Villa Daniela Hotel

1 reader found this review helpful

Villa Daniella is indeed a small hotel. This has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are that the staff are extremely helpful, friendly and keen to help with whatever matter. The food at hotel Villa Daniella was especially good, with home cooked soup and good dinners. One of the vegetarian options was a bit dodgy, although I am inclined to think it was a local dish that my British taste buds just could not cope with. The vegetarian food had to be requested as it was not on the menu, but was delicious all the same. Christmas day food was beautiful, neither of us had room for deserts!
The disadvantage is that the bar is very small, probably not enough to hold 8 people comfortably so we missed the bar socials where you get to know everybody in your hotel after a day of skiing or boarding. Instead most people went out into the resort of Sauze D’Oulx to sample the other bars and clubs.
The hotel is basic and some rooms have a strange set up. For example, in our room you had to walk through the shower to get to the toilet, and tall people would struggle to sit comfortably on that because the bathroom was very narrow. The shower was good some days and not so good other days. On the last day we found a place which cost 12 euros for a power shower so maybe if the shower was good it would put businesses like this out of business? The hotel is quaint, with a unique, old style Italian look to the inside. The curtains sometimes didn’t reach the end of the window and the doorframes sometimes looked a bit wonky. However, while basic, and sometimes rustic looking the rooms were warm and room service was provided everyday so there were always fresh towels and clean floors and beds.
The hotel is in the centre of a square about 5 - 10 minutes’ walk from the closest chair life and 15-20 minutes’ walk to the Sportinia chairlift, which takes you straight into the mountainside resort of Sportinia. If you are not skiing or boarding then this is where you go with a lift pass because you can get up and down on the chairlift, unlike the other one which is one way only.
Villa Daniella is noisy because it is just off where all the pubs and clubs are. If you are a pubber or clubber yourself this really isn't an issue because you will be the one making the noise. However, both my partner and I were ill on holiday and when we wanted an early night there was no chance! Traffic went passed most of the night and the bins were emptied early every morning, guaranteed to wake us. However, since breakfast was never long after this it might not have been a bad thing because my alarm clock failed to go off twice! However, being so central you have easy access to shops, bars, clubs, the doctors and chemist and the chairlifts. For those people who don't even want to walk the 5 minutes up the hill (I’m thinking ski boots in particular) the ski bus stops right outside Villa Daniella.
Sauze is a fantastic resort with lots to do for couples, singles, parties and families. The skiing/boarding is fantastic although the runs are mostly red and black, with no greens and few blues that eventually run into reds anyway. The red/blue run that gets you back to the centre of Sauze is quite steep and narrow making it a fast bottleneck of boarders and skiers at the end of the day. Novices are better getting the Sportinia lift down and walking back into resort.
Unless you go into the old town the food is very british. I was quite disappointed with the food. I was looking forward to lovely hot dishes of pasta and pizza but never found them. In the old town there are some lovely restaurants. If you ask for a nice Italian restaurant you will get directed to Del Gorro (I think). This is a gourmet Italian restaurant which I am sure will suit the tastes of some people, but for 72 euros my two course and my boyfriends 3 course was awful. The food was too rich to taste and I have never not been able to eat a tomato pasta dish because I didn't like it. Following this meal we spend 2 euros each on a slice of massive pizza from a shop up the road and it was lovely.
If you go half board and you are staying in a 3* or less hotel you take your chances with the food. You can go and stay self-catering in Sauze and eat cheaply for the week. There are a few supermarkets and a few restaurants that do take-away deals such as chips pizza and a coke for 2.50 euro. However, you pay for what you get. My advice? If you are a fussy eater then pay the extra, book into a four star half board and you are guaranteed, otherwise take your chances.
I would recommend the Villa Daniella, mainly for the staff and the food rather than the hotel itself. Sauze I would recommend any day. Hope this helps...