Les Deux Alpes - Crystal

[Leis]

I see everyone chatting about Esprit and Mark Warner and the odd negative reference to Crystal. DH has just booked us a week at La Brunerie through Crystal at the end of February. We have a 4yo and a 2.5yo and they are booked into the creche. Anyone got any experience of the hotel, the creche or any other comments - good or bad? Thanks.

I haven't been yet but am goign to book with them for march , courcherval st louis hotel. look back on comments from prettybird on the thread below this one about crystal she is fairly positive.

sorry have only very neagive things o say about crystal - 3 holidays - will only commentif you ask though as your dh has aready booked it. For a similar priced MUCH better alternative can I recommend Ski Olympic............

The thing about Crystal (and other major operators) is that they are such a big organisation that they can't possibly keep tabs on everything. So when something starts to goes wrong there is no-one with sufficient authority around to get it put right and so things can very rapidly go downhill.

In smaller companies the owners are much closer to the coalface and so pick up problems far quicker and can act to solve them before they become serious.

I know lots of people who travelled quite a few times with the major TOs and then had a cr*p trip with lots of problems which no-one could resolve quickly: net result the TO loses another previously-loyal customer.

Hiya Lemonstartree. I would love to hear any comments you have good or bad. I know DH has already paid for it all but if I can be forewarned . . . You never know, I might be able to stop it going too far south.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

ok

poor organisation on outward flight queing > 1hour to check in

really poor coach transfers to reort - >5 hours (for a 2.5 hour journey) as going on litttle roads so as to avoid the payage, Crappy coach with no lavatory

chalet had door missing from wardrobe , left lying in the room. not fixed during our stay.

miserable chalet girl I mean MISERABLE, horrid cheap food that i woulnt serve at home

massively early and disruptive pick ps for journey back to airport.......

this is one holiday.......I could go on in the same vin......never again

I hope you have a much better experience!!

Bon Ski

Thank you so much for that information!

We recently did an igluski/esprit holiday to Lapland and I think most of these operators are the same tbh. The one thing that really got on my t*ts was all the time wasted sitting on a bus and the waiting in the airport for our return flights because they got us out so early so they could get rooms ready for the next influx. I think I'll have a look into private transfer costs . . .

Thanks again for being so honest, its really helped.

Leis just got back from DA and chatted to a few folk from La Brunerie when there - they seemed more than happy. It's right in the middle of town - about 5 mins (if that) from main lifts and esf meeting point. Let us know how you get on. (Had a lovely dump of snow last week.)

CAB - thank you so very much for that info!!! I've decided to just relax and enjoy the holiday and deal with anything adverse "IF" it arises. The snow levels sound absolutely fine . . .

When we get back I'll definitely do a full review of Crystal and La Brunerie as I have been unable to find a parents review anywhere on the net. Well a review of my opinion anyway . Oh I lie, I did find one site but the reviews were pretty old.

Thank you again everyone.

Have a great time Leis - p.s. if 2.5 yr old not nappy-trained would take out plenty of supplies as the nappies in the Spar across the road from you are crapola.
The best mountain restaurant burnt down when we were there so the rest are VERY busy at lunchtimes - so recommend early or late lunches or lunch back in the village - although it takes quite a while to get back up the mountain again.
p.s. The green and black slopes back to da are often trashed. If the snow's still reasonable one of the quickest ways home is to ignore the Telecabines etc and head for the Belle Etoile chairlift to take you DOWN, go back up the 2nd poma next to it and ski across to the village centre. (but have a look in the morning to make sure there's enough snow on the lower slopes or you'll have a fair walk back).
I'm so jealous!!!!!