La Vallée Blanche

After a full day skiing, the children needed proper meals, but the portions were ridiculously small. Staff served the food onto each plate, and there was no way to get more. For growing kids worn out from physical activity, the meals barely covered what they needed, and it was upsetting to think they were going hungry during what should have been an enjoyable school trip. This lack of consideration for active guests reflects badly on the hotel. It would make a huge difference to offer larger portions or let children have seconds. Until that changes, I wouldn't recommend this place for school groups or anyone with an active itinerary.

The shower/bathtub had a small leak in my room, but the staff sorted it out quickly and looked after me well. They even gave me two beers as compensation, which was a nice extra, though they really didn't have to. My bus wasn't leaving until later, so I could wait in the lobby, use the Wi-Fi, and charge my laptop and phone. There's ski equipment storage, a nice bar, and a big lobby. The ski tech was very professional and did a great job servicing skis and snowboards. Everyone working here, including the manager, was really friendly and helped me with everything. They know how to treat guests. A lot of hotels could learn from them.

The hired equipment was average but lasted the whole week without any issues. Most of the staff were kind and very helpful, though the odd person was unhappy or rude to the children. We managed to get through the week, but the hotel wasn't what we expected for the price, and I didn't feel we got what we paid for. The food was a letdown. After a four-hour ski lesson, we wanted a filling meal to last until breakfast, but dinner didn't do that. Breakfast was disappointing too, with nothing nutritious or filling. The room was too small for six boys and had nowhere near enough storage for ski gear and regular clothes. There was nowhere to dry wet, dirty equipment, and the radiator didn't work. We had just two power sockets for six people. The bathroom was extremely cramped for that many guests, with one toilet and no lock, so someone could walk in by accident. The shower temperature was unreliable, and one night I got cold water when I wanted a hot shower. The hotel should use its space better and make the rooms larger.

The downstairs bar and activities made for a fun stay, and the staff were really friendly. My room was small, though my friends didn't seem to have that problem. The bathroom and shower were nice, but my friend and I had to alternate shower nights because the warm water only lasted five minutes. Food was my main complaint. The chef had quit before our visit, so two bar staff were cooking. The steak had almost no meat, so I ate vegetables and potato instead. One night's curry was so bad it wasn't edible, and the staff brought out pizzas at no charge. It wasn't the best hotel, but I still enjoyed it. I'll definitely come back next year because the hotel was nice and the staff were very friendly.