Hôtel Les Suites du Montana by Les Etincelles

Pascal was always happy to take us into town in the hotel shuttle, which helped since the hotel is a little way from the centre. You can ski in and out from the location, too. The suites worked really well for our family, and half board gave us four different restaurant styles to choose from in the evenings. The food was excellent, and the hotel staff were welcoming, helpful and attentive. We had a great family holiday.

We had a hard time getting help from management. They came across as arrogant when we raised problems, and there didn't seem to be much desire to help. The concierge was a real exception, very kind and always doing what he could. The hotel feels dated, and several things weren't working during our stay. The spa was poor, the sauna was out of order, the pool was far too cold, and even the showers were closed. I called reception five times without getting anything sorted. Then I was told nothing could be done because everyone was at lunch. It was bizarre that no one seemed to fix anything. Getting to and from the hotel was another problem. One snowy day we were stuck down in Tignes and couldn't get back up. The hotel wouldn't help us, not even by bringing our ski equipment. It's a steep walk of several hundred metres, especially hard with children, skis and ski boots. I could understand if they felt it was too risky to drive guests, but they could at least have helped with the equipment. We saw other cars managing fine with snow chains. When we first arrived, we also had to carry all our suitcases uphill without help from the hotel. The restaurant was okay, but the food didn't taste very good to me. It seemed to be aiming for gourmet food without getting there, which I find worse than a simpler meal that tastes like food. Service was badly understaffed. We waited ages for our meals, then even longer between courses, until nobody was hungry anymore. The hotel's parking costs three times as much as the general indoor car park just down the road, for no good reason. The location itself may be okay, but at least while we were there it was more ski out than ski in, since skiing back seemed difficult. This was a disappointing stay. I don't see how the hotel earned a five star rating.

The slopes are right by the hotel, and from there it's only seconds to the centre and the lifts. We also liked the ski locker, where the boot heaters had our boots dry and comfortable by morning. This was our honeymoon, and the warm, atmospheric style suited us. There's plenty of carved and heavy wood, rather than a modern look. The large duplex room felt very spacious by French ski hotel standards, with a lovely view of the slopes. Even the entrance made an impression. When we arrived, the car was put in the garage, our bags were brought up, and there was a nice surprise waiting in the room. We're not used to that kind of service. Everyone we met, from reception and the restaurant to the cleaning staff, was friendly and helpful. As introverts, we appreciated how comfortable they made us feel. They were also quick and very friendly in their email replies before our trip, and never made any question feel like too much. The spa was relaxing, with a hot sauna, a nice pool overlooking the mountains and a hydrating drink. The hammam wasn't as good, with loose tiles, no real scent or steam, though the humidity was okay. We don't regret choosing this place for our honeymoon at all.

We'd definitely look at booking again next year. The hotel has an alpine feel, with roomy suites, a wood burner and a cosy atmosphere. The beds were especially big and comfortable. The staff were attentive and very helpful, and being next to the slopes made skiing in and out easy.