TH Sestriere - Villaggio Olimpico

This was my first skiing experience. The location was great, and the housekeepers were great and helpful. I found the rest of the hotel staff very unhelpful and not very friendly. In a hotel, you'd expect a kettle and cups. They wanted €40 for that privilege because we were half board!! The beds weren't very comfortable either. The noise in the corridors was ridiculous, maybe some signs to remind people to be a bit quieter, and consider people sleeping. There were lots of school trips going on. I knew this was going to be a busy and tiring trip, not to say it wasn't fun, but having the basics and a nice place to relax is key after a busy day. I wasn't impressed by this hotel at all. Definitely needs a revamp as well.

The only good thing about the hotel is the location. It's really very convenient, right next to the track. Especially when staying with children. Everything else is very disappointing. I have never stayed in a hotel (which they say is 4 star) where there is simply no shower curtain or glass wall and everything just runs into the room. And the bathroom door is built right into the shower. Some petrol station bathrooms look better. The exterior doors, the corridors just don't look like a hotel. The common areas look good. And the staff are friendly and helpful as far as they can go in this kind of situation.

The only good thing about the hotel is the size of the room and the staff. We stayed at the end of the hotel, which means that it seems like we have to walk 500 meters in icy corridors that meant wearing a snow coat to get to the reception or restaurant. The ski racks are right under the room but you have to walk the same distance along the street, very very complicated. Regarding the food, it is also very poor and with little choice. At breakfast, although it lasts until 9.30, before 8.30 there are already things missing that are not replaced. It will not be a hotel to repeat.

On Google they might give 4 stars, while we wouldnt even give 1 star. The rooms are terrible ++ not clean, more detailed description: - They only changed the bed linen when we moved in our room while they did not clean the floor, the bathroom and the fridge: we literally entered a dirty room/apartment (e.g. there was still trash on the floor from the people before us ++ there was dirt/sand in the bathroom/sink) - The shower is so small, you cant even turn around in the shower - You can't sit on the toilet because the space between the shower and the toilet is so narrow - The room smelled so bad and unclean when we entered that we had to open a window for several hours - The rooms are so old that the wall paint/ cover is coming off - The curtains dont protect you from the light outside: perpetual daytime during the night - Central heating cant be turned off meaning that you are sleeping inside a sauna Overall, I would never ever recommend anyone to book a room in this hotel for any price ever! Especially the fact that the rooms are just not clean is too much.

See pictures of shower, entrance door "lock", entrance door lamps, heater. Uncomfortable beds with springs-mattress from last century. We read other reviews before the trip but thought: it cannot be so bad. It was. Even worse. Room was cleaned first time after 3 days only, after 3 calls for service. Poor front reception service, not knowing hotel facilities (wrong info about SKI-pass, ski rental, swimming-pool, basement parking, and the best: internet is not working in the hotel because there is a bad weather outside!!! For a question: where is your name tag (reception) - reply was: "Oh, have forgotten it"... and she "has forgotten" for entire week. Swimming pool "for free" - but you need a swimming cap and (not from a room) towel, which costs 7EUR per hour per person! If you have a choice - take another hotel, there are many around.

The Olympic Village is in an excellent position for the lifts at the bottom of the Pistes of Sestriere. It’s a fairly large hotel with a strange layout and we stayed in F block so had the easier walk onto the slopes. The food was excellent and plentiful, breakfast offered a variety of pastries, cereals and a selection of eggs, sausages, cold meats and cheese. Coffee was excellent. Dinner had a selection of everything you’d expect and some fantastic deserts. Alcohol was extra and you had the option of buying wine and beer in the restaurant or bringing your own. Our apartment was spacious for 2 and had a kitchenette, sofa bed and table. Oddly there were nothing in the kitchen by way of utensils, glasses or pans. It did have a balcony which offered great views of the mountains. The bed was on the firm to very firm side and the bedroom had a window onto the public hallway (high up and with a curtain so no privacy issues) which let in light every time someone walked past, not ideal. The pillows were thin and we had to ask for extra’s. Overall it was reasonable value but feels tired and ill maintained (our shower was missing a panel, which although reported at the start of the stay was never fixed). It’s in a great location and if you’re skiing all day offers what you need.

Great location for the kids and the ski slope was on our doorstep.The hotel was fine for our family, just simple with not frills. It was fine for skiing and our family had a great time in Sestriere.

Overall I would give it 2-3 Stars. The receptionist was very polite and friendly. And the rooms were clean and there were plenty of towels. The mattresses are probably the most uncomfortable mattresses I have ever slept on in my entire life, the beds were making an incredible amount of noise every time you moved. There was no WIFI in the room. You were charged 10 Euros per person to visit the on-site pool and you were charged for slippers to enter the spa! The hotel is in desperate need for an update. It’s definitely far from a 4 Star hotel. I’m very sorry, usually I always give good ratings, but this time I was very disappointed!

We couldn’t wait to leave. Noisy, uncomfortable and rude staff. Beds so uncomfortable we put the mattresses on the floor, noisy corridors and placing noisy groups next to families. Terrible, don’t waste your money!