Hotel Soldeu Maistre

The food was quite good, with plenty of choice at breakfast and dinner, and the drink prices were reasonable given how close the hotel is to the slopes. Our room was a decent size, and the beds were very comfortable with 2 good pillows. Storage, though, was seriously lacking. There was no wardrobe, just 1 tiny cupboard for a few tops belonging to one person, plus a small cupboard in the TV unit that could only hold socks and underwear. None of the rooms had hooks, so there was nowhere for coats, ski trousers, or ski coats. We even removed the 2 paintings and used their wall hooks for our ski gear. There weren’t any hooks behind the door either, so we and all our friends had to live out of our suitcases. Adding hooks wouldn’t cost the owners much. We put our ski bags under the beds after lifting them. The safe required a 10 euro deposit at reception, in exchange for a small plastic stick that activated it. The ski locker also cost 10 euros for the week, although both deposits were returned at checkout. The boot room was in the basement car park, with no heating, freezing temperatures, and lights that switched off after 30 seconds. Getting ski boots on and off in total darkness was frustrating. We eventually took them to our room because they stayed wet and damp overnight in the boot room and became very cold. In the room they could dry out, and the warmth made them easier to put on. Check the radiators when you arrive, because ours were all turned off. Even after turning them up, the heating stopped at night and the room could become very cold. Ski hotels are usually warm, but this one wasn’t. The food and beds were good, and a few practical touches would make it a much better hotel.

We only stopped for a meal, rather than staying at the hotel, and it turned out to be a great choice. The menu del día was 14.50, with two vegetarian options, and a bottle of Verdejo cost 12.50. Service was very good too.

The bar is reasonably priced and has lots of seating, and the restaurant food was fine with no real complaints. The rooms are a decent size but dated and have no storage. The WiFi was easily the worst I've experienced. It dropped every 15 seconds and could barely download a photo, more like dialup than modern internet. Even when I asked if I could pay for a better connection, I was told no with a shrug and a shake of the head. The boot room is basically a cupboard in the garage. Its small locker barely held one pair of skis and boots, and the light switched off after 30 seconds. Getting boots on in a cramped, pitch-black garage, below-freezing temperatures, and on a slippery floor was quite an experience. I wouldn't stay here again or recommend it. If you only need a fairly priced base and can manage without proper WiFi, room storage, or a decent boot room, it may work for you.

The buffet was excellent and offered plenty of choice, while the beds were comfortable, the rooms clean, and there was plenty of very hot water for a bath or shower. Soledad and Almendra were two of the especially friendly staff members. The hotel is about a five-minute walk from the main lift station, passing Fat Alberts, and apres ski at Fat Alberts or the Harp is only a minute away. Since the hotel was perhaps a third full at the end of March, breakfast and dinner were pleasantly unrushed. Our front-facing room had a Juliet balcony, but it looked directly at the gable end of the neighboring hotel, so there was no view. The main drawbacks were the 8pm dinner service, which is late for a ski resort, the irritating WiFi logins, and ski lockers that aren't heated. The walk to the gondola is also a little long. We rented a locker in the lift building in Soldeu for €18 a day, split between three people. I'd happily return. Soldeu is much better located than Pas. A data e-sim is also useful for mountain communication, with 3GB for 10 days costing €6 online, and whatsapp works for calls.