Grand Hotel Besson

The spa, food and rooms were all wonderful, and the staff were attentive and courteous throughout our stay at Chaberton Lodge. Even before check-in, they were helpful with recommendations. A special mention for Pierre and Mohammed. I highly recommend this hotel if you're visiting this beautiful part of Italy.

The bar manager was terrific and apologetic, and they have Tignanello wine. Those were the two bright spots. The hotel has plenty of potential, but it doesn't feel like a four star place, and I wouldn't stay here again. Other guests were saying the same, so I wouldn't be surprised if more reviews follow. Management is the main problem. There seem to be no systems or accountability for service. Breakfast orders were mixed up, delayed or arrived too late, and a coffee could take half an hour. Our room was very tired and needed updating. The spa costs extra, €35 for adults and €25 for children, and that wasn't made clear when we booked. The free lift shuttle was unreliable. We often waited around 30 minutes for a five minute ride, despite being told it ran at set times. The hotel would say it was 10 minutes away, but one day we waited 35. The older bearded man at reception was rude, grumpy and unhelpful, and didn't speak English. He was ignorant toward us, which seems unsuitable for someone working at a hotel with international visitors.

Sauze d’oulx is an old, quaint town with some nice restaurants. The spa was good, though guests had to pay a daily fee to use it. The skiing wasn't for me: the lower slopes were closed, while higher up they seemed not to run piste bashers at night, leaving the runs crusty and icy. It felt unpleasant and scary even for very confident skiers. The lifts were old-fashioned too, and didn't slow down as you got on or off. At least our adult kids got to see what skiing was like in the eighties. I think we'll try France next time. At the hotel, staff were generally nice and helpful, but management seemed disorganized and there were no clear systems. At breakfast, some of our orders were missing every day. The choices were limited and everything was waiter service, with no buffet, so it took a long time. The heating in our room was like a furnace for the first two nights. When we asked to change rooms, they sent a handyman to fit thermostats on the radiators. That partly helped, but after that the bedroom thermostat was fixed off. A ceiling bulb was out and never replaced despite us asking, so I had to use my phone torch to see into the wardrobe.

The staff were consistently friendly, the rooms were nice, clean and well furnished, and the bar area with its open fire was lovely. We enjoyed the location, about a five minute walk from town, the late checkout and the shuttle to the ski slopes. They even served free sushi when we ordered evening drinks. It was a pleasant four night stay at Chaberton Lodge in January, but at €250 a night there was a lot that could be better, so I can't give it five stars. Breakfast was the biggest frustration. There was no buffet, just very slow waiter service, even when we only wanted cereal and a croissant. We watched other people head off skiing while we were stuck waiting. Most skiers want to get out early, so a buffet or faster service would help. The spa wasn't included in the room rate. It cost another €35 per person per visit, which I found expensive and an unwelcome surprise. I'd have liked to know when booking. I only wanted a quick sauna, not a spa visit every day, so we didn't use it. When we walked down there, it looked almost empty. Indoor garage parking was another €25 a night and it was nearly empty too, so I left my hire car in the outside lot. My top floor room had an incredibly squeaky floor. It was loud enough that I worried about disturbing the people below, and the noise from the next room disturbed me. The main room was nice, but the bathroom had 1990s decor and needs renovation. My daughter also reported several maintenance problems on the first day, including a loose electrical socket, and none were fixed during our four night stay. I hope management can work on these things and get the hotel to a five star standard.