Résidence Odalys Le Front de Neige

Getting here could be a struggle if you’re not very mobile. It’s a long walk up the hill from town and the Telecabine, and there are plenty of stairs, though a few apartments are on the ground floor. Pushchairs and fitness limitations could make the climb tough. The car park also looked very busy, although I didn’t have a car myself. The apartments are quite basic, but they’re comfortable enough to sleep in after a full day skiing. Access to the piste from the block is handy when there’s enough snow. It isn’t exactly ski-in-ski-out, but you can ski through the woods to the telecabine. From the Milk Hotel stop, it’s a short uphill walk to Front de Neige.

We were only two in the cheapest studio, which is listed for four, and that suited us fine. I’m not sure four people could fit comfortably. For one of the least expensive places in town, it had pretty much what we needed, apart from a few kitchen and bathroom bits like a whisk and hairdryer. The staff were really helpful and nice. We also ordered baguettes, croissants and other breakfast items at reception. They were good quality and reasonably priced, so worth trying at least once. When we arrived, we had a hard time finding the emergency number to get into our apartment. Putting it on the bulletin board with the other numbers would be a useful improvement.

The apartments have a strange mix of original fittings and shiny bathroom renovations, but the plumbing is still connected, so you hear and smell neighbouring toilet flushes. Since the floors are tiled, chairs scraping across them carry through the building, as do conversations from the apartments below. The location is superb, though reaching the accommodation from the road means negotiating multiple staircases. There are no elevators, and parking is limited, so hauling luggage up the maze takes some effort. Calling the place unsuitable for disabled guests almost understates it. If you’re here to ski and in good shape, you might treat the climb as a warm-up. The buildings sprawl over several floors and sit some distance from vehicle access.

They’re cozy holiday apartments with plenty of character, though they feel a bit dated, as if they were built about half a century ago.