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UCPA Val d'Isere

Val d'Isere UCPA is located three minutes walk from the lively town centre and walking distance to the closest piste. However, there is a bus stop directly outside to take you to the slopes with buses coming every 10 minutes. The centre is a large traditional wood and stone chalet which can sleep 240 people. There are all the usual UCPA amenities including a dining room, ski/board room, communal areas and in the spirit of Val d’Isere. The centre is scheduled for renovation, however due to local town planning issues, this has been delayed. The centre is quite basic compared to other UCPA centres. 

Rooms

  • Multishare room sizes may vary, around 6-8 beds on average
  • Shared bathroom facilities on each floor
  • Twin rooms (bunk beds) with shared facilities

Food description

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.  If the weather is bad or your group wants an easier day, then you can also return to the centre for a hot lunch (pastas, schnitzels, steaks and chips plus unlimited ice cream).
Dinner is a 4 course buffet - typically a salad bar style starter, choice of 3 or 4 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.

Entertainment

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, karaoke and some evenings a live band.

Equally in the town there is a great selection of bars & nightclubs to suit all tastes.

History

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.

Useful facts

  • There is a car park for UCPA guests only, small charge. Located opposite
  • Free entry into swimming pool in Val d'Isere with UCPA liftpass NB no board shorts allowed - only trunks!
  • Go into town along the footpath by turning right out of the front door, rather than left along the main road

Location

  • 3 minute walk from the town centre
  • Bus stop for the lifts 20m away

UCPA VAL D'ISERE FACTS

  10 minutes by bus
 
 

4 - 8 persons
 
 240
  Full board
  Bar 
Nightclub
Wifi


REVIEWS – READ WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT US!

Val d'Isere | Ski Full Time Instruction

What was the resort like?

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Val d'Isere | Snowboard Half Time

I went on Snowboarding holidays by myself Xmas time. I'm single girl and unfortunately most of my friends are either couples or would not go on skiing and boarding vacation. At first I was a little bit worried, but as soon as I got on a bus with other travellers I was hit by amazing bubbly atmosphere. All the guides and instructors were very friendly, always happy to help and advice. This was an amazing surprise considering that most of them work on very low pay. Also I met bunch of great friends. I opted to stay with three other girls in shared room, and all of us get on very well. Usually I'm used to more expensive and luxury holidays. Despite all the rooms being very basic, it was very clean, food was fantastic and snowboarding equipment was very new. I would definitely recommend to any single or a couple or bunch of friends to go with this company. I'm actually just about to book my summer holidays with them now. It's a little bit different to drinking and partying and I love it !

Val d'Isere | Beginner Snowboarding

I had just moved to London about four weeks previous from Australia and was still unfamiliar with European travel and experiences. I'm a teacher's aid, so I get the school holidays off. I had a week off in February and really wanted to hit the slopes to work on my snowboard skills. I had looked at other tours and snow packages and they were all coming up near the 1000 pound mark, which was too expensive on such short notice (as this was the week before I was looking). I was lucky enough to see a post on facebook about action outdoors and looked more into it and further conversation on the phone convinced me that I should try it as it was an all inclusive package at a more than reasonable price! So I booked it literally the day before I left and I must say, it has been one of the best things I have ever done!! The people were friendly and my instructor was very helpful, teaching me the basics of snowboarding and encouraging and helping me where needed. The food was good and the rooms tidy and sufficient for a week of boarding. All in all, I left with new friends and great memories. I loved Val D'Isere and definitely hope to return again. :)

Val d'Isere | Ski Full Time

Third time with UCPA, third resort and yet again fantastic holiday!

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La Plagne, Val d'Isere, Val Thorens, Chamonix | Ski Full Time, Ski Off Piste

The UCPA system offered by Action Outdoors was so good that I spent seven weeks in four different resorts with them in 2013. I started as a very basic skier and went all the way to completing an off piste course in that time. Everything about the experience was top rate. The instruction was excellent. The food was delicious with plenty of it. The vibe and philosophy at the UCPA centers was totally compelling. It was a truly unigue experience and there is no way on earth that anyone could match them for value for money.Action Outdoors proved themselves a very helpful and friendly organisation in managing my whole trip.  I will never ski with anybody else ever again. This is the real deal. Thank you UCPA and Action Outdoors.

Val d'Isere | No Instruction

Fantastic week-one of the best week's skiing I have ever done. Package put together by Action Outdoors was excellent. Accommodation in the UCPA was clean, well organised, basic but perfectly adequate with plenty of secure locker space in the dorms. Food was out of this world -simply excellent. Three meals a day with French Chefs serving in the evening and plenty of choice, simply help yourself. Great company and new friends made with a sociable atmosphere in the bar in the evening. No real complaints -but next time I will book the ski instruction as well. These guys had a fantastic feedback from the people who were taking lessons and although I am a good skier I would definitely take this option next time. Looking forward to next years trip already! Many thanks.

Val d'Isere |

Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday. A very good deal in a wonderful resort. The food in the ucpa did the job, it was simple and filling. I was very impressed with the facilities, given the price. The only thing that I would suggest is more stops on the coach journey as there was one point whereby we didn't stop for a good 8 hours. However, I will be hoping to visit the same resort again next year and if all goes well book another holiday with action outdoors.Thank you.

Val d'Isere | Ski Full Time

This was my first time skiing and I absolutely loved it! The lessons were great! I started of in the beginners group, then they split us up to smaller groups so you could learn at your own pace. I also had a good time staying at the UCPA where I shared rooms with 3 other people. Lots of good food and an overall pleasant stay!

Val d'Isere | Snowboard Full Time Instruction

The resort is good, lots of potential for going out, though it's not cheap.  Luckily the food at UCPA was very good and after a hard days boarding, an early night works well.  The common areas in the UCPA were fine, but the accommodation in the dorms was quite poor - although clean, the creaky wooden bunkbeds were a bit constricting for taller people.  The guys who organised the rooms done a very good job of putting people of similar backgrounds, languages, and nationalities together, so it felt like you already had something in common with the people in your room when you got there.  Or maybe I was just lucky!  Our tutor / guide (!) was fantastic, knew the ski area (and where to find powder) very well and kept a good eye out to make sure the group kept together but without holding anyone back.  The apres-ski in the UCPA itself was a little limited but long dinners with a bottle of wine went some way to making up for it!  Number 1 hint for future travelers is to schedule your transfer bus from the airport to the resort correctly to make sure that you don't have to wait for too many hours!

Val d'Isere | Ski Full Time Instruction

I arrived at UCPA Val D’Isère on Sat 30th March 2013 for a week of Intermediate Full Time Instruction. I arrived at night and found a neat little envelope with all the information I needed. In the morning the reception staff were very helpful and I organised my ski hire which is conveniently located downstairs.

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VAL D'ISERE FACTS

Best For: Apres ski
Resort Charm:
Centre Comfort:
Nightlife:
Nearest Airport: Geneva (220km), Chambery (130km)
Coach Available:
Fun Fact: Amazing nightlife
Snowsure Rating:

UCPA AGE POLICY

UCPA was originally set up to provide affordable adventure holiday packages for people aged 18 to ​39.

Today the UCPA has a wide variety of excellent value ski & snowboard packages for people of all ages.

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Testimonials

  • The food offers great variety, choice (several options each night), quantity (as much as you want) and quality is decent (7/10). Cheese and yoghurts coming out of your ears, packed lunch option, afternoon...
    Anna R
  • Lunch and dinner were epic. Buffet style with delicious and varied options each day and night. Not cheap foods either - Full roast chickens, ribs, roast beef, etc. Unreal!
    Ron H
  • There is always a range of ages, nationalities, mixtures of solo travellers, couples, groups etc. We have booked as a group of 6, a group of 36 (no joke) and even just me and my boyfriend – it works for all.
    Anna R
  • The lift pass is amazing. It didn’t cover just Tignes, but all of Espace Killy. The pass alone was 228 euro if bought on its own. 
    Ron H
  • No matter how hard you try, when you book everything separately (especially with the Euro and price of food at the moment), you will never beat UCPA.
    Anna R
  • We all appreciate that we are inside one of those perfect moments, heightened by the expectation of another afternoon riding the perfect, untracked powder that our instructor...
    Matt J
  • UCPA is a unique and brilliant experience, I would not describe it as a hotel but also not hostel it is somewhere in-between. Its a place where meeting people and making friends...
    Peter E
  • The food is PHENOMENAL at UCPA – brilliant for those with eyes bigger than their belly. 
    Asim A