SOWELL HÔTELS L'Alpe Blanche

The room on the third floor was spacious, clean, and had a double balcony with amazing views of the ski run. We even enjoyed watching the piste basher in the evening. The buffet was good, especially the desserts and cakes, and being able to make a picnic each morning was brilliant. Staff were welcoming and friendly. Oscar and Marie at the bar worked incredibly hard. On New Year’s Day, a pianist played in the lounge, which was lovely and something the hotel should make a regular thing. We had a nice stay because we’re easygoing and loved the ski-in/ski-out position. The blue run leads to the Peynier and Plan chairlifts, but there are major issues that bring it down to three stars. There is no spa, despite what the Sowell website and even the room QR codes say about a sauna, a hamman, and two whirlpools. You can book a massage, but that isn’t a spa. I think advertising facilities that don’t exist is appalling. The website also made L’Alpe Blanche and Sowell family Vars sound like separate establishments, and we thought L’Alpe Blanche would be a more upmarket, adult-oriented hotel. In reality it’s one hotel with shared facilities and no distinction between them. Children were running around everywhere, and from 4 to 8 pm the lounge felt more like a play area than a bar. It should only be advertised as Sowell Family. There was dog poo all around the back of the hotel by the ski-out area, which was really gross. The entrance bin was overflowing every day, and the hotel needs to manage this better. More staff are also needed during busy bar hours. The bar team worked hard through the queues, but nobody was clearing tables, so I started carrying glasses back to the bar because I felt bad for them. The ski locker room was packed, with no benches to sit on. We ended up keeping our skis on the balcony instead. Sadly, I can’t recommend the hotel. The advertising needs to match what’s actually there, and management needs to sort out the teething problems.

I was worried about the stay after reading the bad reviews, but came away pleasantly surprised. We spent four days and three nights here, and the staff were lovely, always smiling. The cozy lounge was a nice place for afternoon tea or aperitifs, and both buffet meals, breakfast and dinner, had a good variety and tasted good. You can also make yourself a packed lunch. We got an upgrade to two connecting rooms instead of one quadruple room. The rooms were new and pretty, with comfortable beds and a lovely mountain view. There were a few missing things, like bedside outlets, bathroom hooks, and somewhere to put belongings. Rooms 302 and 303 had no heating trouble, and they’re gradually fixing the issues. The water was lukewarm rather than hot around 5 pm, but got warm again if we waited a bit. We felt very comfortable here. The opening period has clearly been challenging, but the hotel has a lot of potential. I recommend it.

The ski slope is directly behind the hotel. You can get to it from level -2 through the ski room, then use the lifts to reach the whole resort. We weren’t told this at check-in and only figured it out on day two. Rental shops are about a 10-minute walk away, which is a bit of a trek with all your equipment. The access road climbs uphill, so snow chains or snow socks are essential. Underground parking was handy at €15 per day. We booked two nights and three days at SOWELL HOTELS Alpe Blanche for a ski break. Our superior room was clean, comfortable, and well heated. It was good quality overall, though the balcony was shared with the neighboring room. Apparently that’s normal for these family-style connecting rooms, but it’s still odd to have coffee on the same terrace as other guests. Breakfast had plenty of choice for everyone, including international guests. Dinner was decent too, though the all-you-can-eat buffet felt a bit expensive at €35 per person. In the evening, when lots of people were showering, the hot water was only just warm enough. We also had a water outage on the first night, but maintenance responded right away, which was great. A big plus was the welcome. The receptionist was especially pleasant and professional, almost as if he were there 24/7. There are several decent restaurants nearby. We were surprised that nobody checked room numbers at the hotel restaurant entrance, though. Hopefully everyone plays along.

The rooms are really spacious, and the staff were friendly, helpful, and attentive. It’s a brand new hotel right by the slopes, with underground parking. The all-inclusive deal was fantastic: a generous buffet, plus hot, soft, and alcoholic drinks available for extended hours. I’d definitely recommend it.