The Sunflower

There’s a bus stop outside the hotel, and the ride to the main ski lifts takes about four minutes. Buses run roughly every 15-20 minutes. The food was very tasty, well prepared, and served in generous portions. It follows the local Italian style, which may be different from what British guests expect: fresh vegetables as antipasto, usually a big pasta dish or soup, then a main that can sometimes be just meat, followed by something sweet. And a reminder, English isn’t everyone’s first language, so learning a few simple Italian phrases goes a long way. The bedroom itself was small, but the bed was very comfortable and the bathroom was fairly large. I felt very welcome, and the staff were helpful. It’s a great place to stay, and I’d return if I came back to Bardonecchia.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the bus stop outside was convenient. Camp Smith is about a 15-minute walk away, which isn’t too bad. But the rooms were far too small. There was barely enough storage for one person, let alone three people’s clothes for a whole stay. We changed rooms three times in one week. The first had a bad smell, so we refused to stay in it. In the second, where we spent two days, only one radiator in the bathroom worked, and the main room had no working radiator. The third room was OK, but still too small. After three disappointing dinners, we stopped eating at the hotel. The menu made no sense to us: meatballs with cauliflower, sausage with green beans, and roast beef with cauliflower. The beef was so raw it mooed at me. And a few bowls of lettuce, tomatoes, sweet corn, and similar things don’t make a buffet. It was also a struggle to get a beer because nobody was tending the bar. Each time we waited 10-15 minutes. One evening, we had four beers and drank the hotel dry.

The half-board stay was very good value for money. We found the place clean and tidy, with a warm welcome and good service. The bus stop for the main ski area is right outside the front.

A nice, budget-friendly hotel that made a good base for skiing, with the lifts just a few minutes away by free bus. The rooms were basic but clean and warm. Dinner was always three courses, plus a great, varied salad bar, and the food was OK. Breakfast was fine, though it could have used some hot options.