Property in Alpe d'Huez
Much of Alpe d’Huez has been transformed in recent years and the architecture of the village is now much improved with the addition of sloping roofs, old-wood cladding. As a result, the resort now has a much more traditional ‘French Alpine’ feel too it.
This transformation has not gone unnoticed and there has been an increase in demand from property investors looking to buy apartments and chalets to rent out to the increasingly wealthy visitors.
Detached chalets are hard to find in Alpe d’Huez so investors tend to focus on the new apartment projects where you are able to buy a fully managed rental property that often comes with use of spa and wellness facilities.
The best of these are genuine ski-in ski-out which tend to attract a 10-15% price premium over and above similar apartments slightly further from the piste.
Furthermore, the ‘year-round’ appeal of Alpe d’Huez with its strong summer tourism market ensures that rental income and returns tends to be above average.
If you are determined to buy a chalet rather than an apartment then resales can be found in the smaller villages such as Oz-en-Oisans and Vaujany.
Winter in Alpe d'Huez
Alpe d’Huez has one of the longest and most reliable ski seasons in the French Alps.
The large networks of modern lifts now link charming villages such as Vaujany and Oz-en-Oisans into the resort network and make for fun family ‘day trips’.
You will also find plenty of great mountain restaurants en route offering modern and classic French Alpine fair.
Dominating the ski area is the 3,330m ’Pic Blanc’ that offers incredible views over the whole 250kms of piste.
Future plans include the linking of the resort to nearby Les Deux Alps which, when completed, would create the world’s third largest ski region with some 475kms of piste.
There is plenty of great skiing on offer in Alpe d’Huez. You can even get your ‘fix’ in the summer as the glacier holds summer ski and snowboard camps.
In the winter, the glacier ski area provides access to the famous ‘Sarenne Slope’ which, at 16kms long, is the world’s longest piste.
There are many incredible runs in Alpe d’Huez and you can often ski for over an hour without having to get on a lift!
Summer in Alpe d'Huez
With a reported 300 days of sunshine a year, Alpe d’Huez is a popular summer destination with tourists flocking to this part of the French Alps to enjoy the huge variety of outdoor Alpine activities on offer.
Indeed, the resort often receives over 1m visitors throughout the summer.
Some come to ski on the glacier while many just look to unwind in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the wide range of hiking and biking trails as well as some delightful outdoor swimming pools.
Once a year, the resort is firmly in the spotlight as the Tour de France comes into town and France’s cycling-mad visitors flock here to watch the iconic Stage 18 of the race. With its energy-sapping 21 hairpin bends and steep climb from the valley floor it is definitely one left to the professionals!