Val d'Isere self-catered apartments

When planning your break away to the mountains here are a few things worth thinking about before you decide what to go for.

Book early
We recommend you book your apartment accommodation as soon as possible. Apartments usually sell out quite quickly and a lot of people book as early as January for the next winter season. Book it before buying your flights or train ticket, the reason being that availability may be limited and arrival/departure dates are not always as flexible as travel options.

How long you want to stay
Most apartments in Val d'Isere are rented on a weekly basis only. You’ll find that Saturday to Saturday rentals are most common, but increasingly with the times being as they are, dates can be flexible and some chalet companies may provide a mix of Saturday and Sunday changeovers.

Plus shorter and longer breaks are becoming more and more popular, so some companies may be flexible on their rental dates on request. Summer bookings in Val d'Isere are generally much more flexible on dates and length of stay, especially outside the peak months of July and August. This means that you can come for a long weekend, for ten days or for a few days mid-week more easily.

Size matters
Apartments to rent in Val d'Isere range from small studios to large chalet-apartments, making them suitable for all sorts of parties, from couples looking for a romantic escapade to families or groups of friends. Before booking your apartment, you’ll need to know the exact number of people and the ages of the children coming with you on your holiday.

Know your wants and needs
There are literally hundreds of apartments on offer in Val d'Isere, some providing simple accommodation at the foot of the slopes and others boasting five-star luxury facilities. Most come with WiFi as standard, but check before you book if it's important, some have ski-to-door access and state-of-the-art boot warmers, some don't, and if you need a large terrace with breathtaking views, a cinema room, designer décor or a pet-friendly property, make sure you book as early as possible.

You'll also find that many high-end companies offer concierge services who’ll take care of everything, from your ski passes to your lessons, your equipment hire, chauffeur services to take you to and from the slopes or drive you around resort, private chefs and spas with massages on demand. You're spoiled for choice in Val d'Isere!

Apartments in Val d'Isere are generally rented out on a self-catered basis. However, this doesn't mean that you need to take care of everything yourself since many accommodation providers offer a wide choice of add-ons to boost your holiday experience.

Catering
Catering is often top of the list of add-ons and can range from private chefs, welcome packs for your first day, or grocery shopping to fill your fridge and pantry before you arrive. There are plenty of private chefs and catering companies working in Val d'Isere, so take your pick – you can hire them for the length of your stay or just a one-off special dinner. Also, in the post-Covid world, food and drink delivery services are springing up in resorts making flexible self-catering much more of an option. Gone are the days when self-catering meant someone cooking every night of their holiday (however, someone definitely still has to load the dishwasher I'm afraid!)

What else is there?
Accommodation companies offer numerous add-ons to make your holiday as hassle-free as possible. When booking your apartment, you can often include lots of other services for an additional fee, from ski hire to ski passes, ski lessons, transfers, activities and anything else you can think of. This means that you can relax knowing that all the different bits of your holiday will be taken care of. Some may even offer a bespoke concierge service through which you can book high-end treats such as a 24-hour chauffeur, massages or private tours.

Apartment rental rates depend on many things:

• facilities and services
• location within the resort
• desired dates
• size of your party
• length of your stay

In general, you can benefit from discounts if you're booking early and outside the main busy holidays (Christmas, February half-term, Easter, July and August).

Like many ski resorts in the French Alps, a lot of apartment residences in Val d'Isère were built in the 1960s in a rather uninspiring style. Thankfully, the Albertville Olympics came along in 1992 prompting widespread upgrades and renovations to these structures. As a result, the current standard of much of the self-catering accommodation in town is quite high. Millions of euros have been invested in the tasteful redevelopment of former hotels and apartment blocks giving a real boost to the self-catering accommodation market in Val d'Isere without damaging the mountain feel of this magical place. Many of these renovations, as well as some of the new-builds, boast five-star facilities including indoor swimming pools, spa rooms, terraces with mountain views and even private hot tubs.

Where can you find luxury apartments in Val d'Isere?
Located very close to the centre of Val d’Isère itself, Le Cret is a great place to rent a high-end luxury apartment in one of the best ski areas in the world. This charming small hamlet nestled into the hillside with wonderful views over Val d'Isère. While there are more chalets than apartments here, what self-catering accommodation there is in this area is of a very high standard. Many of the apartments are based in traditional wooden and stone-clad buildings and have balconies with panoramic views. Ten minutes up the valley is the fantastic village of Le Fornet which has some of the best skiing in Val d'Isère, a high-quality also reflected in the standard of the apartments here.

If you’re looking to organise a corporate trip or a holiday with a big group of friends, Val d'Isere is a great place to host it. A charming Alpine village with great nightlife and plenty of choice when it comes to group accommodation, Val d'Isere has lots going on and it’s situated in one of the biggest ski areas in the world.

Where can you find big apartments for groups in Val d'Isere?
When booking an apartment for a large group of friends or a corporate retreat, you want to make sure you're as close to the heart of Val d'Isère as possible. Luckily, this is not a difficult requirement here as the majority of the apartments for rent are superbly located in the town's centre, a stone's throw away from the slopes and the après ski. There is a cluster of apartments around the main high street and many ski-in/ski-out apartments are located along the edge of the snow front, on the southern edge of town.

Val d'Isere is really well set up for mountain-loving families, with plenty of activities for all ages and a host of family-friendly apartments. Family holidays tend to have their own unique requirements, and services for families in Val d'Isere can range from providing cots and highchairs to babysitting and childcare services. Depending on what is going to make or break your family holiday, make sure you discuss it with your accommodation provider before you book.

Where can you find family-friendly apartments in Val d'Isere?
There are usually a few things at the top of your list when searching for accommodation for you and your family, one of the most important requirements being peace and quiet. That's why steering away from the busy centre of Val d'Isère may be a wise choice when travelling with children. The charming hamlets of Le Cret, Le Fornet, Le Joseray, La Legettaz and Le Chatelard are far from the hustle and bustle of the centre while remaining well connected to the lifts and slopes.

Another option is Le Laisinant, a 10-minute walk from Val d’Isère, which has some modern apartments for those looking for accommodation slightly out of town. Many of them have been refurbished to a high standard and offer great quality self-catering accommodation with convenient access to the ski area. For those travelling with older kids who want to keep them entertained off the slopes, there's no place like Val d'Isère Centre with its bustling restaurants and dozens of activity companies offering hundreds of things to do.

There are some great bargains to be had in Val d'Isere when booking your accommodation outside the main hotspots in resort.

How can you save money on your Val d'Isere accommodation?
A 20-minute walk down the valley is the village of La Daille. With its townscape dominated by tall, modern-looking apartment buildings, La Daille offers cheaper apartment options with direct access to the ski areas. These tend to be a real mixed bag but are usually good value for money.

Ski-in/ski-out apartments are the most sought-after in Val d'Isere. There's no better feeling than being able to put your skis on right outside your front door.

Where can you find ski-in/ski-out apartments in Val d'Isere?
Through the tunnel that leads out from the centre of Val d'Isère, you'll find the areas of Le Joseray, La Legettaz and Le Chatelard. They offer yet more residential accommodation, much of which is in self-catered apartments. What sets them apart is the high-quality of the accommodation and the fact that most are ski-in/ski-out, so it's an ideal location for those looking for ski-to-the-door apartments.