Experimental Chalet Val d'Isère

We stayed in this hotel in a superior mountain view room for a long weekend in January 2026. |The location is excellent, all be it not quite ski in ski out as it is one row back from the main ski slope into the resort.|The hotel decor has clearly been thought through by someone with an eye for interiors and is chic as well as giving a nod to the historic alpine style.|The rooms are clean and well appointed but small, with cramped bathrooms and hallways internally. Our mountain view was minimal as we were on the second floor and had to look over the hotel across the road to see the mountain as well as being at an oblique angle to the window- I'm not sure the upgrade cost is worth it. Small thing but our coffee machine also didn't work.|As we were on the second floor we also had a major problem with noise, we were in room 215 and the bins for a number of the hotels and restaurants surrounding the hotel are collected between 0600 and 0630 by a refuse collection van directly under the window (less than 5 meters away) which makes a huge mechanical and beeping noise. We are early risers so not a huge issue for us but for anyone wanting a relaxing stay with a lie in I would say stay away from the first two floors on the corner of the hotel where our room was or you will be woken every morning.||The breakfast buffet was excellent and a real highlight but the lighting at breakfast was bizarre- very dim lights across the whole dining room which gives the room a very subdued feel and not uplifting at all. |The service at breakfast was also very haphazard- trying to get the attention of a member of staff was tough and then when you did the wait for coffee or cooked eggs was often so long we were ready to hit the slopes when it arrived (and was also quite cold). Lunch was ok but EUR 100 for two for a salad and burger not good value for money (plus a 35 min wait) as more expensive than a slope side restaurant without the view or convenience.||The spa is good but small and therefore very busy at peak times so I'd advise going as soon as possible after 1600- anytime after 1700 you are jostling for position. ||The boot room/hire shop staff are lovely but its hotter than hell down there and tiny- make sure you get in early, there were a lot of hot and frustrated people trying to get boots on in the mornings!||Overall the experience was net positive (just) but I just don't think the overall level of decor or service or amenities warrant the price tag per night. We paid around GBP650 per night and for that would have expected a much bigger room (and a bath!) as well as better service and more space generally across all the common areas of the hotel. ||The feeling I left with is the hotel has the bones of a three star hotel with the interior design and menu of a 4 star hotel and with service that is unable to function as it wishes due to the lack of space. Its popular for now as its new and the location is great but I'm not sure it will pass the test of time unless it re-visits the pricing structure.

There’s something to be said for choosing the experimental over the established, the untested over the proven. When we selected this hotel in Val d’Isère, we were engaging in a small act of faith, a wager that novelty might yield revelation. As with any experiment, the results have been mixed, though not without their surprises. Let me begin with the hypothesis proven correct: that people, not amenities, make a place memorable. The front desk staff here are exemplary (special mention to Audrey), and the concierges: Max, Max II, and Noémie are nothing short of treasures. They possess that rare combination of competence and warmth that transforms a transaction into an encounter, and have been a godsend for us during our stay. In the restaurant and bar, the staff maintain this standard, but it’s Tim who deserves particular mention. His presence has elevated our mornings from sustenance to something approaching meditation. These individuals understand hospitality not as a service industry but as an art of human connection. The location is excellent, proximity matters when one is encumbered by ski equipment and mountain weather. The ski shop is top-notch, the pool fabulous in that particularly European way of being functional, somehow aspirational and hot! But every experiment yields inconvenient data. The rooms are tiny. Ours is a loft, ostensibly the largest category, yet inadequate for the sprawl of ski gear and winter clothing. The design lacks imagination, as though someone forgot that skiers are besieged by gear. The hallways tell their own story: perpetually hot, a lingering odor, littered with food crumbs, abandoned plates sitting like archaeological evidence of room service past. Our room freezes at night despite our reports to management, a curious inversion given those sweltering corridors. Yet here’s the paradox: these downsides pale before the genuine warmth of the staff. We have a few days remaining. Perhaps, like many experiments, the conclusion will surprise us. Perhaps what we’re learning is that perfection in hospitality isn’t about flawless execution but about human care in the face of imperfection. That’s worth writing about here.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The denouement arrived with an unexpected grace. Renaud, General Manager, keeper of keys intervened. Amends were made. The catalogue of small issues were happily addressed. His team moved through them methodically, erasers applied. One must acknowledge competence when it surfaces. Renaud and his team: kudos. A word we’ve borrowed and hollowed out, but which here regains some weight. The story ended better than expected, so did our experience. Merci.

INCREDIBLE experience. The hotel is gorgeous, in the perfect location and has everything you will need in your trip. The customer service was probably one of the best I've had in any hotel.

Beautiful hotel in a great location! My wife an I arrived 17/3/2025 for a 10 night stay. We were acknowledged as Seniors when we checked in and arranged for our first day of skiing. Due to a lower than expected occupancy, we were upgraded to a Suite at no additional charge. Nice! On the 19th we asked for more lift passes, each of us reminding the desk clerk of our Senior status. The clerk had us sign for the new lift passes and off we went to enjoy the great skiing. It wasn't until check-out on 27/3 we realized the lift passes had been recorded at Adult prices, resulting in an 150 Euro overcharge. The hotel repeatedly refused to admit their error. 'we have your signature, no refund for you!'|On the first night of our stay, I bled on the bottom sheet of our bed. After, the seventh night of our stay on the same bloodied sheet, I asked the front desk 'what is the hotel policy on changing guest linens? After how many nights do the housekeepers change the sheets?' The reply, 'there is no set policy, why?' I explained the problem. the reply, 'I will try to have housekeeping freshen you bed today.' TRY?

Overall, this is a very high quality hotel. The staff are absolutely exceptional. Furnishings are comfortable and throughout. The location is almost unbeatable - very close to the slopes and the town centre.||I also commend this hotel for their very thoughtful approach to allergens - our son has a number of allergies that make a traditional ski resort breakfast very challenging (nuts, eggs). Julien and the restaurant team went above and beyond to ensure he had specially prepared breakfasts. This was exceptional.||The steam room, sauna and cold plunge pool were very good too - although you do have to make a reservation during peak apres ski hours.||Why not 5 stars? Two reasons - there is no ventilation in the bathrooms - its odd that given the hotel was recently refurbished that this couldn't have been considered. Also, the ski room downstairs gets very crowded. Rather than try to cram in a ski shop (there are hundreds of them in the town already), having more room for proper self service ski lockers and more areas to sit and put on boots would have been better.

The hotel is very central, only a couple of minutes from the gondola/main meeting area for ski lessons, and restaurants and shops. All the staff were very welcoming and happy to help with our requests. The rooms were absolutely spotless, it is very clear how new the hotel is! I particularly loved the twig handles, and the fox door knockers were very cute. The spa has a decent sized swimming pool with about 6 loungers, and complimentary water, nuts and dried fruit available, as well as a good sized sauna and steam room. The ski room is a little snug, but the staff were really good at ensuring the equipment was exactly right. The breakfast was excellent, with a good selection of hot food, cakes, pastries and fruit. I'll definitely be back!

We were really looking forward to our stay at the Experimental Hotel in Val d’Isère, especially after such memorable experiences at their properties in Verbier and Venice. The team has a strong reputation for creating beautiful spaces with great energy, and this location is no exception when it comes to atmosphere and setting. The hotel is in an unbeatable location, right in the heart of the village, with easy access to the slopes and the surrounding charm of Val d’Isère. What truly stood out during our stay was the staff, every person we encountered was warm, attentive, and went above and beyond to ensure we felt welcome and looked after. Their kindness and professionalism really made a difference and elevated our overall experience. That said, there were a few challenges during our stay. On arrival, our first room had a strong smell of paint fumes. We aired it out as best we could, but unfortunately spent a rather uncomfortable first night. We mentioned this to the staff the next morning, and they handled it with care and efficiency, moving us to another room promptly, which we greatly appreciated. It did feel at times like the hotel was still in the final stages of completion. Some areas, both in the rooms and communal spaces, showed signs of ongoing work, such as unfinished details, paint spots on tiles, and a few building materials still in place. With a bit more polish and time, the property has the potential to be truly exceptional. On another note, the food in both restaurants was absolutely fantastic, thoughtful, well-executed, and a real highlight of our stay. We’re confident that with a bit more time and finishing touches, this hotel will meet the high standards that the Experimental Group is known for. We look forward to returning once everything has had time to settle in.

We stayed as a family of four for one week in early April. We've skied in Val D'Isere a few times, and thought we'd try a new hotel. Overall, we were very happy with the experience. I would give a 4.5 star rating if I could, but in the absence of that option I think 5 stars is fairer than 4. Positives: - Great location. A short walk to the ski lifts, and highly convenient for the shops and restaurants of the village. - Brand new, so more or less everything was in excellent condition. - Nicely furnished bedrooms, and very comfortable beds. - For the most part, extremely friendly and helpful staff. - Excellent ski rental shop in the basement (which I've reviewed separately). - Exceptional spa area (pool, sauna, steam room). - Breakfasts were very good (quality, choice and service). - Great cocktail bar. Things to work on: - Our bedrooms were being cleaned at 4.00pm on the first day, as we returned from skiing. This was unexpected (and inconvenient). We spoke to Reception and asked for them to be cleaned in the mornings (which is more usual), and they were happy to oblige. I would recommend morning cleaning as a matter of course. - Our bedrooms were turned down on some evenings, and not on others. Not the end of the world, but (in tandem with the comment above) gave the impression of uneven housekeeping. - There were no pegs in the bedroom to hang ski jackets and trousers on. - Some parts of the hotel were still being renovated/decorated during our stay, so we occasionally bumped into decorators in the lift etc. As another reviewer recently said, the hotel felt as though it was 90% ready for the season, but still had some wrinkles to work through. By next season, they should be fixed, I imagine. I understand the hotel is the biggest (by number of bedrooms) in Val d'Isere. We stayed in a quiet week, and the hotel was very peaceful, and the spa area was lovely and quiet. I can't say how different our experience would have been had we stayed in a busy week. Still, you can only speak as you find, so 5 stars it is!