Chalet RoyAlp Hôtel & Spa

Mohammed and his team deserve a special mention. Their transport and ski hire service was warm, impeccable and brilliantly handled. They were adaptable and helpful, and made our holiday run smoothly. I had a very charming weekend at this property. The suites we stayed in had magnificent mountain views, and the staff provided excellent service.

We stayed as a couple for 3 nights and booked directly with the hotel, which was easy and smooth. On arrival, the service was great: someone met us at the car, parked it for us, checked us in quickly and showed us to our room. The gentleman was pleasant. The hotel is beautiful, just like you’d picture a Swiss ski chalet, though a very high-end one. It calls itself 5 star, and the fixtures, fittings and general atmosphere could fit that rating. In my view, though, the service doesn’t quite meet that standard. The spa is stunning and peaceful, and well worth a visit. One disappointment was the spa manager or staff member insisting we wear our robes down there. We didn’t want to, and she didn’t seem to like our response. It came across as a demand, not a suggestion, and she was abrupt and rude. Also, you can’t have alcohol in the spa unless you book the private room for 100CHF - 30mins. Breakfast was lovely, with plenty of choice. Of the three restaurants, including the main bar, one was closed while we were there, which was a shame. We ate at the bar, where a burger and chips cost around £50CHF. It was a nice burger, but I’m not sure it was worth that price. It felt like you were paying for the location, which is understandable to a point. We found nice places just down the road, so check which restaurants will be open during your visit or you may need to look elsewhere for dinner. The location and hotel are beautiful, and the ambience and surroundings were stunning. I did want to give the place 5 stars, and I’d certainly love to return. Still water in the room had to be requested and wasn’t replenished daily, as you’d expect from a 5 star place. The minibar was supposedly included, but nothing in it was replenished either. Just be aware that the whole country is expensive!

Our stay at Chalet RoyAlp fell well below expectations, and the price was nowhere near justified. We booked one of the hotel apartments, and it was extremely dirty when we arrived. There were black hairs in almost every closet, apparently left by previous guests, and the drawers were visibly dirty. The cleaning after we complained was still very poor. Even after specifically asking for fresh sheets and towels, they didn’t look clean. If you’re a germophobe, I strongly recommend avoiding this place. Service was weak throughout. You had to ask for everything, even still water. There was no proper late night room service, and the brochure in our room for late dinner service turned out to be outdated and wrong. When we called, they said the only choices were pasta with red sauce or a cheese board. We reluctantly ordered, but it arrived cold: the pasta tasted sweet and unpleasant, and the bread and cheese were cold too. Completely unacceptable for anything calling itself a luxury hotel. Communication was a constant problem, and management seemed careless and disorganized. Staff had very limited English, so we had to repeat and explain things over and over. The hotel is very small, and aside from skiing in the same limited area or walking around a tiny village, there isn’t much to do. The staff weren’t welcoming, and service felt cold and inefficient. The chalet we stayed in was the worst part, even though it was presented as one of the “best” options. It was uncomfortable and poorly equipped. There was no minibar, the coffee was bad, and there were no coffee flavors or syrups for anyone who cares about those. Even the sugar sachets looked random, as if they’d been gathered from different restaurants and tossed together. We’ll never repeat this bad experience. This isn’t a luxurious destination at all, just very average at best and barely a proper hotel. I don’t recommend the hotel or the village.

The hotel and its location are great, but I got conflicting answers from the spa staff about when someone my age could use the pool. On day one, I was told under-16s could swim until 7 pm. The next day, a staff member asked how old I was, and after I said 15, told me I could stay until 9 pm. Then on day three, before I’d even entered the spa, a woman said I had to leave by 6, even though it was 5:57 and I’m 15. One of those answers was wrong, and that’s unreasonable. They should sort it out.