Hotele niedaleko Lac L＇orceyrette, Villar-Saint-Pancrace

The best way to describe this hotel is that it is modern, clean, about the standard of a Travel Inn in the UK but just too small for the number of guests. Rooms small, bathroom is good but separate toilet is much too small. One good feature is that the bed was large and comfy. Bar area is virtually non existent (few chairs around the reception). Restaurant is too small and at busy times you may have to wait for a table, but the food is Ok, esp the starters/salad and deserts (but allow 5/10 minutes on a morning to queue for coffee/tea as the machines are dreadfully slow). One very good feature is that if you are not going to be in for lunch then you can make a 'pack-out' to take with you - they even provide containers to put it in. Wine for dinner is on tap and is OK. The so called spa area is too small, the pool is about 12ft X 20ft and the small sauna has to be booked well in advance (and that is the extent of the spa!). If you like coffee/tea in your room then take your own and your own kettle as the 'thing' in the room is virtually useless. There is a fridge in the room which is good, esp for keeping milk as milk is not a feature in their tea/coffee making facilities. Hotel is a 5 min walk to gondola and it is well worth leaving your ski kit at a shop by gondola for 2 euros a day. The ski storage in the hotel is Ok - a separate room on each floor for this. The first impressions of the town is that there is not much to see but if you explore up the hill you will find an amazing historic old town. A regular bus (about every 15 mins) runs along the valley linking all of the ski areas (2 euros per trip or 3 euro for a day pass). It can be caught across the road from the gondola.

The hotel is located in the heart of the city and the surroundings, the private parking is perfect and covered for motorcycles. No air conditioning (very common especially for mountain structures) furnishings and looks very date but a small terrace with mountain views... was very hot and I sleeped with the open window: of course, in this case, The noises of the city are all heard. Professional and friendly staff. Good breakfast.

We were only here for an overnight stop but what a little gem both the old town and this hotel proved to be. As the “highest town in France” Briancon commands beautiful and dramatic views of the surrounding mountains, together with the rather neglected and un-visited C17 fortifications built to keep the raiding Savoyards at bay. The streets are also attractive with an array of restaurants and tourist shops (not too tacky). The auberge has the advantage of being within the walls of the old town. Recently refurbished, the hotel retains its’ very cosy, somewhat old-fashioned but charming atmosphere. There is no lift, just broad, carpeted stairways to the upper floors and rooms. It is quite charming. Our room was on an upper floor, and although a tad small with only one window, had a large bathroom with a roomy shower. The staff are helpful and very friendly. Breakfast was good, with a very useful egg boiler contraption which produced lovely soft eggs. The best thing about the auberge however was their restaurant. We were there on a Friday night and it seemed to be the ‘hottest place in town’, absolutely packed. The food was of good quality and definitely did not break the bank.