Hotel Les Airelles is a suprisingly good 2* hotel, and turned out to be a great place to stay, whether in a group, as we were, or not. The staff and Stuart the manager in particular are all fanstatsic, very friendly, happy, helpful and efficient, and you got a sence they all enjoyed working there. Any issues or problems you had or advise needed was dealt with very well indeed (A slow draining sink was fixed immediately)- in fact the best hotel staff I have personnaly ever experienced! The food was good and plentiful, both for breakfast and dinner, and the packed lunches they do are the standard sort of thing but delicious, and good value for 5 euros, as you get lots of nice extras (like sweets and cake) as well as a big baguette, drink and crisps. The room we had was on the top floor, and very spacious, and clean and in good order, though some others in our group had less space. All the rooms are very (too) warm, you can happily leave the raditors off all week! Due to location there was some noise from those leaving the nearby bars, but given how tiring winter sports are, it did not stop us getting to sleep ever or disturb us very much, and we hate noise pollution. Very light sleepers might have issues until 2am.
The resort itself and the sking is fantastic. All facilities you will need in resort, though some bars are a bit tacky/cheap (not the prices though beers 4E). Check out Pablo's bar if your a group and fancy doing some shots (dr pepper is genuinely nice), and odd but fun place once livened up (not for a couple on their own, unless there is already a good crowd in there).
The slopes lack easier routes to ski to resort, but the blacks though steep are not too bad. Otherwise a great mix or runs, but some of the long blues have some annoying long flat sections, bad for borders and skiers they are so flat/uphill. Avoid those and the runs are great, lots of variety, easy access to (just) off piste, some trickier slopes, and good blacks, some fast fun carving runs, and an efficient lift system. Moguls can be found, but not too many. Some of the slope ratings are odd though -reds that are more like blues, and blues more like reds, and the odd Red that was black! The Gotte de Glace at the top of the funicular underground is worth a visit too - you get to go inside the GLacier.
A ski area that I would definately go back to in a few years as the slopes are fab, and a hotel I would have no hesitation to go to with the current staff team.
Only thing was do not plan for the tour operator Technical rep actually edging/waxing/fixing your ski's for you any time soon, but he was not hotel staff. And there are lots of ski shops.
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The resort itself and the sking is fantastic. All facilities you will need in resort, though some bars are a bit tacky/cheap (not the prices though beers 4E). Check out Pablo's bar if your a group and fancy doing some shots (dr pepper is genuinely nice), and odd but fun place once livened up (not for a couple on their own, unless there is already a good crowd in there).
The slopes lack easier routes to ski to resort, but the blacks though steep are not too bad. Otherwise a great mix or runs, but some of the long blues have some annoying long flat sections, bad for borders and skiers they are so flat/uphill. Avoid those and the runs are great, lots of variety, easy access to (just) off piste, some trickier slopes, and good blacks, some fast fun carving runs, and an efficient lift system. Moguls can be found, but not too many. Some of the slope ratings are odd though -reds that are more like blues, and blues more like reds, and the odd Red that was black!
The Gotte de Glace at the top of the funicular underground is worth a visit too - you get to go inside the GLacier.
A ski area that I would definately go back to in a few years as the slopes are fab, and a hotel I would have no hesitation to go to with the current staff team.
Only thing was do not plan for the tour operator Technical rep actually edging/waxing/fixing your ski's for you any time soon, but he was not hotel staff. And there are lots of ski shops.