Hotel 3 Vallées Val Thorens (Val Thorens, France)

This isn't a huge hotel. There are just 28 rooms. Much of the appeal is down to those incredible members of staff. Their input alone is worth a star or two in the hotel's rating. The hotel is family owned - and it shows!

There are room and studio choices to suit most budgets and they are comfortably furnished and well decorated. There's a very good, small spa ... and a massage service in your room which goes down well after a day on the ski slopes. One tip is to request a room with a terrace. They don't seem to cost any more than those without one.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, offer plenty of choice and everything is beautifully prepared and extremely appetising.

Rooms are fine but very much on the small side. Some are in a sort of annexe and have bunk beds. This takes the edge off the four star, boutique hotel description. The wellness centre with sauna etc; is very good but, again, on the small side and heavily subscribed. You need to plan and reserve your space there well in advance.

Ask for a room facing the slopes, otherwise you'll get one overlooking the street, shops ... and bars. It can get quite noisy at ‘closing time'.

The otherwise brilliant staff haven't totally filtered through to this area. Breakfast is a frenzied affair and includes an interesting DIY fruit juice making activity. Talking of ‘filters', the coffee is poor quality and pre-prepared and tea is another DIY effort. Four stars?!