SOWELL RÉSIDENCES Pierre Blanche

Les Menuires is one of the best places in the world for skiing, and Sowell is very well located. You can ski into the village centre, then take any cabin from there and buy your ski passes. There’s also a nice swimming pool that’s great for kids, and the staff are very nice. The apartments, though, feel like the Soviet Union: no decor, no charm, and nothing that makes them feel like a holiday place. It’s shameful that no investment has gone into getting someone with taste to make them cozy. You have to bring your own sheets and towels to reception, then clean the bathroom and kitchen yourself. We won’t come back. We don’t like being offered a place where nothing has been done to make you feel welcome. Maybe it suits young people who party and don’t care where they sleep, but families and couples should look elsewhere. It wouldn’t take much to add some taste, but someone has to want to do it. Cheers!

The ski room is so cramped that only two people can fit, and just one can sit. Most people end up taking their skis and boots back to their rooms, so the corridor gets noisy in the morning. The building is right by the piste, though it takes quite a while to get there. Parking looks plentiful, but it fills up, and arriving late can mean a long walk. The police remove cars that aren't parked properly. Check-in was awful. We spent hours waiting outside in the cold with lots of other guests because there weren't enough staff. Our apartment was small, as expected, but the sofa bed wasn't a real bed and was so uncomfortable we put the mattress on the floor. A draft came through the leaking windows, so we rearranged the room, which helped. Other guests mentioned cleanliness; ours was somewhat acceptable, but not great. I won't go back.

The apartments are in a premium spot near the slopes and main lifts, and they're affordable. They were well equipped and furnished, met all our needs and expectations, and I'd definitely recommend them for a ski trip.

There was a smell of smoke at reception. The place itself was ugly, with small apartments, an inconvenient kitchen, and narrow corridors.