Village Club MMV Les Arolles — Hotel in Albertville

Stayed after Christmas into New Year for a week . Was very concerned after reading some recent reviews regarding rooms / food quality prior to us going. We have stayed in Val Thorens in April 24 self catered and friends have visited periodically resort . Unfortunately resort is overpriced and generally accommodation is not of a good level compared to smaller resorts in France . We stayed here after having a bad experience in self catered accomodation.

Positives :

Accommodation was adequate. If you compare premier inn level in U.K. it’s just above . Clean rooms/ hot water / good shower . Can borrow hair dryer from reception . Quiet - we had Mountain View / higher floor . Size ok as ski accomodation usually small . We had additional bed in room so used for storage and adult/ teenagers were given a disabled room so this had large wet room .

Food . Varied, lots of choice . Ice cream stand for kids/ cheese board/ pasta . High quality produce used . Deserts amazing . We ate early (as soon as it opened) on both morning/ evening and had no problems with choice/ supply although did notice that they aren’t super fast to replenish, especially the popular deserts . Coffee machines all working / wine good level. Water station in bar . New Year’s Eve catering staff made a massive effort to make evening special . They even served up oysters !

spa area - nice not massive but adequate. Used a few times

entertainment / kids - we were there only for the accommodation side of things / ski . From what we observed kids were having a great time . Entertainment was geared in French to the children . Staff looked like they were making effort .

location - amazing . Straight out onto slopes . Bit bumpy straight down but if not an experienced skier you can do a left outside boot room . Cairn lift outside so easy to get lift at end of day . However in mornings there is a path that has a tiny gradient ( practically flat ) down to the Montana apartments . You can cross the road here (by foot) then ski directly onto nursery slopes or just ski down . If you need to get to ski school this is a quicker route as lifts aren’t up and running until 9am . We ended up asking the instructor ( evolution- very good ) to change the meeting point .

Staff - all staff are very welcoming and helpful . All smiling . Was able to get into one of the two rooms earlier than 6pm .

Negatives

Room - carpet could do with replacing . Shower tiles need refurbing .

Tea / coffee - none other provided before 7.30pm in dining hall . Would be helpful to provide Tea/ coffee earlier or coffee machine in lounge area otherwise bring kettle .

Food - breakfast . Hot food left in trays under a warming canopy - eg: beans/ bacon not hot - stone cold .they do serve eggs cooked on the go . Need to get better heaters or more staff . Evening was better, but still not piping hot . Never ate chicken all week as concerned that food wasn’t piping hot. Did complain at reception, but no change, so resorted to using the microwave used for baby food in dining room . Breakfast provided on last day -5.30am was only croissants and coffee. No yogurt / cereals brought out . We made an early start to get out of the resort so ended up having to stop again for more breakfast further down .

Would return - however price was expensive compared to...

This review is on behalf of a group of 10 adults who stayed here on an 'All-Inclusive' basis in the first week of February, 2025.||Having stayed in previous MMV Hotels in France, we were not expecting too much. However we were very pleasantly surprised with Les Arolles. Due to the big rockfall blocking the main valley road, we finally arrived at about 2230hrs after an 11hr transfer!| |The staff had kept the restaurant open and there was a wide variety of food available - not simply some stale sandwiches as we were expecting. Apparently it stayed open to feed those who arrived even later. A good first impression|.|ROOMS: These are not huge or luxurious, but perfect and typical for a ski week. No kettles as is the norm in France. A big TV, but we never used it. Beds were made daily and towels changed regularly. Separate toilet and shower room. Beds are adequate for a week. No issues with noise - we were on the 3rd floor.||BOOT ROOM: Usual scrum at start of day, but did the job. Just beware the carpet can be wet - so have shoes with you!||SPA AREA: I didn't use it but several of the party found it fine, though the sauna was out of action due to a fault and awaited an engineer.||SKI-SHOP: Next to the boot room. We used another one nearby (250m) which was cheaper.||BAR: It was well stocked and the all-inclusive covered all but the most expensive of drinks. It got a little busy at the end of the ski day, but after that initial hours, it was fine.|There was a free cake stand dishing out cake for people returning at the end of the ski day.||STAFF: Without exception, all were very pleasant and helpful. English is spoken by the reception staff.||LOCATION: Ski in/out. Others have said its on a green run. It's not - more a blue which is a bit lumpy and busy until you reach the more open main valley area - about 100m down/away. We made good use of the 'All-inclusive', but I reckon restaurants and bars are no more than a 5 min walk away, if that.||ENTERTAINMENT: This is a 'holiday village' for families - and clearly French families at that. The evening entertainment was popular - amongst French families. There was nothing in English and I suspect English families with kids may have been a bit disappointed.||RESTAURANT: Considering the numbers they cater for each day (500 or so), we all thought the restaurant was EXTREMELY GOOD. There was always a very wide selection of starters, main courses, cheese and puddings. In addition there was a pizza and pasta bar, a vegetarian bar and a decent selection of ice creams. Unlike other MMVs, it was clear the food was cooked from scratch and not simply bought in and re-heated. ||WIFI: Free and extensive across the hotel. ||So in conclusion.... I've read some of the more negative reviews. While clearly reviews are very subjective, I am always surprised by some people's expectations. This is not a charming, luxury hotel serving high-end clients. Rather it is a clean, friendly, lower-end hotel which provides exactly what I look for when away skiing for a week. Tremendous value, good food and good location. I would particularly recommend the value for money of going 'all inclusive'.||No doubt our group will return to Val T in the next few years; unless things have changed drastically we won't be looking for anywhere...

This review is on behalf of a group of 10 adults who stayed here on an 'All-Inclusive' basis in the first week of February, 2025.

Having stayed in previous MMV Hotels in France, we were not expecting too much. However we were very pleasantly surprised with Les Arolles. Due to the big rockfall blocking the main valley road, we finally arrived at about 2230hrs after an 11hr transfer!

The staff had kept the restaurant open and there was a wide variety of food available - not simply some stale sandwiches as we were expecting. Apparently it stayed open to feed those who arrived even later. A good first impression . ROOMS: These are not huge or luxurious, but perfect and typical for a ski week. No kettles as is the norm in France. A big TV, but we never used it. Beds were made daily and towels changed regularly. Separate toilet and shower room. Beds are adequate for a week. No issues with noise - we were on the 3rd floor.

BOOT ROOM: Usual scrum at start of day, but did the job. Just beware the carpet can be wet - so have shoes with you!

SPA AREA: I didn't use it but several of the party found it fine, though the sauna was out of action due to a fault and awaited an engineer.

SKI-SHOP: Next to the boot room. We used another one nearby (250m) which was cheaper.

BAR: It was well stocked and the all-inclusive covered all but the most expensive of drinks. It got a little busy at the end of the ski day, but after that initial hours, it was fine. There was a free cake stand dishing out cake for people returning at the end of the ski day.

STAFF: Without exception, all were very pleasant and helpful. English is spoken by the reception staff.

LOCATION: Ski in/out. Others have said its on a green run. It's not - more a blue which is a bit lumpy and busy until you reach the more open main valley area - about 100m down/away. We made good use of the 'All-inclusive', but I reckon restaurants and bars are no more than a 5 min walk away, if that.

ENTERTAINMENT: This is a 'holiday village' for families - and clearly French families at that. The evening entertainment was popular - amongst French families. There was nothing in English and I suspect English families with kids may have been a bit disappointed.

RESTAURANT: Considering the numbers they cater for each day (500 or so), we all thought the restaurant was EXTREMELY GOOD. There was always a very wide selection of starters, main courses, cheese and puddings. In addition there was a pizza and pasta bar, a vegetarian bar and a decent selection of ice creams. Unlike other MMVs, it was clear the food was cooked from scratch and not simply bought in and re-heated.

WIFI: Free and extensive across the hotel.

So in conclusion.... I've read some of the more negative reviews. While clearly reviews are very subjective, I am always surprised by some people's expectations. This is not a charming, luxury hotel serving high-end clients. Rather it is a clean, friendly, lower-end hotel which provides exactly what I look for when away skiing for a week. Tremendous value, good food and good location. I would particularly recommend the value for money of going 'all inclusive'.

No doubt our group will return to Val T in the next few years; unless things have changed drastically we won't be looking for anywhere...