Le Renard — Restaurant in Thonon-les-Bains

Together with friends and as a couple I have visited Le Renard as the base for ski holidays a number of times over several years so this review may be considered long overdue! The experience has only ever improved and, despite the last visit being a few months ago (Feb 2017) during the last ski season it seems an appropriate time to write in order to assist those planning trips for the winter ahead. Le Renard is a gem within a picturesque alpine resort. As chalet/hotel or restaurant the experience is always excellent. It has comfortable, well appointed en suite rooms and a hugely popular restaurant all superbly managed by charming hosts Rob and Mathilde who make you feel so welcome it really feels like home from home. Rob's skill as a chef cannot be underestimated and during one visit he even prepared a dish by request that I had only been able to find in one other place! That's great service! The quality of the food overall and the ambience of the restaurant are worth the visit alone. Indeed, the restaurant is very well patronised by locals so what better way to enjoy this hospitality than by staying there too! That way you get to enjoy the excellent breakfast as well! It's location as ski accommodation is ideal. With bus stops directly outside in both directions you can catch a frequent bus service for the short trip to the nearest lifts. If for any strange reason you didn't fancy waiting for the free bus it is a reasonably short walk. In short, I can't recommend this place enough so if Chatel is your preferred destination for a ski holiday look no further...

Together with friends and as a couple I have visited Le Renard as the base for ski holidays a number of times over several years so this review may be considered long overdue! The experience has only ever improved and, despite the last visit being a few months ago (Feb 2017) during the last ski season it seems an appropriate time to write in order to assist those planning trips for the winter ahead. Le Renard is a gem within a picturesque alpine resort. As chalet/hotel or restaurant the experience is always excellent. It has comfortable, well appointed en suite rooms and a hugely popular restaurant all superbly managed by charming hosts Rob and Mathilde who make you feel so welcome it really feels like home from home. Rob's skill as a chef cannot be underestimated and during one visit he even prepared a dish by request that I had only been able to find in one other place! That's great service! The quality of the food overall and the ambience of the restaurant are worth the visit alone. Indeed, the restaurant is very well patronised by locals so what better way to enjoy this hospitality than by staying there too! That way you get to enjoy the excellent breakfast as well! It's location as ski accommodation is ideal. With bus stops directly outside in both directions you can catch a frequent bus service for the short trip to the nearest lifts. If for any strange reason you didn't fancy waiting for the free bus it is a reasonably short walk. In short, I can't recommend this place enough so if Chatel is your preferred destination for a ski holiday look no further...

I booked a twin room at this hotel for three nights but on arrival were placed in a very small room with a small double bed and two bunk beds. It was also rather dirty in many places.|| ||The manageress said this was the room I had booked and there were no others so my assistant resigned herself to sleep in a bed that was too small for her. However it later became obvious that the heating wasn't on high enough as the room was getting colder and colder. I complained again and the heating was turned up, but having had enough of this squalor I arranged with the booking company to cancel the booking penalty free from the following day. Amazingly the owners then turned the heating off overnight meaning we had an utterly miserable night's sleep. Their attitude seemed to be that skiers are out all day and are used to the cold, ignoring that not everyone comes to the Alps in winter for skiing. ||||That said the restaurant is excellent. It's just a pity the owners don't put more effort into running a hotel properly as this was of a standard that makes any English guest house or B&B seem...