Best Places to Stay in La Grave

In a spectacular location amongst the Alps southern glaciers & below the imposing 3,983m La Meije, the small village of La Grave is all traditional stone & simple, intimate accommodations. With just a few hotels along the main road, there is not a 5-star luxury hotel or Club Med resort anywhere to be seen. Perhaps it’s the lack of mid-winter sun, super-groomed piste & high-speed express hooded 8-seater chairs that’s keeping them away! In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a 4-star accommodation option in town, ensuring everything is affordable to the groups visiting the resort. Away from La Grave on the sunny alpine ridge above town, several hamlets have accommodations & the more substantial village Villar-d'Arêne provides important 'overflow' lodging alternatives during the busy periods in late-winter.

Search & book all La Grave ski accommodation here.

La Grave Accommodations

In La Grave itself, the obvious choice for most visitors is the Hotel Castillan. Its interior may be tired & not be to everyone's liking, but it is well-priced & 'authentic', plus is just across the road from the ski lifts. Other great places to stay include the Auberge Edelweiss, Skiers Lodge & Hotel Panoramic-Village (arguably the best in town). Numerous other options including gîtes, chalets & apartments are all just a short stroll from the ski lift base in La Grave. Try the following

Hotel Castillan  $$ to $$$ Hotel Castillan offers modest, but authentic La Grave lodgings directly across from the ski lift in the middle of the village. The place to meet after a day in the mountain, the food is always particularly good ....

Hotel Panoramic-Village  $$$ to $$$$ Hotel Panoramic-Village is arguably the best in La Grave. Offering wonderful modern rooms & suites with breakfast plus facilities including pool & spa area, the hotel is located only a short stroll from the ski lift ....

Hotel Auberge Edelweiss  $$$ Auberge Edelweiss offers boutique hotel lodgings with cosy rooms & family suites (complete with kitchenettes) within walking distance of the La Grave ski lift. Enjoy delicious local cuisine from the bar-restaurant....

Gîte Le Rocher Guesthouse  $$ Gite Le Rocher provides simple hostel style bunkrooms with private bathrooms in a perfect location on the edge of the car park near the La Grave ski lift. Enjoy the bar & great food as you look up to the glaciers on La Meije...

Aside from single, independent apartments available for rent in amongst the laneways of La Grave, anyone seeking to self-cater can choose from two modern establishments close to the ski lift.

Panoramic-Village Chalets & Apartments  $$$$ Appart'hotel Panoramic-Village is in a pedestrian area of chalets, 100 m from the centre of La Grave & the La Meije ski lifts. The property offers modern self-contained apartments & chalets with hotel services plus access to a wellness centre with pool & spa.....

Les Enfetchores Apartments  $$$ to $$$$ Les Enfetchores has fully self-contained apartments only a short walk from the ski lift in La Grave. Perfect for groups looking to self-cater, the apartments have beds for up to 8 guests .......

Ski-in Ski-out Lodgings

Up on the mountain at 2,508m elevation, the only ski-in ski-out lodging at La Grave is the Everiste Chancel Refuge. Access is by ski only via the lifts & the Vallons de Chancel. The refuge is usual lunch stop for groups, but it has simple overnight lodgings & food for the ultimate alpine stay in the area.

Hamlets above La Grave

Several traditional hamlets on the ridge above La Grave have incredible views across to La Meije plus enjoy long days of sunshine comparative to the valley. The hamlets are between 4 to 7km from La Grave & include Ventelon, Les Hières, Les Terrasses or Le Chazelet. Each retains its mountain village authenticity & has simple guesthouse rooms, apartments & chalets available for skiers. Down valley, the hamlet of Les Fréaux may have something too. One the best options is in Ventelon at La Maison d'Irene. A car is required to make accommodations in the hamlets useful.

La Maison d'Irène Guesthouse   $$ to $$$ La Maison d'Irène Guesthouse offers cosy rooms with breakfast in the hamlet of Ventelon. Located in a sunny position with mountain views, the guesthouse is only 5km from La Grave & the ski lifts......

Villar-d'Arêne Accommodations

Should La Grave & its upper hamlets be booked out (it happens!), then the nearby village of Villar-d'Arêne usually has availability. At an elevation of 1650m & only 3km away from La Grave toward the Lautaret Pass, Villar d'Arene is set in a more spectacular location than La Grave, up out of the valley & with a full view of the incredible glacier-draped peaks.

Search & book all Villar d'Arene ski accommodation here.

A substantial village, it has several hotel, apartment, chalet & guesthouse options, the best of which are the La Roche Meane Guesthouse, Hotel Le Faranchin & Hotel Les Agneaux. Further away from town, the relatively remote Gîte Le Pas de l'Ane may be worthwhile for anyone looking for exceptionally quiet lodgings, with backcountry skiing directly from the door! As with the hamlets above La Grave, staying in Villar-d'Arene is only useful if one has their own vehicular transport.

Hotel Le Faranchin  $$ to $$$ Hotel Le Faranchin belies its modest 2-star rating, providing excellent lodgings in the village of Villar d'Arene, 3km from La Grave. Affordable comfort & convenience in a stunning mountain village setting ......

Hotel Les Agneaux  $$ Les Agneaux is another modest but friendly, comfortable & affordable 2-star hotel in the village of Villar d'Arene, 3km from La Grave. The stunning mountain village setting prepares you the excitement of skiing La Grave......

La Meije Blanche Condo-Hotel & Apartments  $$$ La Meije Blanche Condo-Hotel in the village of Villar d'Arene, 3km for La Grave, offers modern, clean, spacious self-contained apartments, perfect for families & groups.....

La Roche Meane Guesthouse  $$ to $$$ La Roche Meane Guesthouse is set in a renovated old farmhouse, providing comfortable B&B lodgings in Villar-d’Arène, a village, 3km from La Grave. Family friendly, affordable & in an authentic French Alps setting ......

Hotel Gîte Le Pas de l'Ane  $$ to $$$ Hotel Gîte Le Pas de l'Ane, is in a quiet remote location near the village of Villar-d’Arène. The gite offers delicious & hearty meals & affordable comfortable lodgings in a splendid alpine location a short drive to the ski lifts at La Grave ......

Other Lodging Options

For anyone with a car, day trips to La Grave can be easily achieved from any of the nearby resort villages. Whilst none has the charm, proximity or authenticity of La Grave, apart from perhaps Venosc on the southern side of 2 Alpes, the range of accommodation options at each is vast.

To the west, Les 2 Alpes is the closest & easiest to reach. Below that, the major valley town of Le Bourg d’Oisans is next, followed by the multitude of villages in Alpe d’Huez.

To the east, well beyond Villar d’Arene & the Col du Lautaret, the many villages of Serre Chevalier ski resort, vastly expand the lodging possibilities. Note that the Lautaret Pass often closes during storms, potentially limiting access to La Grave on a powder day.