Alpes Hôtel du Pralong

The location is good, close to the Pralong line. After that, I struggled to find much to like. For €2,000 a night, the elevators, bathrooms, and finishes are embarrassing, and the spa feels old and neglected. The pool water was cold, while the leaking jacuzzi flooded the area around it within minutes. The room tablet for restaurant information, menus, and housekeeping didn't work at all. Even the so-called truffle pasta was just plain pasta with mushrooms and no truffle. What prompted me to write was the shuttle. It's included in the rate, but after we were told it was on its way, we waited 30 minutes with no update. We called a third time to ask for an ETA and were promised a call back, but nobody followed up. We ended up skiing to the hotel. At the concierge desk, there was no apology. We were told it was a busy period and that we should have taken an Uber if we didn't like the service we'd paid for. When we asked simply for a call with an update, the concierge raised her voice and dismissed us. That attitude is nowhere near acceptable for a hotel calling itself five-star. The service, upkeep, and treatment of guests don't justify either the price or the rating.

Foued, the chef, was a real highlight. The food was excellent throughout, and he went out of his way to make sure guests were happy. Céline, the manager, was kind and professional, and clearly cares about the place. I think the front desk and concierge could improve under her leadership, because the hotel has good foundations. Our room was spacious and comfortable, with thoughtful design and lots of storage for clothes and bags. The hotel has been renovated recently and feels fresh. It's also right beside the Pralong chairlift, which made skiing very convenient. The weaker part was reception and concierge. The team seemed very young and inexperienced, and requests often weren't followed up. More experienced staff would make a real difference for a hotel at this level.

The worst part was the noise. We could hear the corridor and the rooms opposite and above us so clearly that sleeping was almost impossible. We raised it several times, but staff seemed used to the complaints and barely concerned. We left a day early for another hotel, and management never acknowledged the problem. Even the inner hallway door that might have reduced the noise was broken. I asked twice for it to be fixed and got no response. For a hotel charging over €3,000 a night, the room itself was poor. Our “double” was two single beds pushed together, the finishes were mid-range at best, and the basic bathroom had a handheld shower over the bath. Its tiny screen meant the whole bathroom flooded whenever we showered. The refurbishments over the years look superficial, not like real luxury. Staff were generally nice, but didn't seem to understand what a genuine five-star hotel should offer. We've stayed at several real five-star places in Courchevel, and this felt three-star at best. The hotel should cost around 50-70% less. I've never written a hotel review before, but people should know how bad this was. Breakfast was another letdown: stale pastries, awful coffee, and basic juice, nothing more. The spa was just as far from the website's “where beauty meets tranquility” description. It was dirty, mouldy, poorly maintained, and still looked untouched for at least five years. The pool and jacuzzi were freezing. The steam room's full glass door scraped the floor when opened, so we stopped using it because we feared it might shatter. The advertised terrace wasn't set up at all. It looked abandoned and half under construction, with tools left there the whole time and no one working. The atmosphere throughout the hotel felt off. When we left early, after being refused a refund for the unused night, management had mentioned possibly comping some food and services. Instead, within 20 minutes, they emailed trying to charge another €750 for food, ski passes, and hotel taxes. We'd just walked away from €6,000 for a night we didn't use, and they still tried to bill us more. That says plenty about the management. This place charges Courchevel prices without delivering Courchevel standards. SHOCKING. SHOCKING. SHOCKING. Do NOT stay here.

The spa was worn out, old, and badly looked after, with nothing luxurious or relaxing about it. The food was terrible, and there wasn't a proper option late at night. When I asked what I could eat, they pointed me to the room snacks, which turned out to be one small pack of nuts. No room service or night menu. That's ridiculous for a hotel claiming to be five-star. I've stayed in some truly excellent hotels in Courchevel, so I know what real five-star service feels like. This was the worst place I've experienced at this price level. It ruined our vacation, and I can't understand how they present it as luxury. The rates are luxurious, the experience isn't. It's not worth the money and shouldn't be marketed as a five-star hotel. Avoid it if you expect quality and service.