La Thuile: hotels, restaurants and entertainments
Hotels
The resort’s first five-star, Nira Montana is around 400m from the slopes; there's a plush spa.
La Thuile guide
The four-star Planibel has a prime location at the lift base plus pools; but it is very impersonal.
In sharp contrast, we were very impressed by the four-star Miramonti, in the old village; smartly renovated, free shuttle, excellent food and service and a swanky spa (costs extra).
Chalet Eden, a short walk from the lifts, is a four-star eco-hotel with a big spa.
The three-star b&b Hotel du Glacier, a short walk above the lifts, gets rave reviews, mainly thanks to its energetic owner.
The three-star b&b Boton D’Or was recommended by a recent reporter; ‘close to the lifts, superb service, comfortable rooms’.
Apartments
The Planibel apartments are ‘noisy and ugly’, but they are spacious and good value.
Eating out
We had a great lunch at Lo Tatà just off the slopes at the top of the village – lovely rustic building with stone walls, wood ceilings and beams. Packed but a warm welcome and free hot wine while we waited; good food and good value; a reporter who dined there endorses it too.
Other reader tips include the Grotta (‘friendly, good pizza, pasta, fondue’), Maison Laurent (‘huge portions, charmingly chaotic’), Coppapan (‘lovely pistachio-encrusted lamb cutlets’) and Pepita Café (‘good food, friendly service’).
Mountain restaurants
Generally not great by Italian standards, but marked on the piste map. For a good lunch, we would head for the village and eat at Lo Tatà just off the piste on skier’s left – look for the sign to the path to it. Higher up, we like the ambience of the Off Shore, a small hut with an eclectic mix of 1960s/70s memorabilia and music and nautical/Asian/African themes – simple food that you order at the bar. Tiny and newish Chalet de Cantamont gets glowing reviews. Readers have also tipped the remote Riondet.
Après
‘La Cage aux Folles in the Planibel complex is the place to go at teatime and Angela’s bar in town is popular with locals,’ says a recent reporter. Nightlife is quiet. The Konver is open until late and has a regular DJ.
Off the slopes
Not great. There are few shops; the Planibel has a pool; there are walks and dog sledding. Non-skiers can ride the gondola, but can’t reach the best lunch spots. The thermal baths 10km away at Pré-St-Didier are excellent, with over 40 spa ‘experiences’ including saunas and outdoor pools.
Where to Ski
This guide is taken from Where to Ski, edited by Chris Gill.
La Thuile
