Iso Syote Hotel

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3 readers found this review helpful

Arrived on Sunday 21st December for a week. My husband & I, 2 kids (11 & 9), my Mum (61) & my brother. Got to at resort about 11pm after 1 & 1/2hr journey from airport. Dropped off near cabins and led to them by Rep Verity as coach couldn't fit round there. Luggage brought to door my other Rep Gavin in minibus.
We had 2 of the smaller cabins attached to each other and they both had a snow covered Xmas tree on the veranda, lovely. Cabins had a small kitchenette, wet room with sauna at back, lounge/dining area and a double bedroom. Remove cushions on sofa for one bed, 2nd pull out bed underneath. In all honesty I would say cabin not big enough for 4 adults. Not a lot of storage space, especially when all your ski gear is out. 1 of our kids stayed next door with my mum and the space was Ok for 2 adults & 1 child.
Walked up the hill to the hotel (3-5 mins) depending on your fitness, but boy was the cold a shock - your lungs really feel it. A light buffet was laid on as it was so late, dinner finishes at 10. Drinks are very expensive, 5E for a beer, cider, breezer. Cheapest glass of wine was about 4.20E, beware as sometimes they don't have house wine and a fellow tourist was charged 8E for a glass.
After breakfast allocated ski passes etc. Would recommend you take your booking form as we paid for 6 day package and was only issued 5 day package. Luckily I had ours & it was sorted out no problem. Apparantly has happened a few times - error on the Crystal computer.
Free Crystal/Thomsom bus down to ski shop for equipment allocation. People really nice & helpful. Both me & my mum had to change our boots because they hurt a day or so later. This was done no problem. 1 of my son's broke his ski pole & my brother had his taken. They were replaced with a smile & told it always happens.
Ski school was a bit slow to start as had to wait for everybody to get kitted up & first day is an assessment. At night in the hotel they post lists for groups the next day, but they ask if you want to stay with family or friends. They also fit your lessons around any trips you may book. The ski instructors are fantastic, so patient & friendly. My sons were in a different group to us - beginners adults. On the last day there was only them & 1 other lady. Their instructor Tia took them across all the open runs, they even did part of a black run!
The skiing was great for us as we were all beginners/novices, but I don't think it would suit an experienced skier. Only 1 restaurant/bar (burgers/sandwiches etc) and 1 shop available. Shop is a supermarket, but very limited in its stock. If your going self catering take all your food with you as there is nowhere within 30 miles to buy anything - unless you like pizza & pringles at 3 times the English price. You can buy beer & cider which is 1/2 price of the hotel. Take it back on the bus & keep it in the fridge, but if you drink it in the hotel they'll throw you out. There is a pizza restaurant at bottom of another slope, but you have to be a competant skier to get there.
Food in the hotel was good with 3 choices.
Trips mega expensive - people who went on the Northern Lights trip didn't see them as it was too cloudy. If the conditions are right you can see them from the hotel - unfortunately we didn't.
Look in your wooden store outside, we found wood for the fire and sledges that the kids had great fun on.
We took a portable DVD player & some DVDs (connected it up to TV) as digibox was a bit hit & miss, but by middle of the week we were in bed by 9.30 as so tired.
Overall the holiday was a fantastic relaxing break. The temp ranged from 0-10 degrees which was too cold for me. The snow was magical especially on Xmas day.
I'm not moaning above, just telling you the practicalities, which is what I look for when I read these sites. If you want to spend time with your family learning a new sport in a relaxed and friendly environment - this is the place to go. No apres ski, no 20 min queues for lifts (3 mins was our longest wait) & no hassle (everyone is very helpful)