Vacancéole - Résidence Vega

The four of us are sick now and couldn’t go skiing. We all got ill after drinking the water, which I was told at reception was infected and very dangerous. I first contacted Vacancéole Travel on 2 Mar and asked them to warn guests before they arrive. At reception, they initially said they didn’t know about it, then admitted they did. The staff member showed me a notice in French on the inside of the door, but our apartment is three floors down and we leave through another exit. Even if the notice was posted at the other exits too, it was in tiny print and written in difficult French. I can read French and still didn’t see it. A big, clear sign saying “DON’T DRINK TAP WATER” would be understood by everyone, even French people. A warning that the water wasn’t safe because of a bacterial infection would also make the danger clear. I asked the receptionist to put up a large notice for new arrivals. He said he wasn’t authorized to do that. I disagreed and said I’d put one up myself if there wasn’t a sign by the next day. Guests need to be looked after even if they don’t speak French. Reception said they had nothing to do with the messages on Booking, but I believe Vacancéole wrote them, not Booking, so they should take responsibility. I wrote again on 7 Mar and asked for a reply to my earlier message. The Residence Vega staff had refused to put up a large warning not to drink the tap water, saying it wasn’t their responsibility and that they first needed a proper translation. I said “DO NOT DRINK TAP WATER” was enough, but they still didn’t put up a sign after I asked several times. New foreign guests hadn’t received a warning in English. I asked many new arrivals whether they’d been told the water wasn’t drinkable, and found that some hadn’t been told anything.

The location is the only reason I’d give this place two stars instead of one. The host was rude, there was puke on the wall and bed, and the place wasn’t very clean. The WiFi costs extra, and lots of things were out of order.

The staff were really friendly, and the location is excellent.

The 706 duplex was beautifully renovated and had everything we needed. It was close to both a Spar supermarket and the slopes, so it was perfect.