LA FOLIE DOUCE HOTELS CHAMONIX****

The location is the only good thing about this hotel. I went for new years eve, Decembre 2025 - January 2026, and spent about 8 days at the hotel. Reception staff was very nice. When we first arrived the room, we were given had cigarette smoke coming up through the vents in the bathroom. We had to request an upgrade to the room, which we paid for, because it the first room was unbearable. The second room, two lifts heading up, and one was broken the first 2 days, then when it was open it smelled of sick; maybe this was the reason it was closed. The smell was just awful and was present the rest of the stay; this was shared by all the guests in that area. The SPA was worn down and felt unhygienic, and the heated pool, was glacial cold. The general cleanliness of the hotel was poor. The food was mediocre, at best. The rooms were tired and worn down. Heating was non existing; radiator knobs were high up requiring me to get up on a chair to control. I am 180 cm tall. We asked the staff, and this was the only way to do it. There was near to no lighting in the room, we had to use our phone flashlights to find what we were looking for; and the lighting that was available were just one or two bare bulbs hanging in a failed industrial style look, which were useless because their poor placement just meant they blinded you. New Year's Eve dinner was awful; third rate at best. The hotel was marketed as closed off only for guests during new year's, in fact there was even a note left in the room with bracelets to identify us as guests during that day, so we were allowed access to all fo the hotel, as per the letter. Well, turns out that was not true at all, the lounge and social area was actually closed off to guests and turned into a nightclub for paying visitors, all of whom were NOT staying at the hotel. The actual hotel guests were confined to a small section of the hotel, basically the family style restaurant where they serve breakfast. imagine a worn down outdated 90's American restaurant. I was pushed by staff that night; the manager was rude, she was dismissive and just seemed completely incompetent or worse indifferent. the coat check for outside guests was placed directly in front of the elevators creating an obstacle for guests to reach or exit the rooms. I could continue to write but I think this is a good overall picture of my experience at this hotel. it is a shame, because it is without a doubt the best location at Chamonix; but I don't think I have stayed at a more poorly operated place before.

Lovely hotel and staff, nice food, good choice at breakfast. Would come back again to this hotel but in the winter months to enjoy some skiing and snowboarding. Can go hire electric bikes but selected routes and days when to hire due to bad weather. Good entertainment on evenings.