Chalet Leslie Alpen

It feels like a castle!

The view is breathtaking, and the location is ideal for skiing straight in and out. We also loved unwinding in the relaxation area after skiing, and the person who welcomed us was genuinely kind and concerned. The rooms were clean, and comfortable where the bedding was good. That makes it all the more frustrating that the chalet is so poorly maintained, given how much potential it has and what a week here costs. Hot water was the biggest problem. Only six of us could shower in the evening, and there was none left for a bath, despite the accommodation being for 12 and having two bathtubs. The kitchen also struggled to serve 12: there was little work or storage space, the fridge was too small, and cooking pasta took an hour on the weak cooktop. Maybe the pots and pans weren't the right size, but it was still very inconvenient. The microwave was hard to figure out, and instructions would have helped. Several practical things needed attention. The ground-floor shower had no showerhead, making it impossible to wash our hair, and was clogged when we arrived. We reported the blockage and it was fixed, but this points to a lack of routine maintenance. The kitchen sink had no plug, and one chair had a broken back. Some curtains were missing in the main room, which was a problem for people sleeping on the mezzanine, and some of the bedding needs replacing. The refrigerator door wouldn't shut properly, so we had to lift it with both hands every time. It was left partly open much of the time, raising questions about wasted energy. A number of bulbs were out; after a technician came, we were told to “just touch it” because of a loose connection. Surely fixing that shouldn't be our responsibility. The baby kit was especially disappointing. Its high chair was defective and unsafe, with a piece of string where the central strap should be. We reported it, but nothing was done. At the weekly rental price, a proper high chair seems like a reasonable investment. One of the three spacious bathrooms could also have had a changing table. This chalet could be wonderful, but the owners don't seem to put much care into its upkeep, and we expected better service for the price.

The chalet was superb, with great amenities and a lovely location. But the cleanliness fell short for the rental price: the bedspreads smelled bad, and we had to rewash greasy pans and dirty glasses that should have been checked after the previous guests. We rented the jacuzzi for seven days but could use it only four. It wasn't hot enough on the first day, then broke down on the second-to-last day even after a technician came.

We had a really pleasant stay in a very comfortable, well-equipped chalet. Service was excellent. Superb.