Grand Hôtel des Alpes

We loved the quaintness of Chamonix and our stay was just as cozy! We loved skipping the artificial white noise and instead, opened our balcony windows and was lulled to the sounds of the river that was behind the hotel. The location was perfect, and allowed us to see the area and enjoy the Mountain Views. The staff were very accommodating to our questions, concerns and delayed arrival. They were able to provide a shuttle to the train station which was beyond appreciated. We hope we can visit again!!

My husband and I are on a Mt Sobek hiking group tour and this hotel was one of the places Mt Sobek works with. I can see why. It is absolutely lovely with views of the Mont Blanc massif. We had one of the smaller rooms the property offers but it did not feel small at all. We were able to spread out and there was plenty of room to unpack our belongings. We were warmly greeted and the staff was always ready to comply with special requests. I was actually motivated to make time to review this lovely place because of one employee interaction in particular --- Sylvia. Sylvia handles petit déjeuner (breakfast). When we arrive at 6:30 am she is finishing up the touches on a beautiful breakfast buffet. On day two she welcomed us by name and would not finish her final prep until we were comfortably seated with an a la carte menu and coffee. She CLEARLY is all about the guest experience and her smile would brighten anyone's day. She exemplifies what this property is trying to do for its guests.

We booked this hotel months ago so we could get the edelweiss suite and have air conditioning. Even though the daily temperatures were in the low 70’s and nighttime temperatures in the upper 50’s, I need the air conditioner because of allergies. It’s hard to find a hotel with air conditioning in Chamonix. We stayed for 4 nights and the first night we couldn’t get the ac to come on. After a few hours someone figured it out for us. The second night the ac made a “ distant” jack hammering sound on and off all night. We reported it and were told they would get someone in to fix it. Later that evening we were told to just turn the ac off. When we did, the noise continued but never stopped. So we just turned it back on and slept with the noise. This continued and they couldn’t get anyone to fix it. Our last night the ac started dripping in the night and we had to use an ice bucket so the water wouldn’t harm the wood floors. The morning of check out the hotel had no hot water. When I checked out the manager offered to comp our 2 cocktails and offered breakfast which we couldn’t use since we had a train to catch. She said it wasn’t hot these days and we should have opened the windows. We didn’t book here to sleep with the windows open. Plus she said there was no way the air conditioning would have been fixed anyway since they couldn’t get a technician over the weekend. Very frustrating and it didn’t seem very important to them.

We were ROBBED of over $25,000 in cash and jewelry here. No forced entry. We were completely cleaned out at the exact time my wife and I had spa appointments. We had all our keys in our possession. Since the staff were the only ones that knew of our spa appointments- it is VERY conspicuous and the staff maintained total denial stating that it was “impossible”. This is the first time in all my travels around the world for this to happen. To make things stranger, there are no security cameras of the common areas, elevator lobbies or hallways. Even stranger the key numbers are plainly written on the keys which I have never seen. Even so, our keys were with us in the spa. The staff offered no remedy other than they lets us check out early as we didn’t feel safe. We went to the police but there was no chance of anything being done with the lack of security cameras etc.

This is a traditionally furnished hotel in the heart of bustling Chamonix. Like most luxury hotels in Europe, the hotel does not offer air conditioning, but the rooms do have fans. The hotel is in need of a facelift, furnishings and carpet are a bit worn for this price point. The hotel attendant was efficient and will give you free ice if you request it for drinks. The bathroom was a tad dangerous – two levels and sharp corners – but we made it through unscathed. Good breakfast with lots of strong French cheeses. Spa was ok – in the basement so a bit dark and you had to ask the check in staff to turn on the sauna and steam room during the day which meant there was a delay before each were warm, a tad annoying. Our room was a suite with comfortable seating. Loved the hotel’s location adjacent to the river. Nearby dinner restaurant tip: Restaurant Le Bizes is wonderful.

This is a 5-star hotel conveniently located in a pedestrian area of Chamonix. However, the hotel has two major downsides. In the summer, there is no A/C, so the rooms are HOT. Also, the rooms are very small, and it is difficult to organize your belongings. I am accustomed to small European hotel rooms, but my room here was TINY. The hotel staff is welcoming. There is a lift, but there were still some steps to my room. I normally use steps, but the steps in this hotel are the curl-around and around design, so I had to use the lift. My room had a very nice balcony overlooking the river. Breakfast was exceptional with custom coffee and egg choices at no additional expense. Room was clean. I almost had to call the front desk to find out how to turn off my lights. The light switch was behind a side table next to the bed. The only charge port I could find was across from the bed, so my phone alarm wasn't easy to shut off. The pool and sauna were beautiful. There is also a nice big balcony and game room on the first floor. There is a parking garage directly under the hotel. There was a safe and fan in the room. The bed was comfy. The shower worked well and there was a heated towel rack. I think it would be a lot nicer to stay here when the temperatures were cooler outside.

Driving to the hotel was very difficult. Our GPS took us into Chamonix and wanted us to drive on the pedestrian streets. Once we got close we parked the car and walked into the hotel. A young lady came out to the car and guided us to the hotel’s underground parking area. We needed to make reservations for parking before we arrived. The fee was added to our bill. We checked in and found the room to be very small. We barely had room for our luggage. The hotel had no air conditioning and during the heat wave we were told to use a fan and open the window. It was a miserable night. Our river view could be seen at an angle. It was not how I imagined it would be. We were given several restaurant recommendations and once we decided, the hotel staff made the reservation for us.

We had the pleasure of staying at the Grand Hôtel des Alpes, and once again, it exceeded our expectations in every way. What truly sets this hotel apart is the exceptional level of service—particularly from Francesca and her team at the front desk. We first stayed here six years ago and still remembered how outstanding she was as a concierge. Returning this time, it was clear that nothing has changed—her attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine care for guests remain second to none. Francesca consistently goes above and beyond, delivering a level of personalized service that is rare even among five-star hotels. Her knowledge, responsiveness, and commitment to ensuring every detail is handled flawlessly make a meaningful difference in the overall experience. Quite simply, many luxury properties do not come close to the caliber of service she provides. The hotel is truly fortunate to have someone like her representing their brand. It’s this kind of dedication that transforms a great stay into a memorable one. We look forward to returning again.