Hotel Garni Lastei

We never felt welcome here, from arrival right through to leaving. The hotel is average at best and definitely not worth the price. As tourists, we needed guidance and help, but there was little real willingness to assist. Even when someone did help, it felt forced and lacking genuine kindness. Breakfast seemed generous at first, but was disappointing: all the cakes were dry, and hard-boiled eggs were the only egg choice. No omelets, scrambled eggs or anything else. The rooms were too cold and looked nothing like the photos. We chose it for a ski trip because it says it's suitable for skiing, but the facilities don't live up to that. The ski room is in another building, which honestly feels ridiculous. There's also a games room where you're told not to make noise, so are you supposed to play quietly or keep children silent? I wouldn't recommend going. Don't risk wasting your money or your vacation here.

I've skied at European resorts for several years and stayed in hotels and apartments, but I've never experienced hospitality this disgraceful. The location near the ski bus is the one positive; everything else was beyond criticism. The owners' and staff's body language felt aloof and unwilling to help, almost disgusted. Rooms are small and only heated at set times. The ski equipment room has no heating, so the skis stay frozen. To get from there to the hotel, you have to walk outside in minus 7 degree weather and snow to reach the lobby. At breakfast, they pull a face at any reasonable request. The games room closes early, and the bar is only open in theory. We also asked for advice on things unrelated to the hotel and got complete indifference and dismissal. This experience overshadowed what should have been a magical vacation.

The hotel was spotless and very well maintained. We booked a budget room with an ensuite shower and toilet, and it had plenty of storage and hangers, good heating and internet, plus a TV and hairdryer. Staff were welcoming, friendly and helpful. There’s an underground car park as well as a few spaces out front. Inside, there’s a reception bar and a roomy breakfast area overlooking the countryside. Breakfast was continental, with toast and various breads, cheeses, cold meats, cereals, fruit, jams, cakes and biscuits, but no hot food beyond toast. The quality was good and the coffee fantastic. Pozza sits among picturesque mountains and seems like it would be popular in summer. We stayed at the start of January. The nearby ski area had two amazing runs, a long red and a steep black down to town. The link to the sellaronda took around 30 minutes when there were no queues, and the runs were quieter before the link. The lift is about a mile away. A no13 bus stops opposite the hotel, but only runs twice in the morning, and it failed to show up one day. We then walked ten minutes downhill to the main road for another bus. That wasn't easy because the paths and roads seemed ungritted and dangerously icy. One other drawback was the ski room in the basement. It's warm and well equipped, but getting there means walking down a steep car ramp without a handrail, which felt scary in icy conditions.

Breakfast was tasty, the rooms were clean and spacious, and the staff were helpful. The location was good, and having to reach the ski room from outside didn't bother me. The snag was the lone coffee machine, which led to 15-25 minute lines at early breakfast. That needs fixing, or breakfast should start half an hour earlier. Otherwise, a great place, five out of five.