Hotel Plan Bois

The water pressure and temperature weren’t consistent, which was the one downside. Otherwise, the hotel was very clean, the food was amazing, and the location is fabulous. It wasn’t expensive, so you get what you pay for. The staff were friendly, and I’d stay again.

Pila was a great place for a family ski trip, and we had a lovely time. The hotel is family run, with authentic food and decor and an old-world charm. We were well looked after throughout, especially by Michael, Santi and Avril, who were always helpful. The cleaning staff did a great job keeping the common areas tidy and making sure we had enough clean towels. We chose it because it’s right beside the slopes and were pleasantly surprised by how good everything else was. I’d recommend it.

Santi deserves a mention: he greeted all eight of us with a smile and kept joking around. The staff were friendly, and the sauna was great, with a small gym too. Getting to ski school, the lifts and rental places was easy from this location. The room needs some attention. There was black mould on the outside-facing walls and in the shower, some lights and the mini fridge didn't work, and the air conditioning was loud enough to wake my partner and me now and then. A bedroom bin and a tissue box would've been useful. Breakfast was inconsistent. The scrambled eggs, bacon and sausages were always cold, and the coffee machine spluttered several times. Ordering hot chocolate made it leak everywhere. One kind gesture: our inbound flight was delayed by nine hours, and the staff had left out a small buffet for us at 11 p.m. Most things were positive, but the rooms could use a little TLC.

The outdoor area was lovely for sledging and making snowmen, and the kids liked relaxing on the comfy sofas in the lounge and bar beside the dining room. The owner and his family were welcoming, and our room was kept clean with the beds made every day. We returned for a second visit and had family room 409, with a mezzanine. The extra space worked well: a large king bed downstairs and four beds upstairs for the children. The food was even better than last year. There's plenty to eat, with a buffet starter followed by two courses and three choices for each, so even fussy eaters should find something. The location is brilliant for skiing: the chairlift and gondola are a few minutes away on foot, the ski hire shop is downstairs, and you can ski back to the door on a gentle red run. We'd very likely come back to Plan Bois next year.