Résidence & Spa Vallorcine Mont Blanc

We have been coming to this hotel for nine years - this was our fifth visit. It has a lovely spa area - pool and sauna. There is usually a bakery and coffee shop which stocks milk etc. however this wasn't open. The ski rink was open and served drinks until 10.30 pm most nights. There is a washing machine and tumble drier (E4/credit card) and there are several drying rails and pegs in each apartment - and a balcony with a table and chairs. Each apartment we've stayed in has a picture window with an amazing view of the slopes. There is a heated towel rail in the bathroom. The apartment is warm. There is an underground parking area which leads into a room with lockers for drying ski gear. There are free passes on the Mont Blanc Express which will take you into Chamonix. There are several restaurants within walking distance - Cafe Comptoir (really chic) & Les Trois Ours (spaghetti bolognaise is a favourite). There are lots of restaurants in Argentiere with Le Stone serving lovely pizzas and onion soup and Aux Dix Vins which was lovely too. There is a supermarket in Argentiere which is well stocked. The apartment supplies three loo rolls and two dishwasher tablets. There is no salt, pepper, oil etc. There is a microwave oven and a stove. Remember soap and shampoo. For ski equipment, there is a ski hire shop under the hotel (Skimium) and a sister shop round by the ski slope. The guys in there are really helpful. For vets, we use V Heriman in Chamonix. All the staff are lovely and they are English speaking. For skiing, Col de Bain ski lift is within walking distance alongside the ski instructor cabin. Around five minutes drive away, there are learner slopes at La Poya. Around fifteen minutes drive round the mountain, there are slopes at La Tour which provides greens, blues and then a cable car onto the mountain for greater challenge. We looked at the ski cams before we left home and they suggested that there was lots of snow on the lower slopes - there wasn't. Higher up, using the ski lifts, there was a huge amount of snow so we pushed ourselves with trips as far as Flegere-Brevent which has blue and green ski runs. It served lovely, thick hot chocolate. The apartment was clean. It does need an update to the bathroom and the sofas but it's fine and has a calm feel. Remember the sunscreen!

We stayed at this residence for just over a week. It was a nice sized apartment with 3 bedrooms. However it is not well equipped- many of the utensils missing, saucepans without lids. We discovered the bin in the bathroom full to the brim. It has a very uncomfortable sofa and is quite gloomy. The views are lovely from the window and you are close to the railway station and the Vallorcine cable car. My main great disappointment is that this apartment was advertised as a spa with pool and sauna but none were available for the entirety of our stay so therefore the advertising was inaccurate and no compensation was offered. We booked the apartment because of the expected facilities.