Les Dromonts

Les Dromonts, a Michelin Key Selected property in Avoriaz, France, is widely celebrated for its unique 1960s-inspired design, exceptional ski-in/ski-out access, and friendly staff, offering a memorable stay in the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Les Dromonts is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently praising its distinctive charm and convenient location. On platforms like TripAdvisor, the hotel holds a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from over 355 reviews, with 62% rating it as "Excellent" and 21% as "Very Good". Booking.com shows a "Good" rating of 7.9 based on 197 reviews. Guests often describe their stays as "great," "lovely," and "fantastic," highlighting a strong positive sentiment.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently adore several aspects of Les Dromonts:

• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's "one-of-a-kind pinecone design" and angular, wood-clad look are a major draw, offering a striking example of alpine architecture. Inside, it features a bold retro 1960s feel with black slate floors, iconic designer pieces, and splashes of purple and tangerine, creating a cozy and unique atmosphere. It's been described as "very funky decor" and "vintage 60's decor with today's comfort."
• Location & Accessibility: The hotel boasts excellent "ski-in, ski-out access," placing guests directly on the slopes of the vast Portes du Soleil area, which is a dream for intermediate skiers. Avoriaz itself is a car-free resort, adding to the peaceful mountain experience.
• Service & Staff: Many reviews commend the "excellent service from staff," describing them as "really friendly and serviceminded," "attentive," and "helpful."
• Amenities: The presence of a welcoming bar with a stone fireplace, a relaxation room with hanging chairs, and a spa area with sauna, hammam, and a Nordic bath are frequently appreciated.

3. Room Quality

The 34 guest rooms at Les Dromonts are described as "relatively cozy in size" and maintain the hotel's 1960s design inspiration. They feature original archways and cedar-walled rooms outfitted in cool shades of gray. Guests have noted "comfortable" rooms with "lovely bedding and a good shower." "Club rooms" are often recommended for more space, featuring spacious bathrooms and "super comfy beds." Standard rooms come with showers, while superior rooms offer free-standing baths. Some rooms also include small balconies, and suites offer separate seating areas. Rooms are generally reported as clean and well-equipped.

4. Dining Experience

Les Dromonts offers two distinct dining experiences:

• Les Enfants Terribles: This is a chic bistro serving classic French cuisine, known for its elegant setting and refined dishes, including signature items like the mythical beef filet. It's often chosen for more special dinners.
• Le Festival: This restaurant offers a more relaxed atmosphere, serving local specialties, cheese-rich comfort food like fondue, and burgers.
• Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is generally considered "pleasant and varied," with a good selection of breads, pastries, fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses, and sometimes scrambled eggs. Guests on half-board often receive a credit for dinner.

However, some guests on half-board have noted that the dinner menu in the main restaurant might not change frequently enough, with appealing options sometimes incurring an additional supplement. There have also been mentions of the evening buffet having limited variety and being lukewarm.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Les Dromonts consistently receives high praise for being "attentive," "friendly," "helpful," and "serviceminded." Many guests highlight the staff as a key reason for a pleasant stay, with specific mentions of excellent service during dinner. Some isolated comments mention inconsistencies, particularly regarding pet policies at breakfast, leading to uncomfortable situations.

6. Location & Accessibility

The hotel's location in Avoriaz is a significant advantage. It's ideally situated in the center of the resort, providing direct ski-in/ski-out access to the extensive Portes du Soleil ski area with 600 km of slopes. Avoriaz is a pedestrian-only resort, meaning no cars, and transport within the village is by horse-drawn sleighs or snowcats, enhancing the serene alpine ambiance. The hotel is also close to ski lifts, shops, and ski school meeting points. Transfers from Geneva International Airport take approximately 110 minutes by car to the resort's welcome center, from where further transport to the hotel is arranged.

7. Value & Pricing

While specific price ranges are not extensively detailed in the reviews, the hotel is a Michelin Key Selected property, suggesting a certain level of quality and corresponding pricing. Some guests have found the overall cost to be good, especially given the experience. However, there was a comment suggesting that, at times, the hotel did not represent "great value for money given the overall cost," particularly when certain spa facilities were not fully operational. Booking directly with the hotel may offer the best available rates.

8. Common Complaints

While generally positive, some recurring criticisms include:

• Spa Functionality: Several guests have reported issues with the spa facilities, specifically a cold hot tub, a non-working hammam, or a jacuzzi under maintenance without prior warning.
• Dining Consistency: Some feedback indicates that the evening buffet can lack variety and may not always be adequately warm. The frequency of menu changes for half-board guests has also been a point of concern.
• Noise: A few guests have mentioned noise disturbances from a nearby bowling alley, with smokers congregating outside until late hours, audible from some windows.
• Room Size: While cozy, the rooms are generally not described as particularly spacious, which is noted as a characteristic of the historic building.
• Pet Policy Inconsistency: One review highlighted confusion and inconsistency regarding dogs in dining areas, despite the hotel marketing itself as dog-friendly.## Les Dromonts, Avoriaz, France: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Les Dromonts, a Michelin Key Selected hotel in the car-free ski resort of Avoriaz, France, offers a distinctive and memorable experience rooted in its iconic 1960s architecture and prime ski-in/ski-out location. Guests are drawn to its retro-chic design, attentive service, and direct access to the vast Portes du Soleil ski area.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general sentiment for Les Dromonts is overwhelmingly positive. The hotel consistently garners high praise for its unique character and excellent facilities. On TripAdvisor, it holds a strong rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, with 62% of reviews being "Excellent" and an additional 21% "Very Good". Similarly, on Booking.com, it scores a "Good" 7.9 out of 10 based on numerous reviews. Guests frequently describe their stays as "great," "lovely," and "fantastic," emphasizing a strong appreciation for the hotel's overall ambiance and offerings.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Les Dromonts for several standout features:

• Striking Design & Ambiance: The hotel's "one-of-a-kind pinecone design" and angular, wood-clad exterior make it an architectural marvel that seamlessly blends into the alpine landscape. Inside, a bold 1960s retro aesthetic prevails, characterized by black slate floors, iconic designer furniture, and vibrant splashes of purple and tangerine, fostering a "cosy nooks" atmosphere perfect for relaxation after a day on the slopes.
• Unbeatable Location & Accessibility: Les Dromonts boasts exceptional "ski-in, ski-out access," positioning guests directly on the slopes of the expansive Portes du Soleil area, a haven for intermediate skiers. As Avoriaz is a completely car-free resort, the pedestrian-friendly environment contributes to a peaceful and authentic mountain escape.
• Dedicated Service: The staff consistently receives commendations for their "excellent service," being described as "really friendly and serviceminded," "attentive," and "helpful."
• Relaxing Amenities: The hotel offers appealing communal spaces, including a welcoming bar with a stone fireplace, a tranquil relaxation room featuring hanging chairs, and a spa area complete with a sauna, hammam, and an outdoor Nordic bath.

3. Room Quality

The 34 guest rooms at Les Dromonts, while generally "relatively cozy in size," are designed to be memorable and comfortable. They honor the hotel's 1960s origins with original archways and cedar-walled interiors often furnished in cool shades of gray. Guests appreciate the "comfortable" rooms, "lovely bedding," and "good shower facilities." "Club rooms" are recommended for those desiring more space, featuring generous bathrooms and "super comfy beds." Standard rooms come with showers, while superior options offer free-standing baths. Many rooms also include small balconies, and suites provide separate seating areas. Overall, rooms are reported as clean and well-maintained.

4. Dining Experience

Les Dromonts provides two distinct culinary venues:

• Les Enfants Terribles: This chic bistro offers a refined dining experience with classic French cuisine, including signature dishes like the mythical beef filet. It's often chosen for more sophisticated or celebratory dinners.
• Le Festival: For a more casual meal, Le Festival serves local specialties, traditional fondue, and burgers.
• Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is typically described as "pleasant and varied," providing a substantial start to the day with a selection of breads, pastries, fresh fruit, cold cuts, cheeses, and hot options such as scrambled eggs.

However, some half-board guests have expressed that the dinner menu in the main restaurant can be somewhat repetitive, with premium options incurring an additional supplement. There have also been occasional remarks about the evening buffet lacking variety and some items being lukewarm.

5. Service & Staff

The hotel staff receives consistent commendation for their warm and efficient hospitality. They are frequently lauded as "attentive," "friendly," "helpful," and "serviceminded," significantly contributing to a positive guest experience. Specific praise has been directed towards staff during dinner service. Isolated incidents of inconsistent communication regarding pet policies, particularly at breakfast, have been noted, leading to some discomfort.

6. Location & Accessibility

Les Dromonts enjoys a prime location within Avoriaz, a high-altitude (1800m) pedestrian-only resort. Its "ski-in, ski-out" access is a major draw, providing direct entry to the extensive 600km Portes du Soleil ski area. Avoriaz's unique car-free policy means transport within the village is charmingly handled by horse-drawn sleighs or snowcats. The hotel is conveniently situated near ski lifts, shops, and ski school meeting points. Access from Geneva International Airport takes approximately 110 minutes by car to the resort's welcome center, where further onward transport is arranged.

7. Value & Pricing

As a Michelin Key Selected property, Les Dromonts generally commands pricing consistent with its unique offerings and prime location. While specific price ranges were not widely detailed, guests often find the overall experience to be worth the cost. However, some feedback indicates that the value for money can be impacted if certain amenities, such as the spa facilities, are not fully operational. Direct booking with the hotel may offer more favorable rates.

8. Common Complaints

While the overall experience is highly rated, a few recurring criticisms have emerged:

• Spa Maintenance Issues: Several guests have reported instances of the hot tub being cold, the hammam not working, or the jacuzzi being under maintenance without prior notification.
• Dining Repetitiveness: For half-board guests, the dinner menu has occasionally been cited as lacking variety over multiple nights, and some buffet items have been noted as lukewarm.
• Noise from Nearby Establishments: A small number of reviews mention noise from a nearby bowling alley, particularly from smokers congregating outside late at night, which could be heard from some rooms.
• Room Size: Despite being well-designed and comfortable, the rooms are often described as cozy rather than spacious, a characteristic attributed to the hotel's original architectural design.
• Inconsistent Pet Policy: One guest reported a negative experience due to inconsistent application of the hotel's pet policy, specifically concerning dogs in dining areas.

Sources

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16. avoriaz.com