La Tourmaline

The people were really lovely, and the food looked good, though I arrived too late to try it. Breakfast costs a silly amount. For the price, the hotel badly needs updating: the bath was rusty and the carpets stained. At 60 euros a night I’d understand, but with breakfast it came to 170 euros. That’s steep. A pleasant stay, just too expensive.

We found the room dirty, with mold in the bathroom and grimy windows. The rooms feel dated, and there was a strong chlorine smell throughout the hotel from the “Spa.” It was so dirty that we decided to leave. We agreed on a refund, but a day later the hotel still hadn’t returned the credit card payment, which felt like a scam. When we asked what was going on, the staff or owner suddenly couldn’t communicate in English and became very unfriendly. You’ll pay far too much for dirty rooms, and if you complain, expect to be treated disrespectfully. Don’t book here. In summer the town is boring, with everything closed.

We had a very pleasant dinner on the terrace in late May, at the start of summer, and the staff were all kind and helpful. Breakfast was simple but excellent, especially the coffee. It was a nice change from the Nespresso pods most hotels serve, to have a fresh pot of coffee.

After ten years, La Tourmaline feels much the same. The rooms are small but comfortable and cleaned well. The bathrooms show their age most clearly. Most don’t have a separate shower, and they’re well overdue for an update. The cheerful, friendly restaurant has wide mountain views and a wood fire. Meat and seafood cooked over the logs are a specialty, though the food is fine rather than particularly ambitious or memorable.