L'Aiguille du Midi - Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France     

We have just come back from our fourth visit to the Aiguille du Midi, twice in winter and twice in summer. As trip advisor members have commented, it is a lovely friendly family-run hotel. I think the Farini family are celebrating 100 years of ownership in 2008. The whole ambience is welcoming and relaxed. Rooms are small, but clean and comfortable, and with the usual amenities. The family are unfailingly helpful. Carla, the daughter-in-law is English, which is useful when one’s school-level French fails. In summer, the large garden is delightful, with a terrace for drinks and meals, a swimming pool and a tennis court. The outstanding feature is the food. We have always stayed half board. The highlight of the excellent breakfast is a machine where you roll oranges down a tube, and freshly squeezed orange juice comes out at the other end. Dinner is 5 superb courses, ending with a magnificent dessert buffet table. Although Les Bossons is a couple of miles from the centre of Chamonix, guests in local hotels get free bus and train travel within the valley. We have normally hired a car, but we have tended not to use it for local journeys. For the quality, the Aiguiile du Midi is excellent value. I have stayed in grander and more expensive hotels, but I can’t think of one I like so well.

My wife and I came accross this hotel on Tripadvisor and thought we would try it. Having driven down to Chamonix from St Malo we were both a little tired. I had not booked any accomodadtion in advance as I did not know how far we would drive before we wanted to stop. As it happened we drove the whole distance in about 7 hours and thouroughly enjoyed the drive. I arrived at the reception desk at Hotel l'Aiguille Du Midi at about 1630. The lady said there was room availability and showed me to the room to see if it was what I required. Well what a sight !! A beautiful room on the third floor looking out on Les Bossons Glacier and up to l'Aiguille Du Midi and Mont Blanc, what breathtaking views. We decided to take the room on a half board basis ( this is something we rarely do as we are generally independant travellers). That decision was certainly one of the best we have ever made. The food was French Cuisine at its best ! Every night we were treated to first class food. The waiters were excellent as was all the service we received at the hotel during our stay. There is so much to do in Chamonix / Mont Blanc area that the 5 nights we stayed was not long enough to see all of sights at this time of year. We are looking forward to going back for a long weekend in February to see what it looks like in the snow - however this time we will fly down to Geneva.