Reviews of Relais des Alpes Hotel, Sauze D Oulx, Italy

We booked this hotel last minute...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss J Shuttlewood

Comments:

We booked this hotel last minute and having read some of the reviews did wonder if we had done the right thing. They are unfair! With really poor snow conditions and a general feeling of disappointment with Sauze overall the hotel made our holiday. The staff were really welcoming and did all they could to make it pleasant. The rooms were fine,and had all you needed. The food was superb for a skiing hotel with plenty of choice for all tastes and was always fresh and hot despite being a buffet. The Pub attached to the hotel was noisy earlier on but by 11pm it was quiet and we didnt have one night of disturbed sleep. Yes you do hear people shouting outside sometimes but this is a ski resort not a health spa so this is quite normal wherever you stay and is certainly no fault of the hotel. I would stay there again without a doubt.

This is by far the best hotel I...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2008

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mr P Crowe

Comments:

This is by far the best hotel I have stayed in while on a skiing holiday. I have noted that some people have complained about the noise, well we were in room 101, closest to the Queens Lounge pub, and apart froma little noise, it did nothing to detract from our enjoyment nor did we loose any sleep. The food was fantastic and varied every day, the scambled egg for breakfast was superb. All of the staff were very polite and as helpful as possible.

The room was very tidy and spacious. Again I have noticed that some people have complained about the temperatures, well maybe they should learn what a thermstat does. . . The room temperature is controllable, so no excuses.

I have to say, the walk round to the clotes chair lift every morning was somewhat tedious, but the hotel have no control over this. in fact we are incredibly close to the lift, it is vertually behind the hotel, but there is no way to get there other that to walk round the block. Maybe someone should invest in a large escalator fron the square?

All the Thompson Reps were great, polite and very helpful, Thanks katie for looking after us.

Overall this is a great hotel and we all very much enjoyed our time there.

I absolutely loved this place....

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2007

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

 L Crouch

Comments:

I absolutely loved this place. Sauze is amazing and the hotel was great.



All the staff were very helpful and friendly. The rooms are a good size and are cleaned regularly and the bathroom was nice too.



Our room was a bit cold but I only noticed because some of my family who were staying in a different room had a room which was boiling. When you go skiing you don’t tend to spend much time in your room any way.



There is an English style pub downstairs that organised a quiz night which is worth going to as you can win day trips to other resorts.



The food was really nice, and there was just so much to choose from, with a mix of salads and cold starters as well as hot dinners.



I would definitely recommend this hotel and would say to try and get involved with stuff the tour operators organise because it’s well worth it.

I and my boyfriend travelled to...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Miss S Foster

Comments:

I and my boyfriend travelled to Sauze D’Olux this year at the beginning of the half term at the end of May to April.



The hotel, seems to have received high reviews, however we were not happy with the service.



The actual rooms were really basic. We requested a double bed when we booked, however we got two single beds pushed together. The overall cleanliness of the rooms was quite good.



The food, has to be said was absolutely appalling. It was the same food for breakfast and dinner every day. Also once the food had been put out it would be left to get cold. The trays which were supposed to be keeping the food warm obviously didn’t work.



Also I happened to get locked in the bathroom for half an hour waiting for someone to come and get me out. They sent a man up, who couldn't unlock the door.



The waiters and receptionists were very polite and helpful, and the actual ski resort is a beautiful little village with some good restaurants in the old town.



The mountains were absolutely amazing and wonderful to ski on. Just a shame about the hotel.

My 3 girls and I had a great...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Apr 2007

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mrs O Rowe

Comments:

My 3 girls and I had a great time at the Relais des Alpes. Reception and waiting staff were excellent and could not have done more for us.



It is a walk uphill from the bus stop to the hotel as tour buses are not allowed in the main streets. The luggage went by minibus.



The hotel is situated next to a bank and ski hire shop with other shops nearby. The meals we had were excellent with a good choice every night and breakfast the same. I did agree with a comment that the sausages were half cooked.



We experienced little noise as we were based at the front of the hotel. although it is inevitable that you get some noise wherever you go. The Clotes lift was an 8 minute walk, at a slow pace, uphill in ski boots.



The Sportinia lift was further away and the ski bus stopped virtually outside the hotel. All I can say about the comments of the Clotes lift being slow is chill out people.



They took 4 at a time, just enjoy the fabulous views, it isn't a problem. We were there for the last week of the season and it was very quiet, i.e., no queues.



We were fortunate to have had a metre of snow before arriving and a full day of snow midweek so the skiing was perfect. We would definitely use this hotel again.

The hotel is located on a main...

Overall Rating:

4/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2007

Tour Operator:

Crystal

Submitted By:

Mr S Beattie

Comments:

The hotel is located on a main square with plenty of facilities on the doorstep (ski shop, small supermarket, pharmacy etc). However, the ski lifts are a lot further away than it says in the brochures. The Clotes lift is at least 10 mins away and is very slow, while the faster Sportinia lift is a good 15mins away. Ski busses are infrequent, the routes are confusing and fares are not included on the lift pass.



The staff at the hotel are very helpful and friendly, which is in marked contrast to the staff at the bar, The Queen's Head, which is an awful English pub attached to the hotel. To be fair, 2 out of 3 of the bar staff were ok but the other one was incredibly rude throughout the whole week - it's the first time I've ever been served a drink without being spoken to.



The rooms are an ok size but there is no fridge in the room, the decor is a bit naff and the overall impression is that they are a bit shabby. The bathroom was very hot whilst the bedroom was quite cold. I expected more from a 4* hotel.



The main drawback of the hotel is the noise. Despite being there during a very quiet week and on the 3rd floor, the noise from the pub downstairs and late night drunken shouting from outside disturbed several nights sleep. Some friends were in a room overlooking the square and by all accounts the noise was worse.



The food in the evenings was generally good with plenty of choice. Breakfast wasn't so great as some of the food tended to be on the cold side and the sausages were always undercooked. The coffee was great though - I think they make it extra strong to wake up those who only got a few hours sleep because of the noise.



If you want to get Franz Klammered every night then this is the place for you. If you want to relax or take the family I'd go somewhere else.

We have just returned from a...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Feb 2007

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Mrs F Wilson

Comments:

We have just returned from a great week in Sauze D Oulx.



After reading some of the other reviews we were a bit worried before we left as we were travelling with our two children aged 9 and 11.



However, the resort had everything we needed, the Relais Des Alpes was nice, the rooms were spacious and clean and the staff were friendly.



The food was tasty and varied, although we did go out a couple of nights for meals as there were a few nice restaurants.



There are a few lively pubs there but we were lucky enough to be located at the front of the hotel and did not hear anything during the night.



A few of the other guests complained about the noise outside in the early hours.



We all enjoyed the skiing and would definitely recommend the resort.

I read the previous reviews...

Overall Rating:

5/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2006

Tour Operator:

Thomson

Submitted By:

Ms M Grant

Comments:

I read the previous reviews before booking. I conclude now that either we were very unlucky or very fussy!



This is by far the worst hotel we have stayed in whilst skiing. The noise of the Hotel kept us awake every night, including our children sleeping next door.



Drunks sleeping on sofas on the 2nd floor hallway, noise of the "Queens Head" pub that is attached, parties in rooms and children running amok through the hotel with no adult supervision.



The children broke the lift and it became unusable. The 2nd floor is very noisy.



The food in comparison to other 4 star hotels in other countries was 2nd rate. Canned mushrooms and soup. 20 min wait for a fried egg or omelette's as they are cooked individually. Most mornings you gave up.



However, the waiters look after you and work very hard, despite the limit of the numbers. Regarding the rooms, the hairdryer is such a low wattage that it is not worth bothering with, no fridge and corridors that are so noisy you can hear someone knocking at the end of the corridor. You can also hear the people talking next door.



The guests could not care less whether it was 3 in the afternoon or 3 in the morning, the loudness and noise was the same.



As a beginners resort I would avoid it. The Bus queue was a fight each morning and if the bus was full you waited 15 mins for another, No good if your kids have to get to ski school. You also have to put people on chair lifts that have never even put on skis before, very stressful.



One positive note is that the ski school is good. Other wise, if you want organised Piste information, good food and 4 star treatment, try the Sport Hotel in Andorra (soldeu), then you will understand what I am talking about.

Having had a previous terrible...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2005

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Miss E.L. Staples

Comments:

Having had a previous terrible experience with a package holiday, we decided to book a hotel independently, and simply stumbled across Relais des Alpes by chance. But a lucky chance at that, as I must say that it was possibly the best holiday I’ve ever had.



The hotel staff greeted us with smiling faces, and were always eager to help out and make sure we were comfortable enough. The room (double) was very spacious, with a lovely large bathroom (something which comes in handy when you're sharing with your sister!) and Sky TV.



And the food, goodness, where do I begin? All meals were served as a buffet, with a large variety of food for each breakfast and dinner: pasta, meats, salads, cheeses, desserts. Italian food of the highest quality - and the best thing is, there is no limit to how much you can eat!



Very appropriate location, right next door to a bank and the ski hire shop. Ski slopes all extremely fun, with a lot of variety, however not very many for beginners. Even a bus from directly outside the hotel to carry you to the bottom of the ski slopes.



Very comfortable and enjoyable holiday, our needs were taken care of with high consideration from the polite and very well spoken staff. So wonderful that I am returning again this year, and staying over Christmas. I will be sure to write another review to see if it's improved.



To any intermediate skiers, I would definitely recommend Sauze d'oulx, and the Relais des Alpes hotel for a delightful holiday experience.

Myself and my girlfriend have...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2006

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mr N Crannage

Comments:

Myself and my girlfriend have just returned from a weeks skiing in Sauze. I read the reviews before choosing the Relais and I swore I would write one on my return. The reviews helped us choose this hotel and we were not disappointed at all.



Upon arrival, and after a short walk from the coach park as coaches aren’t allowed through the town, we were greeted with smiles and very helpful reception staff. Our first impressions were great, it looked nice both inside and out and had a good location next to the ski hire shop, pharmacy, supermarket and a few other shops selling cheap booze.



Our room was on the 2nd floor and although it wasn’t as big as others have commented on, it was none the less very comfortable and warm and very well cleaned and tidied.



The meals were exceptional, my partner is a vegetarian and usually struggles for variation but there were many different choices for us both, pastas, soups, fresh salads, meat (every night a different type, veal, beef, lamb pork etc) plus veg and potatoes of varying styles. Breakfast was much the same and we never went hungry.



The skiing itself was superb, i would highly advise the ski school even as intermediates, as it helped us get to know the mountains as well as the chance to brush up our skills under watchful helpful eyes. It had snowed days prior to our visit and it only snowed on the last but one day, but never the less the conditions were perfectly ski-able and we had no problem with thin patches etc.



The views and surrounding areas are picture perfect and it was great to cruise down the open reds stopping every now and then to take photos.



Night life is mixed, we heard that Sauze was an "Ibiza" on snow but we did not find this, there are plenty of small restaurants and bars to drink in as well as the more popular drinking holes of Banditos and Paddys. We never had any problems with "lager boys" shouting around at 3am etc. It is a very family and child friendly resort and we would definitely recommend it to anyone, young or old, couple or family.



I hope this review helps others as the ones before had helped us. The resort is a great one and the hotel surpassed our expectations.

The rooms in the Relais des...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Jan 2006

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Not Specified

Comments:

The rooms in the Relais des Alpes were - as another reviewer mentioned - critical to the holiday.



Our room was above the bar and was noisy. We had to ask for additional heating for the room as all the room on the ends of the hotel were cold. There were quite a few of us, and another couple at the other end of the hotel found it cold too.

I have never been cold in a winter sports hotel before.



The food was incredible - we chose Relais because we didn't want a set menu - and we weren't disappointed. There was a vast array of the highest quality.



The slopes were mainly red - but some were quite steep - the tree lined runs were long and comfortably wide without being too wide.



The mountain restaurants at Sportina were good - but I was expecting them to be in different locations.



The ski busses were regular and it seemed as if the fare was optional as I very rarely saw anyone pay.



Main gripe was the lack of snow - but that’s the luck of the draw. As it was 2 weeks before the Olympics they had cannons working day and night though.



I would return to the resort simply to ride it with snowfall.



We visited Sestriere - but weren't impressed.

Maybe it was the fact so many runs were shut preparing for the downhill races.

We just returned from a week at...

Overall Rating:

9/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

Dec 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Miss A Marr

Comments:

We just returned from a week at the Relais des Alpes - this hotel was fantastic, the double room we booked was huge with a super king size bed, sofa and armchair (all which could be converted into beds), kettle, TV with sky, MTV etc. It may be worth checking what kind of room you will be getting though as other people we spoke to were not quite as lucky as us and had smaller rooms.



Everyday the room was cleaned and tidied to a very high standard. The hotel was comfortable and quiet at night time. There was a sauna and Jacuzzi which we were able to book for a 45minute slot after skiing each day even though the hotel was full.



The food was lovely - so much choice at breakfast, cereals, fruits, yoghurts, pastries and cooked breakfast and lots of different courses at dinner - all buffet style where you can return and eat as much as you like! The only problem for us was that for some meals vegetarian options were limited, that said there was always a wide range of salad options available and lots of soup and bread.



Staff in this hotel were polite and friendly and spoke good English - they opened breakfast early on the morning we flew home. The ski hire shop used by the hotel was just a footstep away and also had English staff who were amazingly helpful and happy to share tips with us about skiing conditions etc each day.



I would recommend this hotel - for couples, groups of friends and for families - there were families with children staying and they were well catered for food wise. There was a regular bus which took people to the foot of the mountain that stopped a few feet from the hotel - however we walked each day as it was only a 5 minute walk.

We had a great time at the Hotel...

Overall Rating:

10/10

Board Basis:

Half Board

Date of Holiday:

Mar 2005

Tour Operator:

Booked Independently

Submitted By:

Mr I Staines

Comments:

We had a great time at the Hotel Relais des Alpes during our stay in March 2005, the accommodation was excellent, it was in an excellent location next to the bars and a small walk to the slopes. The standard of food was five star and the staff were so friendly and helpful nothing was too much trouble, and it was always with a smile. Check in and check out was effortless and adjoining bar/pub was an added bonus.


We hired a car from the airport and the parking was free for the duration of our stay.


They even opened breakfast half hour early for our departure.