Excelsior Chamonix Hôtel & Spa

Unfortunately, my experience at this hotel was disappointing. The staff were unfriendly and showed no willingness to provide any service to guests. I was given a room without windows, even though the hotel was nearly empty and could have easily offered a better option. The bedding was not clean and had an unpleasant smell. Additionally, the hotel is located on the outskirts of Chamonix and requires a car to reach the town center. Honestly, even one star feels generous for what this place offers.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5) I generally try to keep my expectations realistic, but this stay was a cascade of disappointments: 1. Strobe-light bedside lamp The lamp in my room blinked like a faulty club strobe all night. 2. Out-of-order toilet The seat-and-cover assembly was cracked and slipped sideways every time I sat down—hardly the “comfort” promised in the listing. 3. “Ghost” restaurant The on-site restaurant was closed two consecutive evenings. Management offered no alternatives, not even a simple croissant—yet their website, Google listing, and Booking.com page still bragged about “all-day dining.” 4. €20 for a bare-bones breakfast When the restaurant finally opened for morning service, the buffet was limited and lukewarm. Charging €20 per person felt like daylight robbery. 5. Unannounced pool closure I booked specifically for the outdoor pool, advertised everywhere as “currently open.” Surprise: locked doors and a handwritten “maintenance” sign. Zero prior notice. 6. Language barrier by choice The receptionist insisted on speaking French even after I politely asked (multiple times) in English. If I could converse in French, I would have started that way. Overall, this hotel’s glossy marketing hides serious operational issues—and some basic courtesy wouldn’t hurt either. Spend your money elsewhere until they sort these problems out.

Very Disappointing – Misleading Photos, Unclean Room, Poor Handling Our stay at Excelsior Hotel Chamonix was a major letdown, and for the first time ever in all our travels, we felt compelled to leave a hotel and move elsewhere. The room looked nothing like the photos advertised online — it was dark, outdated, and lacked the cozy, modern feel shown on their website. There was a clear lack of cleanliness: we found stains on the bed, hair on the sofa bed, and visible dust and handprints around the room. When we raised our concerns and explained that we wanted to check out due to the condition of the room, the manager’s response was surprisingly rude and unprofessional. Instead of showing any empathy or willingness to resolve the issue, she simply told us we still had to pay the €7.50 city tax before leaving, which felt unnecessarily petty. The location of the hotel is also quite inconvenient — far from the town center and not ideal for accessing Chamonix’s main attractions. The only positive part of our experience was the front office staff, who were kind and welcoming — they stood out in contrast to the manager’s cold and dismissive attitude. Unfortunately, we would not recommend this hotel. The disconnect between what’s advertised and what you actually get, combined with poor service and cleanliness, made this our worst hotel experience to date.