Hôtel Le Fer à Cheval

For what I paid, I didn’t enjoy the stay. The room wasn’t clean, and there was a big yellow stain on the duvet when I first went in. I could also smell something burning from outside. I expected much better cleanliness, and the customer service wasn’t very good either.

We came for three nights in August 2021 to relax and go walking, and the hotel worked well for that. It’s a beautiful traditional wooden building, with cosy, spacious public areas that I can imagine being especially nice in winter. Megeve itself is fairly busy in summer, with lovely alpine and chalet architecture, and there’s plenty to do nearby, including walking, golf, tennis, swimming and biking. The staff were great, from the front desk and restaurant to Laurent in the bar. Our pool and mountain view room faced south and had a lovely terrace. It was a classic room, perhaps a little small if you bring lots of luggage, so if your budget allows, I’d go one step up. The rooms are well insulated, but they got a bit hot in summer and there’s no air conditioning. We opened the shutters the staff close at night and let the mountain air cool the room. Mosquitoes weren’t a problem. The outdoor pool is decent, though buildings and trees block the sun from the sundeck by mid to late afternoon. The indoor pool area is very nice and must be popular in winter. Breakfast was about what I’d expect at a mountain hotel of this class. We ate at the restaurant twice and enjoyed the very good, fairly elaborate French food. If the weather’s good, book ahead to make sure you get a table on the terrace.

The steak and soups were adequate, but the sole was a total disaster. It came almost raw, and when I asked for it to be cooked again, it returned almost the same. I sent it back once more, but it was still rubbery and undercooked. After reading the reviews, I’d expected much better. At best, it’s a mediocre restaurant.

I’ve worked in a five-star hotel, so I was shocked that they wouldn’t let me use the facilities because I wasn’t staying in a room there. Awful.