We had gone to pas de la Casa on boxing day for a weeks skiing holiday. We stayed at the Cal Ruiz a hotel which we had stayed previously some 7 years ago. It was good to see that the hotel was still very clean and tidy. Every day our room was cleaned, beds made and clean towels something which we were not expecting on a daily basis. New Year Eve was the best, the gala dinner was exceptional. Myself and partner were pleasantly surprised. The staff and hotel had gone that extra mile. We returned home on Monday but can honestly say enjoyed totally.

I was staying in the Cal Ruiz with my step son on his first ski holiday. It is the second time i have stayed there and for a 3* hotel it performs well. Location at the bottom of the resort sounds bad, but a 5 minute (quicker coming back) walk to the town centre isn't a 'slog' (or flog). The staff are friendly and accomodating, even if they didn't speak english ( well you are on holiday).
The food was catered to english and spanish people and i must say it was more than adequate and plenty of it. There was usually a dish or 2 that was unfamilliar but on a whole it was good (no complaining 15 year old is a good thing).
The only annoying thing about the holiday was the people that obvoiusly have champagne tastes and beer money.
The bar area could do with some new chairs, but was comfortable enough and a good meeting place for the well timed happy hour. The hot tub and sauna was good for the first few days, but i think they should have longer opening hours.
To sum up, it's a decent 3* hotel that is clean and tidy with friendly staff and adequate food.
P.S. For a reasonable fee you can store your skis and boots by the slopes.

was pleasantly surprised with this hotel as some of the reviews we read were quite poor. Hotel was close to the pickup drop off point for coach transfersinto Plas de la Casa. Rooms were clean and tidy, maid service good. We found the food to be quite adequate for us with plenty of choice, staff were great and helpful, only downside being a smokey bar when you are not used to it but good fun. Jucuzzi and sauna clean and quite nice to have in the hotel, close to the sports centre if you felt like a swim and close to the shops for shopping.
5 mins walk to the main ski lifts. We went in our Half Term so it was quite busy but we didn't find much of a problem with queueing on the lifts as they are run very efficiently. Pistes were immaculate and well marked and the whole skiing area (Grand Vilara) can accommodate any level of skiier as this is a vast area.
Ski storage (extra) paid through Paddys Irish Bar was a great idea as all your gear is stored and warmed right next to the ski lift.

We booked this holiday quite late through Crystal and I must say that every aspect of their service was excellent (transfers, skis and boot hire, welcome meeting, information and help were all excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Thanks to Cal Ruiz and Crystal.

I have never written a review before but I felt I had to put something online (have complained in writing to my rep whilst on holiday of course). We had booked half board - breakfasts were ok (hard to get wrong) but dinner was a nightmare, the first night I poured enough grey water off my plate to fill a soup bowl, fished three hairs out of my mouth from the bolognaise sauce and had an upset stomach a day later. My teenage daughter burst into tears at the dinner table and I took her out afterwards to get a bowl of soup from a bistro. The food sat out keeping warm for three hours - most people were very careful about what they chose to eat so most of the kept warm meat was produced in the same or a different form the next day. We and most others stuck to chips or plain pasta and the imaginative salad selection (which consisted of iceberg lettuce and quartered tomato). Unless people had large families most people there seemed to eat out at least every other night. on the fourth night we were there the lady on the table next to us fished a rodent's tooth out of her food ( it really was, we saw it!) she kept it and took it to the manager - all the kitchen staff came out and peered at the dishes on the buffet - took one dish away and bought it back five minutes later!. That was the last straw and we ate out after that. Not only did eating out add to the cost of my holiday but also, after a day's skiing, we didn't really enjoy having to flog back into town while it was snowing just to get something to eat.
Good points - I lost weight from lack of food! The rooms were basic but clean, very warm (which was great) we turned the radiators off or opened the window to bring the temperature down but it was much better than being cold. Bathrooms were great - good size, plenty of hot water - bit worried about having to hold the hairdryer socket in place in the wall whilst using it though!
We liked the location - 5 minutes walk from the slopes but not in the town centre with all the noise from the bars.
We would stay there again if it wasn't for the disgusting food.