Le Viking Hotel

4 readers found this review helpful

We have just returned from the viking at easter,most of the other people who have posted a letter have valid comments, we used the creche for our 4 year old and found the staff were excellent, young but very good. As for the hotel , this could be a fantastic place if it was managed by older more competant staff who could work with the younger kids and train them in customer relations and dealing with the problems that arise. the food was fine, not brilliant, but did the job, at the end of the day it is not the most expensive place to stay so you have to be prepared to get what you pay for. The baggage is always going to be a problem but you must expect delays as you are after all half way up the mountain. One thing that could help is that the ski rental shop could bring the skis to the hotel as carrying them all back yourself is a nightmare. overall with a bit more effort and thought it could be a great hotel.

4 readers found this review helpful

Just got back from a lovely week at le viking. The location is second to none and we had superb skiing conditions too. As for the accomodation, my heart sank when we got to our small room and there were toenails on the carpet... let's just say hygiene isn't their number one priority! The staff are pleasant but lack direction and are really hapless at times. The food is average. Our daughter was in the creche for the full week - mornings and she was very well cared for. It was the one area thoroughly cleaned before we arrived and I had no concerns about her welfare and on this basis alone would not hesitate to use crystal and the viking again - although I would invest in a few cleaning products for the hotel room first.

4 readers found this review helpful

So what was it like for 2 adults and 2 under 8's in ski school and lunch club ?
Well, the hotel is a bit of an 18-30 place - for the staff ! Don't get me wrong, they were mostly all pleasant and chatty but for alot of them, it seemed that the guests were a diversion from their fun.
Aside from the nights where the cable car runs late, you're captive up the mountain, so this isn't one for the apres skiers out there. But if you're in ski school it's a fab location - literally walk out of the door and you're there. The Pleney / Les Gets area is really accessible from the hotel and avoids the 30 minute morning queue at the bottom of the Pleney bubble. However, don't be fooled into thinking Morzine and Avoriaz are linked from up at the Pleney area though. A ski down to the village, short bus and a couple of lifts are required to get up to the Avoriaz slopes (which are much higher than Morzine and Les Gets). It's not out of the question, but is very difficult to do if you're meeting up with morning ski-school folks at 12 or kids in the lunch club at 2pm.
As a family hotel, it's okay - the childcare was quite good with a lot of focus on security (signing in and out) which was reassuring.
Our room was definitely a room, but it could have been cleaner and the towels and dishes stacked up in the corridor all week really should have been cleared away at some point.
The cinema / games room was an absolute disgrace and at the same time a real missed opportunity as the area would be a great bar / games area for families. The food lying on the floor along with the dirty dishes and glasses was asking for trouble with so many kids flying around. I believe the staff use that area but it was a real hazard with 3+ yr old children wandering around between tables stacked with glasses and dirty dishes. Why not take your dishes back to the kitchen or get a trolley to stack them ?? Really, either close it to guests or clear it.
The check-in "procedure" on arrivals day was nothing short of a shambles. It was definitely "every man for himself" and the challenge was to find a member of staff who could tell you what was going on - the guests had a big game of chinese whispers to share info so we could all eventually get checked in - there was no organisation at all - not what you want after a 3am start. The mountain of bags dumped in the reception area as the rooms weren't ready until 4pm didn't really help either.
Out of 10, the food only just gets a 6. Breakfast was fine (difficult to get that wrong) and the afternoon tea (ie. cake) was also okay but the evening meal was very hit or miss - french onion soup which was made up of clear almost tasteless stock with viurtually raw onions was served cold (even after sending back). This wasn't a good start, nor was the lack of available main course from the Saturday night buffet. From there on in, the meals were average at best although the serving staff were pleasant. There were some surprisingly good and some desperately bad dishes on offer - Q. how does a chef create a wholegrain mustard sauce without wholegrain mustard A. just use gravy and if anyone asks, send them some english mustard to go with it ! Hmmmm.
The creche was really well equipped and staffed by friendly and willing staff. The whizz kids club was also good although it's a good idea to hang back and check that your kids get into the right ski-school class as it's a bit of a free for all at ski-school time.
Overall, a pretty basic experience with friendly staff who were mainly willing if a little inexperienced.

4 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from a fab week at this hotel, arrived after a 6 hours delay at half past midnight, with a big smile from the night staff who couldn't have been more helpful with food and drink waiting for us if wanted. All the week the staff were more than helpful and I think this is a place where if you treat the staff with respect and are curtious to them, they will bend over backwards to help if there is a problem, so remember your manners and you won't have a problem!!!! The food was plentiful and childrens meals fine. The childcare was brilliant our youngest son (2) always returned with a smile and very sleepy. The nannies sat for us one afternoon for our eldest son (5) and he enjoyed himself so much he wanted to them to look after him the following afternoon. The accomodation is a typical continental 3 star hotel but if out on the slopes all day why do you need more as you only sleep in the room which was clean and tidy. We would definately return

1 reader found this review helpful

Having just returned from this accommodation i thought it would only be right to have my say. Firstly i stayed here with my partner , his father and three children aged 3, 5 and 11 and had a fantastic time. Ski-ing was fab especially for the chilkdren who were all beginners. Food was giood and the general service was fantastic with just one member of staff, the snotty blonde at reception, letting the side down. The only down side was that childcare, creche and kids clubs, all had to be pre-booked in advance and because we booked late we could not take advantage of this service. Also the ski school finished at 12 so for the adults trying to take advantage of the full area was a no go as time was not on our side. Other than this go but make sure you pre-book the clubs ect for the children.

2 readers found this review helpful

Reading some of the reviews in this forum you could be forgiven for thinking that Le Viking is run by boy scouts but I have to say, that wasn't our experience.
We had the 1st-7th March week and had a wonderful time. The location is superb, the ski school meets outside the place and the staff couldn't have been friendlier or more accommodating. They are all very young but well managed and not without considerable humour.
True, our room wasn't palatial and yes, it could have done with seeing a bit more Pledge in places but it was adequate for a family that is there primarily for skiing.
The food was hearty and plentiful without being particularly haute cuisine and the afternoon tea was absolutely brilliant. The wine was fine especially as it was free all night.
Our group had children in crèche and whizzkids and both were excellent with the activities being varied, indoor and outdoor. The pool was open all week and the rest of the facilities were fine.
Beer and drinks prices were cheaper than in Morzine (€5 a pint) which was very surprising given that you are captive halfway up the mountain. Le Viking was also the cheapest place to have lunch - pizzas/burgers etc on the terrace.
Slight downsides:- ski lockers are very small, difficult to get a snowboard in them with a pair of skis. The normal ski school in March is only 2hrs long (11am to 1:15pm) and finishes after you are meant to picked up your child from crèche (12:45). You can change your lesson to start at 9am but you have to meet in Morzine. More to do with ESF trying to cram in 3 lessons a day than Le Viking planning I think.
In conclusion, if you're a family that needs childcare and you're on a budget (this is after all the cheapest place for the location and facilities in the Crystal brochure), then you will be more than satisfied.

The Location of Le Viking is very good indeed with direct access to the pistes and wonderful views .The staff are young and friendly but very inexperienced and lack management, training, initiative and focus especially in the dining room. The chef does not know the difference between pork and lamb and don't be tempted by a "chef's special " or ask for ice cream for a child unless you are prepared to wait 45 minutes for it! On the plus side for the staff is that if you ask for something that they are capable of providing they will do it without question ( vital if you have young children and need warm milk or run out of nappies - not the easiest thing to get hold of at 1500m). The hotel has so much to offer but you have to find this for yourself - do not expect to be told anything useful unless you ask first. The boot and ski room is fine and locks are provided for skis. Rooms are very small (too small) and the locks on the balcony doors are a parents nightmare - a simple hook and eye latch. There are several reports about noise on this site but no-one has mentioned snow cannons ! these are right outside the hotel and very loud (especially when they run all night) but you get used to it. Luggage transfer is a joke- unattended baggage etc but kids will love the hotel and staff

i have just returned from the viking on the 15th march. i took no persuading to return there following a holiday there last year. for me, as a travelling single parent it ticked all the boxes for my needs.
i found the service, facilities and staff great. anything you need, extra towels, baby sitting- just ask.
most of all it felt a safe place for my daughter to wander around, have her adventure and learn what her independance is about. thank you

1 reader found this review helpful

Like Mr Roberts, I have just returned from a week in Le Viking Hotel with my 2 children.
As he has stated, while the chidcare and the restaurant staff were fantastic, there was unfortunately a general lack of motivation and care among many of the staff, in particular reception and housekeeping. The rooms were not satisfactorily clean upon arrival (crisps & a sock under the bed) and this was not remedied during the week (no hoovering, no towel changes etc). Noise was also an issue, often in the early hours of the morning with younger, childless parties who had acquired a 'last minute deal'.
This was my first holiday with Crystal whom I have always heard to be a reputable company.However, based on this experience alone I would not feel particularly inclined to holiday with them again. I hope the management issues and cleanliness are something they will improve as this is otherwise a lovely hotel with great childcare in a prime location for families.

Just returned from great skiing in Morzine/Port de Soleil. Can't fault the location of the hotel, superb. Food is generally good and child care was excellent, kids really enjoyed the Wizz Kids club and the evening activities.
There was however a problem with general management; the house keeping standards were poor; any customer greevances were not dealt with professionally and several customers felt 'fobbed off' by responses they got; It is a family hotel but noise late at night was an issue and although Management assured us that they had a firm policy on noise, it was not implemented.
The lack of good Management is a shame because with a little more effort the hotel could be superb.