Hotel Vancouver, Plagne Soleil, France

Just back from a great weeks skiing in the Paradiski area. Stayed at the Hotel Vancouver in Plagne Soleil, skied mainly in La Plagne with one day in Les Arcs. Hotel Vancouver was excellent, we had booked a family room (for 3 of us) but got a mini apartment complete with fridge, microwave, hob, kettle. Food was of a very high standard with buffet starters, buffer dessert/cheese board and a fixed main course each evening (although an alternative could be offered). Breakfast was a hot a cold buffet, again very good. A fire was lit in the lobby every evening which made a nice place to sit for a drink before or after dinner. Pool/Sauna in the basement but didn't use so can't comment. Hotel staff very helpful, our departure was moved to 6am (due to expected traffic volume) and the hotel opened up breakfast early for us. Very convenient for the slopes, door from the ski/boot room right onto a blue piste leading down to the Bergerie and Boulevard Chairs (often a queue waiting for the Bergerie to open, it was half term, but heading out a few minutes after the lifts open meant an empty boot room and no queue. Colossus chair was very busy at the end of the day (only way back from the Bell Plagne side). Overall an excellent week and would definitely return to the Vancouver again.

Apres-Ski 3/5
Accommodation & Value 5/5

Stuart Walker

I booked the Vancouver for a group of 5 adults in March 2011. I made the booking over the phone, and found the Igluski staff polite and helpful. I booked 3 rooms wih one paying a single supplement. The hotel is new, very clean and modern, and attractive external design in wood. The transfer from Grenoble was quite long, about 3 hours. We were met by a Ski France rep at the airport and directed to our coach. The double rooms were comfortable, clean, modern and roomy, with balcony offering good views of the mountains, pistes and resorts. We had a quad room which was very large, with a double bed and a set of bunks in an alcove opposite the bathroom and separate loo. Unlike some French ski hotels, this had a bath with overhead shower, not just a hand held one. The TV only has CNN news in English, but is a modern flat screen with built in DVD player. The only problems with our room was that the door was very difficult to lock/ unlock, and the folding shower screen is he wrong end of the bath, so the floor gets wet. The ski/ boot room was spacious with lockers for each room, but not heated, so most guests took their boots to their rooms. Exit the boot room into an underground car park, then through another door to the blue run that goes down to the chairlift. The hotel also has appartments attached, called Sun Valley. We had half board included, and this alternated between buffet nights and set menu waiter service. The food was generally very good, with alternatives offered if necessary. The cheapest wine was about € 17- € 18.per bottle. You could also order food from the A La Carte menu if wished for extra cost. We ordered a pizza one evening, which was excellent and only about €3 extra. You cannot run a tab for drinks in the restaurant or bar, or charge it to the room - you have to pay every evening. This is because the bar and restaurant is run separately to the hotel. The one downside is that the bar does not open until 4pm so you cannot get food or drink in the hotel during the day after breakfast. Also reception closes from 12pm to 3pm so the hotel is deserted. As I had an accident on the first morning, and had broken ribs, I had to stay in the hotel and our room all day for the week, and could not get even a cup of tea until 4pm. Fortunately my family bought me snacks and cold drinks from shops in resort, which means catching a bus from the hotel. The others used the pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, and said they were warm and very good. I would recommend this hotel for people wishing to stay in Plagne Soleil, with easy access to the slopes.

Apres-Ski 3/5

Debra Lear