Emma C.
Google
This was our second time staying at the Vale, Niseko and we love this hotel. It has a boutique and luxury feel.
The hotel has a great location at the bottom of the hill with a chair. Ski in ski out, but between both top and bottom half of town for restaurant options. A block from Family marts and food trucks.
Shuttle to Hanazono right out front.
The rooms are incredible, especially the three bedroom private onsen. It has ruined us for future holidays!
Having a washing machine and dryer available was a saviour.
The rooms are modern, lounge room was big, dining table huge and the Onsen was incredible! Having heated hallway cupboard was great.
Tip: it would be awesome if sodastreams were available.
Tip: an option for the rooms to be cleaned daily not every few days would be great, or at least a quick vacuum and bins emptied. The bins are tiny and travelling with kids you eat in a lot.
There is a vacuum available - However, we have not paid 15k for a week to vacuum ourselves.
The car service was a real special touch especially having to get toddlers to and from the King Gondola base for ski lessons each day. We had the wonderful Tilly (Matilda) regularly drive us to collect the kids and their gear, to restaurants and to the ski hire stores. She was an absolute delight, professional and made our trip! Thankyou Tilly (and other staff who helped)
This service was a real special thing and made travelling around a ski town with toddlers seamless! We would have walked or used the lift outside if we didn't have them, but without this service, I am sure there would have been many toddler tantrums and stressed parents.
The concierge and front desk were very helpful with many of our questions!
Having our ski passes organised and available on arrival was great! it would be awesome if they could organise the ones for three year olds as well.
Nisade organised our transfers, they were also great!
We had our ski gear sent to the hotel ahead of our arrival and it was all available in our room as soon as we arrived.
The ski in ski out is fantastic for the adults!
The large three bedroom room with a HUGE dining table is a massive plus for those travelling with smaller children. The hotel is very close to convience stores and food trucks which made dinner easy to collect and have inside for the stress free option! Whilst having a beautiful view of people night skiing! and Being able to retire to the onsen whilst they were in the living room.
I would recommend that the lockers become heated for ski boots. Otherwise the lockers and ski racks are good.
My only real complaint has been the restaurant, and this is consistent with our previous experience in 2020, which is dissapointing.
My understanding is that the vale does not run it, however it does use its name and is attached. Therefore, I feel like the Nisade/The vale need to consider the impact and running of the restaurant.
The service was slow and not what I would expect from a hotel of this calibar.
We struggled to get service whilst staff had knocked off and sat at the bar drinking and talking to other staff working. We experienced the same thing in previous stays.
After a long wait for meals, one kids meal came out 20 mins before the next kids meal came out. We had to ask for the second kids meal and the middle of the burger bun was frozen, so then we had to wait longer for a new one. A restaurant should always get kids meals out together and quickly!! (and not cold)
The service certaintly does not match the cost of food and drinks.
Another time we were told "sorry we didnt know you were here" after being seated by another staff member in the bsckroom and then having to go find someone to take our order- twice.
Both times we were given free drinks or something to apologise for service, so they were aware. However, it would be great to see changes to the culture/service because they do not match the cost of the restaurant or the hotel.
