Gites in area surrounding Grenoble

sgt822

Hi all, have 2 weeks booked of late august and want to grab some alpine action. The plan is for 4 adults (2 cyclists) and 2 young kids to hire a gite somewhere in the area just south of Grenoble. Making it a handy base for the Alpe d'Huez.

Ideally need a self contained unit with a pool and satelite TV to keep the kids and non cyclists happy and amused.

Have tried browsing the web but its a nightmare and can't find a decent user friendly site that covers this..

Does anyone have any recommendations from their experiences either of a quality gite or a website or travel company they have used who can best advise?

Finally is it worst hauling the bikes over from the UK or hiring when we get there?

Its my first trip to France for a cycling holiday so please assume I'm the thick Cumbrian that I am and don't assume I have any knowledge!

Cheers in advance...

mr_poll

Not sure if it suits but have you looked at Eurocamp/KeyCamp (also Canvas and cycling sponsor Vaconsoleil) - they do self catering (tents and mobile homes), usually have some sort of pool complex and have kids clubs/entertainment for the smaller ones in your life. Been a few times and cannot fault them at all - may be a bit more than a Gites but there is more going on and will also mean the non cycling adults in your life also get a break. Not sure what availability will be like as its late to book but I booked a 9 day holiday in Italy in August with them at a good parc in a tent so there are still deals out there.

Just a thought.

CumbrianMan

Now come on Sgt822, us Cumbrians ain't thick. Keep the Cumbrian faith !! (says he who moved away from the best cycling terrain in England - that's what women do for ya !).

Anyway, for good info for routes and rides in the area, have a look at Russell Standring's website, www.grenoblecycling.com . There's plenty of info, and Russ might know of some places, plus have a look on his forum.

Alternatively, when we went, we stayed at a lovely apartment at the foot of ADH - http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p82317 . Superb property, close to all the amenities.
Here's some more - http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/bourg- ... ind.squery . A few of them are actually on a site where you have access to a pool. Naturally they are self catering, but the one we stayed at was very close to the Casino supermarket.

Re bikes, we travelled with EasyJet to Geneva, from Liverpool, and it was easy (apart from baggage handlers at Lpool walking over the bike bags on the ramp into the plane). Then hired car at Geneva and travelled down to ADH.
Alternatively, in centre of Bourg D'Oisans, there is a cycle shop called CyclesEtSports (they have a website), and they hire bikes.

Loads of climbs in the area, such as ADH, Col de Sarenne, Col du Glandon, Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Lauteret, Col du Galibier, Col d'Ornon, Les Deux Alpes, La Berarde, Col de la Mort.

Have a good time, whatever you decide.

Cheers

sgt822

Well that Holiday rentals site has chucked up some great options. So many thanks Cumbrianman.

I'm sure even I can get it right from here!

After two days of hard training up the lakeland passes in preparation of the FWC I can understand teh atraction of some flatter terrain. So I am looking forward to the 2 days I have in Surrey this week for a little on the level respite!

CumbrianMan

Ironically, I'm doing the exact reverse. I'm leaving the flat of the Wirral next weekend and visiting the folks in Workington. Bringing my bike so that I can get out and climb some hills. Have in mind a loop to include round back of Bassenthwaite, thro' Keswick, up and over Honister, thro' Loweswater and up to Mockerkin, and back to Wkton. Gotta get fit for the Italian Alps in Sept !! (Stelvio with 48 hairpins - now there's a climb )

rc856

We stayed in a gite in Allemond which is about 6 miles along from Bourg d'Oisans

http://www.gites-de-france.com/liste-he ... ion_adm=22

It's right in the middle of Alpe d'Huez one way and Cold du Glandon/Croix de Fer etc the other.
It had an open air pool but we went too early in the season.
If I remember, there was a campsite there as well.

As Cumbrianman has listed...lots of great climbs. We didn't have many miles in our legs but we had such a good base, we did most of those.

Ands

I agree with the others about staying round Allemond or Bourg d'Oisans. There is heaps in the area for young children, with Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes both easy to get to. We have stayed 4 times in the area (3 times at Camping Le Belledonne near Allemond, which is a lovely small campsite with a great pool complex, and once at Camping La Cascade at the foot of ADH (handy for town and the Alpe but the pool wasn't that big) when our children were between 1 and 6. You can rent chalets/mobile homes at both of these. The chalets at La Cascade have TV. There are very nice outdoor pools in Bourg, ADH and Allemont, as well as an indoor one at ADH & Vaujany.

If you stay in the area it's easier to nip out and do a quick ascent of the Alpe before spending the rest of the day with your family. . Or you can ride up the Croix de Fer/Glandon and get them to meet you at the top for a picnic! ( I have holidayed there as a wife/mother as well as a cyclist so I know what it's like from both sides )

We have always driven down and taken our own bikes with us.

ecrinslodge

Hello we are offering some great deals on self catering during August. Our Lodge is great fun for kids, with private hot tub, table tennis table, UK Telly, Nintendo Wii, wireless internet and surrounded by forests and streams to explore. We are also specifically set up for cyclists with secure storage for bikes and we are llocated in the valley between Alpe d'Huez and Les Deux Alpes. If this sounds of interest to you, let me know and we can chat about possible prices. Hope to hear from you soon. Will