Vallorcine Apartments - Happy Rentals

Do Not Book !!! Beautiful place with a great location BUT the Spa was closed and the swimming pool as well. The game room was closed on the first days and when they opened it you had to pay for every thing. The board games were gone. We found out later that all their staff had quit and their website was down as well. Looks like an abandoned place. And obviously they won’t refund us .we booked mainly for the pool and the spa. It was my daughter birthday and I wanted to treat her with her first spa experience. Very disappointing !

Fabulous set of apartments. Perfect location right opposite cable car. Fresh pastries and bread on site from boulangerie. Pool is large and sauna is great after a day skiing. Easy access to valley for skiing in other sites such as.Argentiere and Flegere

I didn't go in February 2023 but was charged for going even though I cancelled 6 months and also 3 weeks before going. I have the email proofs of this. My damning review of reserving and next day cancelling an 11 day stay at your hotel has not been published. I understand that the hotel changed ownership between my obligation-free cancellation in August 2022, 6 months before the reservation, and my repeated notifications still well before the reservation time. I am presuming *********** did not steal my reservation money but that it was the previous owners as the exact rental sum came out of my credit card straight away before the current owners took over. Even so, the current owners have shown no inclination to take responsibility.

Finding the right place to stay with a family, ages fron 2-67, with mixed skiiing abilities is not an easy matter... I recently undertook this challenge and, after a false start, found this place. It is very family friendly, staff are super helpful and the appartments are clean, well equipped and spacious. The facilities; pool, games room, sauna etc perfect. The position, right next to the telecabin is perfect for confirmed skiers. For beginners, it is conveniently next to the station, regular, free trains deliver them to the nursery slopes and sleging area of Le Poya in just four minutes. It is very peaceful and the ski lift isn't crowded, unlike many in the Chamonix valley. Yes, there are only two restaurants and a limited number of shops but the peace and beauty of the area makes up for this. A car is recommended. We had a fantastic holiday.

Back to Vallorcine once again. The residence is not 5 star. It’s more like 3 and at best 4 star. The service, as always, is 2-3 star. We come back because it is OK for the Chamonix area and reasonable value. We booked directly with the residence but found that they have now outsourced customer support to Happy Rentals. So, if something needs sorting you have to email Happy Rental who blame reception and reception blame Happy Rentals. I am unsure if the Residence has been sold to new owners or they are just cutting costs. Basically, the service is always poor and it’s got worse. Nowhere open on arrival on a Sunday 8pm to get groceries or basics. No means of getting a welcome pack on arrival. No restaurants open in Vallorcine. So, no food on arrival ! No wine glasses in the apartment and despite telling Happy Rentals and Reception we are still waiting for them to arrive. The sauna was Kaput - 40 deg c. They either have it on a low setting to save energy or are not putting it on early enough to save energy or it’s just knackered. The bathroom stank of cigarette smoke on arrival and despite telling Happy Rentals I had to borrow air freshener off a cleaners trolley and fix myself. The most friendly restaurant in Vallorcine in the station building has closed down. The 3 bears restaurant has closed down. The only remaining restaurant is Le Comptoir and here you either get good or shocking service. We have never managed to eat there as we’ve always left in disgust at the lack of service and outright rudeness. So, if you can find a better place I would suggest you do. Vallorcine and The Residence du Mont Blanc seems to be on a downward trajectory now. I suspect we will go elsewhere in future.

We have stayed here a lot over the years, always for the skiing. Positives Points are - location to the ski lift for Balme area, swimming pool and sauna, apartments are basic, not luxurious, but they are clean and tidy with most of what you need. We are repeat guests mainly as we love Vallorcine and it’s about the best available in the Chamonix valley at a reasonable rate. Some are far worse in our experience. Negative Point - almost all revolve around the service and support rather than the infrastructure. There’s just a “ we can’t really be bothered” attitude with the great majority of the staff. WiFi is a big deal these days and it just doesn’t work. If you ask for it to be fixed, then the reply is simply, “ we’ve checked and it’s working so come and sit in reception of it doesn’t work ok in your room”. The sauna is never warm and often not on at all early on, presumably to save electricity. Reception staff are simply unhelpful with just about everything. There’s almost no point in asking them for any help as it just doesn’t happen. Their approach seems to be to find any excuse not to have to actually act. Nearby there used to be a great little shop with butchers and groceries all within 30 secs walk. It’s now closed down meaning the nearest grocers or supermarket is on Argentiere which is 15 min drive over Col de Montets. Also the restaurant and bar in the Railway station has closed down. This was the best local place for an after ski beer and there’s no alternative. Le Comptoir is the only other walkable restaurant and it’s pretty unwelcoming to the extent that we’ve always walked out before getting served. We asked to change the date of the mid stay apartment clean but that was too difficult for them and another example of the lack of service. A general point to watch for it that snow can close the Col de Montets so you really do need winter tyres or chains. You can be lucky and not need them and use the train instead but it is a slight risk. So, this may be our last visit to the Residence as I feel they are not delivering and it leaves you feeling unwanted and an inconvenience to the staff. It’s time to find better.