Hotel de l'Arve

Disclosure: we stayed here during UTMB. This meant about an extra 40,000 people in the area for that specific week and due to circumstances outside my control, we _had_ to stay in Chamonix itself. The price we paid was ridiculous but was on par with the options available at that time in town, so as such I'm not going to comment on value for money, etc, for this review. Part of the attraction for us was the location. The hotel is _very_ centrally located, with direct access to the main tourist areas, and walking distance from the train station and other attractions. The bus station is two stops on a single bus route away. However this hotel has seen better days and needs a bit of a refresh - some discolouration of the curtains, dings and marks across the walls and furnishings, and problematic seals, etc, in the bathroom all spoke to the same consistent missing polish. However the room was comfortable as was the bed, and (as noted, despite the UTMB presence) the room itself was quiet even with the ongoings outside. The lack of aircon was a bit tough though given the unseasonable 30+ degree heat while we were there. The staff and hotel itself is very welcoming, both from the initial greeting, to the 4pm complimentary afternoon teas, the outdoor dining and drinking area (with the ability to bring back takeaway and eat overlooking the river), and lounge. A lot of trouble has gone into this atmosphere and we enjoyed our stay on the whole.

The location is ideal, center of Chamonix with easy walking distance to trails and the city center. Our stay was comfortable, but there was one very negative factor- Pauline. She was extremely unpleasant from the moment of our arrival. We thought that perhaps she was having a bad day, but she was increasingly unpleasant during further encounters. We tried to avoid interacting with her. Instead, we were very thankful for the warm hospitality of Amber and Sam - they are the true professionals. We would have given l'Arve a higher rating if not for Pauline.

Part of our TMB accomodation and this was stunning. Room with a balcony overlooking the river and all the facilities were great. Breakfast was nice enough and staff were fantastic. Luggage storage available and location right in the middle of restaurants and bars.