B&B HOME Brides-les-Bains Les 3 Vallées

We chose this hotel mainly for the spa shown in its Booking listing, and paid about three times the rates of other hotels around Courchevel because of it. At check-in, reception told us guests couldn’t use the spa at the moment. That’s a major difference from what was advertised, and we paid a premium for facilities we didn’t get. We feel misled and are extremely disappointed. We expect compensation and an official resolution, and Booking.com should make sure its listings are accurate. Until the details are corrected and this is resolved, I can’t recommend booking here.

The dinner was the worst part of our half-board stay. The first night we were told we couldn’t choose our meals, and on three of the five nights we got unseasoned boiled meat. The pasta came with watered-down cream. I’ve had better food in public hospitals. The rooms themselves were okay, with big beds and bathrooms, but the amenities felt dated and some taps didn’t work. There weren’t enough ski lockers for everyone, and the spa was unavailable, though we had been told that a week before arrival even though it was one reason we booked. We were also told on arrival that under the hotel’s new “sustainability policy,” rooms are cleaned only twice a week. That would be fine, except two of our group of eight got eye infections by day two, in separate rooms. The hotel seemed recently bought, and it felt like the new company was cutting costs to squeeze money out of guests. Bring your own toilet paper if you can, the hotel’s is like sandpaper, and they literally provide hand towels as toilet paper. For a four-star hotel, it was a terrible stay. This kind of experience wouldn’t surprise me at a two-star place.

We spent December 21 to 28 here over Christmas, and the dinner was one of the biggest disappointments. The duck breast on Christmas was badly undercooked, with blood coming out, and dessert was ice cream almost every night. In a freezing restaurant, that felt like a joke. The food in general was unappealing, with hardly any vegetables beyond grated carrots at breakfast. The lobby and restaurant were so cold we had to keep our jackets on. Inside, the hotel felt unwelcoming and in serious need of renovation. Our bathroom faucet had no handle, just a small piece we had to turn to get water running, which was especially hard for our child. No housekeeping came for the first five days, until we asked. We also hadn’t been told when booking that the spa no longer belongs to the hotel and requires an extra fee. The website photos showing people in the pool and in robes gave a misleading impression, and the spa was closed for most of our stay anyway. Many staff spoke very little English, so even basic questions and problems were hard to sort out. For a four-star hotel, the service and facilities fell far short. We can’t recommend it.

The staff at Grand Hotel des Thermes made a difficult moment much easier for our family. My father-in-law has mobility challenges and fell during our visit. The team responded right away, helped with first aid, made sure he was safe and comfortable, and kept checking in to see what he needed. They were caring as well as professional. The hotel was a lovely place to stay, with roomy rooms, mountain views and accessible features that helped him get around. We enjoyed the thermal spa and the restaurant’s delicious meals in its warm, inviting atmosphere. It was reassuring to know staff were close by if we needed help. I’m very grateful for their support, and would happily recommend the hotel. We hope to return.