Terminal Neige - Le Totem sur Araches-La-Frasse

The best part of the hotel is the common living area/reception and the mountain view from there. The fireplace is very nice and creates a cozy atmosphere that really makes you want to sit there for a long time. The balcony facing the mountain is also lovely and a great place to spend time in good weather. Unfortunately, some of the staff at reception and in the kitchen did not speak sufficient English, which was surprising for a hotel of this size. Because of this, we couldn’t always get clear answers to our questions and sometimes had to let things go without proper information. In general, I also didn’t find the staff as welcoming and warm as you would normally expect in a hospitality environment. A positive point is the ski room on the ground floor, which makes going in and out for skiing very convenient. However, the area is quite humid, so you need to take the inner liners of your ski boots to your room every day; otherwise, they can be even wetter the next day. The most disappointing part for us was the room. It was very small for two people with a ski bag and two suitcases. We constantly had to rearrange our luggage just to be able to move around the room during a week-long stay. The bathroom itself was nice, and it was pleasant to have slippers and bathrobes provided. However, the room design felt odd—strange curtains, a cow-shaped wardrobe, and furniture that felt either overly contemporary or very rustic without a clear concept. The bed was quite uncomfortable, and our sleep was disrupted, even for my husband who usually sleeps very well. The pillows were very thick and uncomfortable; when I asked for a thinner one, I was told they only have one type, which felt unusual for a large hotel. The spa was another highlight, with a hot tub and sauna offering mountain views. Towels are provided at the entrance, and despite what was written online, we were not asked to pay an entrance fee. It may have been included in our package, but no room number was checked, so it seemed accessible to everyone. Dinner food was good, but I can’t say the same for breakfast. Breakfast options were limited and almost the same every day. If it’s not to your taste, you’re basically stuck with bread and butter, as I was. More vegetables would have made a big difference. Dinners, on the other hand, had more variety, and even picky eaters could usually find something. The chefs were friendly and explained the dishes in detail, which was appreciated. Desserts were fine but not particularly memorable. Drinks are served by waitresses, and it would have felt more welcoming if tap water had been served automatically, especially since we asked for it every day. It’s not exactly ski-in ski-out, but considering the short distance to the main lift, it’s good enough. The walk is roughly 50–100 meters at most and didn’t feel like an issue. The location is also excellent—about a 1-minute walk from the main center of Flaine and very close to supermarkets, the funicular, and many shops and restaurants. Other positives: a good selection of board games in the lobby, comfortable indoor temperature, a luggage room you can use after check-out, and reasonably good noise insulation thanks to a second door in the room. The walls themselves are not very thick, but the extra door helps. One issue was ventilation. The rooms don’t seem to have a proper ventilation system, so after several days it became uncomfortable. The only option is opening the windows, which quickly makes the room very cold—neither comfortable nor very sustainable. Housekeeping was also inconsistent. We only had one proper cleaning in five days. Towels were not changed unless we specifically asked (we didn’t leave them on the floor), and I noticed a napkin left on the floor and dusty bathroom shelves that were not cleaned. Overall, it wasn’t a bad experience, but there are definitely several areas that need improvement to match the expectations for a hotel at this level.