The active will enjoy the outdoor pool, ice rink (free on the lift pass) and a couple of sports centres with pools, squash courts and other sports facilities. The resort also offers bowling alleys, a climbing wall, paragliding excursions, helicopter flights, snowshoeing trails, sleigh rides and an abundance of picturesque mountain walks.

On the mountains, visitors can try electric mountain biking (available through the mountain guides office) or visit a spectacular cave of ice carvings 3,200m (10,500ft) up on the glacier. The sport of speed riding, which involves descending the slopes with a small parasail attached in order to get some really big air, is also available here.

Beyond the resort, take the gondola down to Venosc, a pretty, traditional village where there are delightful artisan workshops and donkey rides.

Family fun

Les Deux Alpes has been awarded the Family Plus Mountain certification by the French government for the range and quality of its facilities for families.

Unique fun activities here include the 'ice glider' (dodgem cars on ice) at the ice rink and the 'robocoaster' avalanche simulator. There are also regular firework displays, sledging and a local donkey petting farm.

There are several ski schools in Les Deux Alpes. Among them, the British-run European Ski & Snowboard School (tel: +33 4 7679 7455; www.europeanskischool.co.uk) offers lessons in English only and is excellent for children (from age four). Away from the slopes, the Bonhomme de Neige centre (tel: +33 4 7679 0262) can provide non-ski childcare from age six months to 12 years.

Retail therapy

There are plenty of shops in Les Deux Alpes, including a number of clothes stores with racks of knock-down fleeces, as well as trendier spots such as Billabong (88 Avenue de la Muzelle) offering designer gear.

The La Marjolaine chocolate shop (114 avenue de la Muzelle), sells exquisite, handcrafted delights. While, for savoury delicacies, Le Montagnard Gourmand (Place des Arcades) and Le Vieux Chalet (85B Avenue de la Muzelle) are well-stocked with local meats, cheese, wines and drinks, as well as the local liqueur génépi.

Splashing out

Take a helicopter ride to Alpe d'Huez either for a day's skiing or simply for the wonderful views of Mont Blanc. The experience is available to book through SAF Helicoptères (tel: +33 479 080 091; www.saf-helicopters.com).

Hotels

There is a wide choice of affordable hotels in Les Deux Alpes housed within a variety of buildings, from 1960s blocks to more sympathetic modern buildings and traditional chalets. Most accommodation is in the form of catered chalets and apartments or 2- and 3-star hotels. There are, however, a growing number of 4-star hotels in the resort, signifying its gradual move upmarket each season.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap