CGH Résidences & Spas - Résidence Boutique Les Chalets de Laÿssia — Hotel in Bonneville

This was our second visit to the great little resort of Samoens. The first visit was in a private Chalet (see my other reviews for more detail) the second being here.||||Flew in to Geneva and arranged a private transfer with Go Massif, who were very well organised and courteous on our trip down to resort (approx. 1 hour). There was 8 of us in our party which we arranged as 2 parties of 4 in 2 x 2 bedroom apartments. We e-mailed ahead to ask if we could have the apartments next door to each other with views of the mountains and large balconies if possible, this was duly arranged, so for us we were very pleased.||Chalet de Layssia is very well situated, pretty much being smack bang in the middle of town, the bus stopped just outside of the complex, with a few minutes ride down to the Grand Massif Gondola station (white bus line). Our apartment was very well appointed and had everything you could really need for a weeks skiing or even for a summer holiday. Kitchen was well appointed with the usual (in-built connection oven/Fridge/Kettle/Dishwasher/Toaster and so on, but as other reviews have stated, there is nowhere to prepare the food apart from using the dining table or the electric hob when turned off! but we still managed to cook just fine when not eating out.||Bedrooms were both fine and well appointed, we all slept well as the beds & lining were very comfortable, no real noise from other apartments or the road.||We used the swimming pool/steam & jacuzzi along with the gym. Again all very well appointed but, none of it seems to open in the morning (I think after 10) so if you wanted to loosen up before skiing, you were out of luck. Pools and Jacuzzi were cold to lukewarm at best, but we braved it. I do feel this could have been improved upon in terms of timings and temperature! I would also like to add that the boot locker was very good and kept our boots super warm. Service wise, we didn't use it much to hardly at all, reception is open if you need them, but the reception area shuts at 8 and the area is locked, so you are then resorting to using a side door under key code. This didn't worry us, but may be an issue for others.||The only small issue was check out, pretty frantic as everybody has to check out by 10 and everybody has to have an apartment inspection and inventory check, which by all accounts was slightly on the military side (ex serviceman myself!) as long as you follow the rules and leave it as you pretty much found it, I don't see an issue, again this may bother some, especially if you have had a long weeks skiing and are ready to get home.||||All in all I would recommend CGH and I would return, as we thought the place was well equipped, spacious as Ski accommodation goes and very close to everything without the noise. The Ski area of the Grand Massif is fantastic, with something for everybody (although the slope grading was a little out in places) and great conditions. I wouldn't be tempted to go early season, but mid Jan to the end of March seems to be the best for this area. I'd also like to mention Coco, our Ski instructor from Zigzag. ...

We have just returned from our family skiing trip in Samoens. We have been coming for many years since 2005 and have stopped in many hotels and apartments with our children over the years and have always felt safe. Our children are now young adults so we needed somewhere bigger with more amenities so we chose Chalet de Layssia. |While we were there my children had money stolen from their bedrooms 460 euros in cash. On two occasions somebody had been in the apartment and left towels on the sofa in the lounge which we had not asked for. My son was the first to alert us he had money stolen from a draw in his bedroom and them my daughter checked hers and found she had cash missing. There was no sign of a physical break in and all doors were locked. |We reported this to the manager he didn’t seem concerned but did give us the number for the Gendarmerie in Samoens but there was no answer so we phoned 112 the emergency number. The manager did help with the translation and the guards came to visit us in our apartment took details and then made an appointment for us to see them 2 days later in Taninges the next town along. |Whilst there we found out other residents had cash stolen from their apartments but the manager failed to tell them what had happened to us. |This residence has little security apart from key pads for each block of apartments. There are no cctv cameras in the hallways, stairwell or lifts and no safety deposit boxes in the apartments or at reception. |Our main concern is this could happen to other families. We received no indication that this was of any concern to the manager or that anything might be done to prevent it happening again. We emailed the company we had booked with Sunweb who did acknowledge our concerns and have said they will investigate further. I also emailed CGH but sadly they have not replied to my complaint or concerns. Please if you choose to stay here be extremely aware of your surroundings and be suspicious of anything that seems out of the ordinary. Luckily we had a car so was able to drive to the next town for my children to give statements, this was no easy task due to translation problems but with the help of one of the beauty therapists from the establishment it went smoothly as it could. Other residents came with us to give their statements. Just a note in France you have to physically turn up at he Gendarmerie to report a crime! |The reason we have only given 2 stars is for the robbery not feeling safe in the home we chose for our weeks holiday plus the disregard shown by the manager with little empathy. The accommodation was more basic than we expected but did have good amenities and was in a great spot in Samoens. Unfortunately this incident spoilt our ski holiday and even the thought of returning to Samoens our special little village in the alps has been...

We have recently returned from a 1 week stay in an apartment in the De Layssia complex in Samoens. Sadly this was not a good experience and we will certainly not be returning to this or any other CGH property.

In our opinion the apartment was not laid out well and certainly not child friendly as they advertise. There are wall heaters that come on and off randomly and get very hot. A child could easily be burned by one. They are fitted despite the manufacturers, in their product data, saying they are not suitable where there are small children and that they should be kept away from furniture.

There was a 10 seat table running close to one wall, on which was one of the heaters. During the week, one of us inadvertently left a dining chair touching the heater. It was off at the time but later it came on and badly burned the back of the chair and damaged the heater. Fortunately one of the party had stayed in the apartment, babysitting our youngest granddaughter, smelt the burning and turned the heater off. We dread to think what might have happened had we all been out.

We reported the accident and the concierge was sympathetic to a certain extent. He explained about a small wooden frame lying on the floor which is to stop anything being in contact with the heater. We said we realised now that that was what the frame was for (it certainly wasn't easily apparent what it’s use was) but that it wasn't fixed down and wasn't in front of the fire when we arrived. He said it can't be fixed down because it might need to be moved to one of the other heaters.

The manager came to look but all he seemed to be interested in was the cost of replacing the chair and heater and that we should pay for it. He tried to allay our concerns by saying he would provide an invoice so that we could recover the cost on our insurance.

We explained that we weren't so much concerned about that as by the fact that there could have been a major accident and that there is clearly a risk with the apartment as it is. He said the table shouldn't be so close to the wall, but that is how it was. He then moved the table away from the wall.

On leaving we were given an invoice for the damage which was charged to our CC.

Our main concern remains that there is a risk of a serious accident, not only causing damage to furniture but risking a major fire and injury, especially to children. We received no indication that this was of any concern to the manager or that anything might be done to prevent it happening again. After returning home we took the matter up with the head office of CGH via our agent but sadly, like their manager, their main concern seems to be financial rather than the safety of...