Valmeinier - Le Grand Panorama Ii

We had to park at the other end of the village even though we'd booked a parking spot. Check-in took two hours of standing in line, which was ridiculous and unnecessary. The rooms were dirty, and ours was much smaller than advertised. It was literally in the parking garage, with smog coming into the apartment.

The ski tracks were well maintained, and service was solid. There was a great bar with divine beer. The pool and bed size were disappointing, but the stay was still a very positive experience overall.

I was nervous after reading the reviews, which I only did after booking, but our stay turned out fine. I booked a cabin for eight. It would be comfortable for six, though eight can manage if you're a good group of friends. We brought our own bedding and towels. The equipment was enough: an electric stove, microwave, fridge with freezer and plenty of kitchen utensils. Everything worked except one radiator. You can order fresh bread for the next day, but morning orders have to be placed at reception by 5:00 PM. The pool was open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The water was cold, but I didn't mind, and there's a lovely view outside from the pool. When there's snow, you can reach the ski slope from the resort with a 200-metre walk, then ski to the ROI lift. The runs are narrower, but excellent and varied. I was concerned about the final cleaning, but check-out went smoothly and our deposit came back within a week. Online check-in on their website is a good idea, as it meant I didn't have to stand in a long arrival line. I chose covered parking too. The ski passes were ready when I picked them up, and the staff there were friendly. They stay open until 7:00 PM. The staff were pleasant throughout, and everything was handled to our satisfaction. You can't drive right up to the cabins, so getting there takes a little effort, but it's manageable. The roads are snowy, which is a good thing, just take care. Keep expectations reasonable and you should be satisfied.

We stayed in a six-person flat, and the service was nowhere near what I'd expect from a three-star place. The reception staff seemed disorganized from the start: we waited 2.5 hours in line for keys because they didn't know who had which room. The apartment layout was poor too, since the only way to reach the bathroom and toilet was through one bedroom, leaving the people in that room with no privacy. Most reception staff were rude and couldn't answer basic questions about the shuttle schedule, ski lifts or anything else. On our first night we found there was no pillow for one of us. A receptionist brushed us off, saying there were no spares and it wasn't her problem. The next day, a much kinder receptionist gave my flatmate his own pillow, one rare bit of good service. We cleaned the flat ourselves and passed the inspection, but at checkout they still tried to charge us €75 for cleaning. It seemed they didn't know which flat was which. The WiFi at reception was unusable, and the general attitude and atmosphere felt unprofessional and unhelpful. I don't understand how this place has three stars. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're prepared for disorganization, rude staff and surprise fees.