TH Sestriere - Villaggio Olimpico Sestriere

This expansive hotel, a former Olympic village, is primarily distinguished by its unbeatable proximity to the ski slopes, offering direct access for winter sports enthusiasts. Its large scale and comprehensive facilities make it a suitable choice for skiers, families, and groups seeking a convenient base for mountain activities. Guests frequently highlight the dedication of the staff and the variety of dining options as key positives. While the hotel offers a wealth of amenities, some areas show their age, and guests should manage expectations regarding room modernity and certain additional costs. To enhance your stay, it is advisable to clarify all potential extra fees upon booking and be prepared for a sprawling layout that may involve long walks within the property.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel features a range of amenities, though guest experiences vary. The spa and pool areas are noted as being quite small for the hotel's size, often requiring reservations and incurring additional fees for entry, swimming caps, and towels. While a fitness center is available and generally well-equipped, some guests found the humidity from the nearby pool to be problematic. Wi-Fi access is limited, primarily available only in communal areas like the lobby and bar, with little to no connectivity in guest rooms. The ski room and lockers were a point of frustration for some, with reports of missing keys and inaccessible storage. The bar is frequently praised for its lively atmosphere and friendly staff.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Feedback on room cleanliness and comfort is mixed. While some guests reported their rooms as clean and spacious, many others expressed significant concerns, citing dust, superficial cleaning, and a general lack of thoroughness, with some even mentioning sewage smells in bathrooms. Rooms are often described as dated and in need of renovation, showing signs of wear such as cracks, damaged doors, and worn furnishings. The beds are a common point of complaint, frequently described as uncomfortable with springy mattresses and thin pillows, leading many to request extras or even resort to sleeping on the floor. Noise from corridors and thin walls, along with noisy fridges, also impacted sleep quality for some. Heating controls were often fixed, leading to rooms being excessively warm.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining experience receives varied feedback. The breakfast is often described as repetitive, featuring consistent options like oily bacon and eggs, with popular items like chocolate croissants disappearing quickly. For lunch and dinner, the pizza corner is a consistent highlight, praised for its quality and variety, though queues can be long. While many guests appreciated the food quality and variety offered, including options for special diets, some found the hot food to be consistently cold or reported a lack of choice. A few guests also raised serious concerns about food safety, with some experiencing illness. The restaurant atmosphere was sometimes likened to a school canteen, especially during busy periods.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is overwhelmingly its strongest asset, particularly for winter sports enthusiasts. It offers unbeatable proximity to the ski slopes and lifts, making it incredibly convenient for direct access to skiing. While the hotel is close to the slopes, its accessibility to the town center receives mixed reviews, with some finding it an easy walk and others noting an uphill climb or general inconvenience for accessing other services outside the hotel. Parking is available in a covered, internal garage, which is appreciated, though it often comes with an additional cost and can be confusing to navigate upon arrival.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel generally receive high praise for their friendliness, helpfulness, and attentiveness. Many guests highlighted the positive interactions with the reception team, who were often described as polite and efficient during check-in. The restaurant staff are consistently commended for their gentle, courteous, and efficient service, accommodating various requests. The animation team is frequently mentioned as excellent and engaging, particularly for children, though some guests noted issues with language barriers or perceived exclusivity in certain activities. While many found the service to be good overall, some experienced slow or unresponsive maintenance and inconsistent cleaning services.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware of the hotel's unique structure, as it is a massive, rambling series of buildings, a former Olympic village, connected by long corridors that can be cold and impersonal. This layout can lead to long walks within the property. A recurring theme is the presence of various additional costs that are not always clearly communicated upfront, such as fees for pool entry, kitchenette access (even when breakfast is included), and even basic amenities like toilet paper or extra blankets. Furthermore, Wi-Fi is generally not available in the rooms, requiring guests to use their mobile data or go to common areas. The hotel's age and need for maintenance are frequently noted, with many areas appearing dated or worn.