This hostel is in a fantastic location just three minutes walk from the centre of resort where you'll find plenty of bars, restaurants and shops and also just a few minutes from the lifts and the pistes.
This traditional wood / stone UCPA chalet sleeps 250 in rooms of three to eight people. All multi-share rooms have their own sink, with separate shower and toilet, shared with one other room.
Within the building is the dining room, bar, ski / board hire room, large ski storage rooms, and even a nightclub in the basement which rivals clubs in the resort centre for popularity. You can also gain free entry into the swimming pool in Val d'Isere with UCPA liftpass NB no board shorts allowed - only trunks!
The food is served buffet style each day. Breakfast is yogurts, cereals, fruit juice, coffee and bread - don't be surprised to see that the coffee, tea or hot chocolate is taken French style - a soup bowl!
Typically lunch is a DIY picnic made up at breakfast time (great choice of breads, meats, cheeses, pasta, salad, fruit, sweets etc). The picnic lunch means maximum time on the mountains without spending a fortune on expensive mountain side restaurants. Note that beginners will often return to the centre for a hot lunch. In Serre Chevalier lunch is often a BBQ on the deck when the sun is shining (frequent in this sunny valley).
Dinner is a four course buffet - typically a salad bar style starter, choice of three or four main courses - most often including fish, cheese selection, fruit, dessert and ice-cream freezer. Any special dietary requirements should be made known to reception staff at check-in. Generally vegetarians will find a wide enough choice within the buffet.
The UCPA staff lay on an entertainment program each week. It's certainly not Butlins and there is no pressure to take part - all quite low key. Typical program would include stretching in the early evening, crepe making, quiz, sketch evening and karaoke. Equally in Val d'Isere town centre, a few minutes walk, there is a massive selection of bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes.
UCPA is more than 40 years old, and was originally set-up by the French government to encourage young people to enjoy the outdoors. It is now a "not for profit" organisation with all profits being put back into refurbishing the centres. The ethos of sport is still first on the agenda, but the instructors and centre staff don't forget that it is still your holiday.
Action Outdoors' prices at UCPA include:
- Lift Pass
- Ski / Board Hire
- Instruction
- Accommodation
- Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Do the sums - a lift pass alone costs more than 200€, ski hire 100€ and instruction more than 250€!