Experienced skiers quickly realise that staying at big-name resorts in the Alps comes at a cost beyond the actual price of the holiday. The bigger the resort, the more likely it is that your accommodation will be far from the lifts and runs, the best restaurants will be booked, and the queues to get on the slopes will be reminiscent of the workday rush hour. As a result, many skiers opt to stay in smaller villages linked to world-class ski areas. This option provides all the skiing benefits at a lower cost without the drawbacks of overcrowding. While thousands of skiers struggle to get on the slopes at big-name resorts, those staying in smaller villages are already skiing and building relationships with the locals. For those who prefer the benefits of small ski resort life over big crowds and higher prices, there is likely no downside.

The good news is that staying in a smaller resort does not mean sacrificing après ski activities. Many small resorts now have a plethora of attractions, as local governments try to encourage tourists to visit them instead of adding to the overcrowding of larger resorts. Additionally, activity providers at larger resorts often extend their services to visitors in neighboring areas, allowing for a diverse range of activities. Lift companies have also installed gondolas and cable car lifts on key routes, making it possible for non-skiers to join skiers for lunch and activities near the slopes. Vaujany, a beautiful village in the French Alps and part of the vast Alpe d'Huez ski area, offers many activities off the ski slopes.

Here are some types of activities you that you can try when you visit this beautiful village:

  • Snowmobiling, is easily possible from Vaujany, and even novice snowmobilers can experience the thrill of racing around the mountains. Using the lift system, you can get to the Chantebise restaurant 2100m up at the mid station DMC and have fun in the empty snow fields near Lac Besson on a snowmobile accompanied by an Espace Moto Neige guide.

 

  • Vaujany has remarkable facilities considering its size, and its leisure centre, L'Espace Loisirs, is one of the best in the Alps. In addition to a versatile sports hall and a bowling alley, it has a 25m swimming pool, health centre, gym, indoor sports courts, and an international-sized ice-skating rink where regular ice hockey matches, curling evenings, and the enjoyable 'broomball' takes place. Furthermore, it has a kid’s paddling pool and water slide, as well as a spa area with sauna, Jacuzzi, hammam, and other amenities. Vaujany is fortunate to have its own snowshoe guide, Alain Hilion, who can lead visitors of all ages, including children, on half or full-day hikes through the surrounding winter wonderland of stunning beauty. Both novice and experienced hikers are welcome.

 

  • If you're interested in trying the traditional use of skis, which was popular for thousands of years before the advent of downhill skiing about 150 years ago, it's best to visit a smaller, untouched village surrounded by beautiful scenery, rather than a large, urban skiing centre. In Vaujany, there are approximately 50 kilometers of cross-country skiing routes suitable for all levels, accessible via ski lifts. Equipment rental and instruction are also available locally. Cross-country skiing is considered one of the best aerobic exercises, although the benefits might be offset slightly if you stop at one of the mountain huts along the way for drinks and cakes.

  • Another exciting activity to try is "flight-seeing," which is available to skiers and non-skiers alike. Taking a scenic tour of the area in a light aircraft or helicopter is a unique and thrilling experience. The Alticor in Alpe d'Huez, which is easily accessible from Vaujany, offers daily helicopter and light aircraft tours, weather permitting. For the more daring individuals, the glacier flying school even allows you to take the controls yourself.

 

To sum up, opting for a smaller resort such as Vaujany can give you the best of both worlds - avoid the crowds, save money, and yet have a plethora of options to keep yourself entertained every day. Now, where did you put that lunch menu for the mountain restaurant?