Garrigae Caserne de Briançon & Spa - les Cinq Mondes

The ski setup is the best part: the lift is only a couple of minutes away on foot, and there are ski lockers right beside it. The rooms were roomy and modern, with nice decor, plenty of storage, and a good bathroom. The spa has a small pool that's too little for swimming, a steam room, an outdoor sauna, and a hot tub. You need to book ahead, and busy times fill up. You can reserve for the whole week, and the receptionist there was lovely. Breakfast was decent, though I've had much better. The room felt cramped when it got busy, and the plates were tiny. Bacon was delicious, but the powdered eggs were disappointing. The toaster didn't work properly, the bread seemed stale, the butter was hard from being kept in the fridge, and the fruit choice was limited to a soggy salad that seemed old. There was fresh juice and nice yogurt, though.

The cocktails and food were great, and the staff were lovely, always ready to help. They also have ski lockers at the hotel and beside Porel Lift. We had an amazing stay.

A few basic food options would make a big difference here, since the hotel isn't especially close to other places. Unless you book the restaurant in advance, you can't buy food or snacks. We missed booking it once, and there aren't any shops nearby. When I asked the bar staff if I could buy something to eat, they were rude and acted as if the question was ridiculous. You have to reserve the spa too, and it fills up. The pool wasn't very warm, the sauna wasn't warm either, and the hot tubs weren't working. Breakfast was okay, just the usual buffet with too few condiments. It's a brand new hotel, so things are fresh, but there are some teething problems.

I was happy with the stay itself, which makes what happened afterward all the more disappointing. Once I'd checked out, I realized I'd left a personal item in my room and contacted the hotel straight away. They said nothing had been found. The item had been clearly visible, so I don't see how it could have been missed during cleaning. The whole situation feels unpleasant and unclear, and it has completely changed my impression. I hope the hotel takes more care and is more transparent when handling guests' belongings.