Alpe D'Huez First Trip - Advice please

All advice welcome. We have just booked our first ever ski trip with some friends to Alpe D'Huez on 9 April. We are all complete beginners with young children so will be sticking to the lower slopes. Plan a short course of dry slope tuition before we go. In particular, I'd appreciate advice on best place to hire equipment and ski passes. Seems there are free passes for 4 lifts - how long would that keep us amused? and first ski passes for 27 lifts - would that do us for a first trip? Any know/have a map of which lifts comprise the first ski? Snow chains - likely to need in April? Anyone come across Le Caribou Hotel? Cheers

Hi, I believe that there are a few regurs on here who are in ADH right now who will be happy to answer any questions when they get back

If you hang on a few days I'm sure the J2ski party that have arrived / are arriving :( in ADH will have full and detailed report for you.

Thanks freezywater and getjim - look forward to lots of advice in a few days!

Hi marshian

I would advise you not to buy a lift pass. If the four free lifts are the ones I'm thinking of (the drag lifts?) there's a very good chance you'll be more than happy on them for at least 3 days, possibly more. They are very nice slopes and long too, not just little nursery slopes. It'll save you a fortune. It's very easy to buy passes out there and your teacher will tell you when/if you need them.

As for ski hire, I'd check your location and go for the nearest. The village is very fragmented and it can be extremely inconvenient if you go for the wrong shop [as we did :roll:].

You'll have a blast, great place to learn :thumbup:

Thanks caron-a. We're in the part called Viele Alpe - hopefully not too far out of the way?!

I can't figure out where that is. Has your hotel changed it's name? I googled it and only found an article about the hotel formerly known as Le Caribou.

Thanks, still called Le Caribou - refurbished at beginning of 09.
Would also appreciate some info re snow canons - just posted another thread, I think...