35 Reviews
Chalet Alpen Valley, Mont-Blanc
Combloux|0.96km from Chapelle d'Ormaret
We booked the Mont Blanc Suite ”with equipped kitchen” for a family of 4 (two children aged 6 and 8) for 1 week during February 2023. This is a lovely modern and stylishly appointed hotel and good restaurant, however we have marked this down to 3 starts based on the fact we booked (and paid a premium) for a room with an ”equipped kitchen” which fell significantly short of expectations - just a microwave, sink, kettle, coffee machine, minibar fridge. Neither was there enough plates or cutlery - and certainly no bowls etc to cook anything in. We paid the extra for a suite with kitchen to save costs expecting that we would be able to cook in the evenings - which was clearly impossible. After 3 visits to hotel management explaining we had been mis-sold our room we were offered 1 x evening meal in the restaurant which we accepted. We explained this was insufficient compensation and would welcome an offer of compensation. Only on check out did we get a realistic discussion with the hotel director. It was a frustrating discussion to say the least - he accepted that we had been mis-sold our room based on its description, but that there was nothing they could do about it!!!! We asked for a 10% reduction in the bill, to reflect our additional costs from having to eat out and order take away food, which was outright rejected. Their explanation was that although it didn't have a kitchen as described, it had been recently renovated so commanded a higher tariff. The fact remained that we had not received what we booked! (Sorry if this description is sounding repetitive....but it gives a flavour of the apparent futility we had with management accepting their wrong doing). After further protestation were offered 200Euro off the total bill which represented less than a 5% discount. NOTE: I have just looked and can see that the ”equipped kitchen” description has just been removed from their website. Pros: 1. Amazing location - literally a 1 minute walk to the ski slopes. This meant we were able to return to the hotel at lunchtime for a rest before skiing again in the afternoon. 2. Ski lockers really useful although not heated so boots often not dry in the morning 3. The views of Mont Blanc and surrounding mountains must be up there with the best of any hotel in the Alps. 4. Stylishly decorated 5. Good breakfast with plenty of choice 6. The newly opened Spa area was good. Rarely anyone in there - Sauna was good although the Steam Room was not working 7. Being able to book ski passes at Hotel reception was helpful Cons: 1. No Kitchen in Mont Blanc Suite - as already mentioned, do not book this expecting that you will be able to cook anything. Sink, Microwave, Kettle, Coffee Machine and Minibar size fridge (see pic attached) 2. No real bar area in hotel - whole of communal area taken up with restaurant 3. Hotel management very pleasant and full of smiles but totally ineffectual if you actually need them to help with something 4. Restaurant staff generally unfriend
