Ushuaia, the Mountain Hotel

Close to chairlift, gear rental, superior breakfast and dinner buffet

The Ushuaia hotel was extremely comfortable, spotlessly clean with a great selection of really good food from the buffet which was different each night. The only minor irritation with the hotel was the bar staff who, all though were fantastic, the service was very slow at busy times. Free ski lockers were provided in the hotel & it was only 1 minute to the lift. I would highly recommend the hotel but a have a few warnings if you are skiing with beginners: If you are booking this is a "ski in" hotel, beginners will struggle to get down the Blue run to the hotel. I have skied for 30 years & would say that it was a difficult blue & you would have to come down on the chair. I have seen many comments saying Arinsal is a great place for beginners. I totally disagree. There is only one nursery slope, & I appreciate that it was half term, but it was heaving. Beginners we spoke to were bored as the queue wasn't worth 15 seconds of skiing before re-joining the long queue. There is a Green marked on the piste map but even a ski guide said it's really a blue. Pal next door has much better beginner facilities. However, as a beginner to get to the nursery slopes in Pal, you would need to travel on the bus, but only for about 8 minutes. There is a cable car from the top of Arinsal across to Pal, but you would need to ski down Blue's to get to the nursery slopes. Getting back to Arinsal, by the Free Bus or the L5 service, on the day we tried, as my wife is not a confident skier, included an hour wait at the bus stop in Pal as information on times is sketchy at best. Both services do take you back to the Ushuaia though. Intermediate skiers would find the amount of ski school trains in your way annoying. Yes everyone has to learn but, there are simply too many instructors & some classes were 14 strong so you are picking your way around them. I must mention the cleanliness of all facilities on the mountain as they were brilliant. Lunchtime eating was priced reasonably as well in both Arinsal & Pal. Would I go back to the Ushuaia, definitely Would I go back to ski in Arinsal, maybe Would I go back to ski in Pal, yes

Excellent all round . Receptionists are all wonderful, Dora and Artur just to name a few. Location is 1 minute walk from lifts. Ski shop (st. Moritz) is adjacent. Rooms are clean , warm and spacious. This is your hotel in Ariana’s !! Rest of the facilities are also great !