Positives were very nice, friendly staff, and the food (breakfast, evening meal) good for the budget price.
Negatives: Noisy, noisy noisy! The tiled floors throughout, and concrete stairwells mean that an undisturbed night is virtually impossible. 3 nights in we had 100+ Danes arriving after midnight - luggage, shouting, furniture moving, cupboard doors etc. Several more on two other nights, then they had a free bar (for them, not for us!). Complaining did not seem to do a great deal of good.
Also, the hotel is in need of refurbishment. Although clean and tidy, there is evidence of ageing and poor maintenance (loose loo seat, broken drawers, dodgy wiring, bathroom door would not shut, mould around shower, cracked porcelain ....).
Suggest that you do not use this hotel until it has been refurbished and sound-proofed to modern standards.

I didn't know what to expect having had such a cheap deal. I spent Christmas here and it was the best Christmas I've ever had the food was amazing with a choice of meals and desserts. The staff couldn't do enough to make our stay as comfortable as possible. All in all a great place to stay.

Short notice booking (Jan 2012) with 20 year old son to ski the expanse of the Milky Way and to catch up on sleep. Tons of snow but wind caused closure of many lifts so stuck in Sestriere with access to few runs which was very frustrating and boring for two experienced skiers, especially as I had expereinced good access to skiing the previous two years in the same area.
Best features of the hotel - 1. the free shuttle bus service to the ski school/slopes. Regrettably, this did not go to the gondola but this was only a 10 minute walk from the hotel. 2. Plenty of hot water which did not wane during the post ski shower marathons. 3. Cleanliness - excellent.
Worst features of the hotel 1. Noise, noise and more noise - staff said 'I understand' when I complained about noise from the bar and pot wash after 11pm yet they made no effort to ensourage residents to be quiet in corridor/lift areas and staff continued to shout at each other whilst working in the bar/kitchen areas. The bar often did not close on time (I was told it would be midnight) the worst night was noisy until 1am. No chance of a lie in either as the cleaners hoovered the corridor at 7.30am and a dog yapping in a room and when outside the hotel. 2. Staff attitude - cleaners were very pleasant, dining room staff pleasant but always rushing and often served hot courses too quick so food stacked up in front of us, reception staff were quite frosty on many occcasions. 3. Room extremely warm (you will need to open the window which is contrary to the hotel's 'green policy' with no temperature controls in the room.
Food was OK - the hot drink machine for breakfast was, typically, unable to produce the volume of beverages required without queues forming. Ski storage in hotel was OK (put your boots on the rear shelf over the radiator). Room was OK - bed and pillow quite comfortable, hard floor, basic furniture, no hairdrier in room. I have had bettter value for money and quieter hotels and would not return to this one.

Ok starting on positives, the rooms were very clean, serviced each day and some of staff, mainly cleaning, were very pleasant. However, although the rooms are clean they are very small and not welcoming, with no pictures etc to give them a homely feel. It's also very noisy with the bottle bins being emptied every morning at 6am then delivery vans arriving which mean you will struggle to sleep past 6am unless you ar in a room on a higher floor.
The big negative was the food. On half board, after two nights we decided we could take no more so ate out for the rest of the week, which thankfully can be done for a reasonable price in Sestriere. The quality of food is poor, the tables are situated so you are almost joining other guests at their table, and it is so rapid in terms of service we felt like cattle being rushed through a feed. Breakfast is basic, but as they store boxes on the window sills all the curtains are closed; it's a ski resort with amazing views yet you start the day in a dark dingy room?? Once it was clear we weren't eating in the evenings we felt like outcasts with some of the staff and were made to feel like we were almost in the way. There is no atmosphere in the bar area or restaurant. Loved Sestriere but after staying here we will either self cater or go for a chalet next year, will never half board on a package deal again.