Alpine Lodge

Shayne and the staff were friendly, but the stay had too many problems for us to return. The accommodation felt more like a backpacker hostel than a hotel, and our family room couldn't be used. We were separated from our children and moved to a smaller upstairs room, with no refund or credit offered. Check-in, advertised for 4:00pm, was delayed until 7:00pm. We had no room key, and wood bugs fell from the ceiling. The dark staircase had neither lighting nor handrails. The advertised swimming pool, onsen, and bar weren't available during our stay. We were told the bar was under construction, and the other facilities also didn't exist. Other guests have apparently raised these issues before, so we'd recommend researching carefully before booking. It's cheaper, but the compromises weren't clearly disclosed. These problems are reflected in our rating.

Shane was great about giving guests rides to ski school, shuttle buses, and various restaurants, and the young staff were helpful too. The location is great, close to the villages. We spent six nights at Alpine Lodge during ski season, but the accommodation felt more like a hostel and was at the lower end of what you'd expect from a lodge. Our heating went out twice, and other guests had similar trouble. Breakfast was a single plate of hot food, with no extra cereal, toast, or fruit like we've had elsewhere. There was no shared fridge or laundry on site, and quite a few beetle-type bugs around the property. It's fine if you're mostly out skiing, but not somewhere to relax during the day.

Breakfast each morning was a nice bonus, and they always offered to take us wherever we needed. Nothing seemed too much trouble. Shane, his daughter Charlotte, and the staff, Charlotte, April, and Ivon, were all amazing, so friendly and kind. We stayed three nights and were very happy. We'll 100% return!

Shayne seemed overwhelmed, managing the property on his own, which likely contributed to many of the problems during our week there. Check-in didn't happen until 9 PM, and some guests got frustrated enough to clean their own rooms. Breakfast was usually fresh and tasty, but inconsistent: some mornings there wasn't enough, and delays made us miss ski buses. Shayne did go out of his way to bring breakfast to an injured member of our group who couldn't manage the stairs. Heating was a major issue. Some rooms barely warmed up, and the drying room depended on one kerosene heater that ran out of fuel a few times. Basic bathroom supplies were provided, but when we asked for more toilet paper, we were asked to wait until the next day. After our stay, we learned the lodge used to be called Allure Hotel. Do your research if you're thinking of booking. Our stay at Alpine Lodge Hakuba was quite an experience.