Front de Neige (LAP602)

The location couldn’t be better, with ski-in/ski-out access right from the boot room door. The room was a good size and very warm at night, though a few plug outlets didn’t work, so I’ve taken off a star. Staff were friendly and welcoming. At departure, the lift was out of order at 4am. I went to reception to find out what was happening, then had to carry four heavy suitcases and a set of skis down four flights of stairs without any help. That’s another star off.

We stayed as four adults in a six-person apartment, which worked well for us. Having separate bedrooms and a shared living space suited us better than having one person on the sofa bed, though that’s personal preference. The rooms were very warm, but opening a window fixed that. Staff were helpful, pleasant, and spoke good English. The place is quieter than the more central resorts, but you can walk to a local shop, bus stop, bar, restaurants, and patisserie. For skiing, there’s a chairlift you can ski down to, plus a green run opposite that’s ideal for children and beginners. The ESF ski school and ski hire are in the square by the shop, all within walking distance. Everything is easy to reach for skiing. We were glad other reviews had mentioned that the rooms are self-catered and contain almost nothing, apart from one toilet roll and towels. Bring hand soap, washing-up liquid, sponges, dishwasher tablets, and other essentials, or buy them at a premium in the shop. You’re also expected to take out your rubbish, vacuum, strip the beds, and clean and tidy the rooms before leaving. The pool is lovely, neither warm nor cold, but it gets busy at peak times, especially with children. There’s plenty of room to sit and relax by it, though it’s too cool to hang around in your swimsuit. The clean locker room has showers, and the locker takes a €1 coin that you get back. The spa needs to be booked in advance and costs €10 per person for 30 minutes. The ski lockers have plenty of room and make it easy to get to the slopes, but they could be improved with a shelf to keep boots clear of dripping ski snow, or a hook for helmets and poles.

We had a wonderful stay at Odlays La Plagne Village. Our studio was very clean and comfortable, and the ski-in/ski-out access was excellent. Staff were helpful and capable. Every morning, the Boulangerie service brought delicious breads to choose from. I’d highly recommend it.

The ski locker room was cold, poorly marked, and laid out without any logic. The lockers are cramped, there are no hooks for boots, and gear doesn’t dry properly for the next day, so we had to bring it to our room and put it by a radiator. There are no trash bins inside the hotel either. You have to go outside, in front of the parking area, and all the way to the end to throw rubbish away. The pool was cold, both the room and the water, so anyone who doesn’t tolerate cold will leave after two or three minutes. There were rarely more than three or four people there, and sometimes nobody at all. The apartment was in terrible condition. It looked as if it hadn’t been painted in years, and the equipment was old and damaged. Mattresses were worn, pillows were dirty, and there was hair and staining everywhere, including on the bed linen. The towels were old, stained, and rough as sandpaper. The ventilation was dusty and didn’t work properly, and the kitchen air filter was caked with dust and grease. This was a ski holiday with my family. The pictures on the site looked nice and I was happy to bring them here, but the place was nothing like them. It was also extremely dirty, as if the cleaning staff weren’t doing their job. I don’t know who decided this hotel deserved four stars, maybe four out of ten, and even that seems too high. I’ll post photos and videos to show what I mean, and strongly suggest people avoid this hotel.