Ecrin 324

We spent a great week at Chalet L'Ecrin. The family room worked well and everyone slept soundly, and the Childcare Team kept the little ones happy with things like kids high tea and movie nights while helping us look after them too. The staff were all super friendly and helpful. The location made getting around easy: we could walk across the frozen lake to Le Lac in 15 minutes, and Val Claret’s ski lifts were less than 10 minutes away. The wifi worked perfectly all week with no issues. The chalet, food, and service were all brilliant, and we’d love to come back.

The staff were some of the nicest and most helpful I’ve met in a chalet or hotel, and the comfortable rooms and pleasant venue made us book another two weeks for next winter after a fabulous fortnight. I’ll be returning. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the main lift, though there are regular free buses. I prefer ski-in/ski-out, but can’t always get that. Food was good, but not as good as at some other large chalet operators, and the quality varied quite a bit. My main frustration was restaurant organisation. A few tables were due at 7:30, but the bread wasn’t ready; at breakfast there were eggs and a boiler but no eggcups for the first two days. It didn’t spoil the stay. I rate places this way: 5 stars means WOW, I’m looking forward to going back, and they delivered what I expected plus something extra, usually in the service or staff attitude. 4 stars means GOOD, I got what I wanted and a bit more, and I recommend the place and would return. 3 stars is OK, it met expectations and I’d go back if needed, but I don’t currently plan to. 2 stars means it wasn’t very good, I didn’t get what I expected, the service was poor, and I don’t recommend it. I might get dragged back, but would try to avoid it. 1 star is RUBBISH: I didn’t get what I wanted, people were unhelpful, I didn’t enjoy it at all, and I certainly wouldn’t go again. Other reviewers might see that scale as harsh or fair.

The staff were warm and helpful, and the ski boot room was very warm. The sauna was warm too, but the Jacuzzi was cold. Breakfast and dinner were just about OK. Rooms are small with hardly any cupboard space, and the shower is weak. This is the last Mark Warner ski hotel still operating. It isn’t ski-in/ski-out: the nearest lift is a 10-minute walk, or two stops by bus.

The staff gave us a friendly welcome, and the accommodation was comfortable. Breakfast was good and plentiful, as was afternoon tea. Suppers were another matter. Their quality varied a lot. We stayed at this chalet hotel last year, when the food was shocking, and although it has improved somewhat, it still wasn’t good enough. Given the broadly similar feedback last year, it was surprising to see the same faces again this year. More than once, our main courses arrived before we’d finished our starters, as if the kitchen and serving staff wanted to feed us and get us out quickly. The hotel is looking very worn. Lots of things don’t work, though someone had managed to get the pool heating working, which was nice. The pool showers were difficult to start and then almost impossible to switch off. Common-area carpets are threadbare, with holes in places. Only one lift was working, and even that was intermittent. For the second year in a row, the WiFi didn’t work. Having the same fault for two seasons is maddening and unforgivable, and makes it seem like nobody cares. Very disappointing. I’ve skied every year for 52 years and have been a repeat customer, but after this stay I’d need convincing things had changed before coming back.