This website very rarely does hotel reviews, but L'Aubergade in Morzine is a favourite and needs some credit for its excellence – and I need to point out that I have never received any free rooms, stays, or anything at all from the hotel. This review is just because it is a great place.
L'Aubergade is in the heart of Morzine. It has about 25 rooms, a big lounge area, dining room, garden and terrace. It appears to be family run, and staffed by a host of cool young people, mostly from the UK.
There are several great things about the hotel as far as I am concerned. First is the fabulous atmosphere. It is very informal, has a great bar, the lounge is fabulous place to hang out when you are down from the mountain, reliving that final run or nursing those painful knees.
It also has a fabulous restaurant which is mind-blowingly cheap. The food is very “cheffy”, as in it does not have a Michelin star, but you could believe it does. Fabulous presentation, and very tasty. This is not plates of chips and burgers, but delicious cuts of meat, amazing sauces, real home-cooked food with a sense of pride and care.
Breakfast, for guests is perfect, the statutory alpine mix of pastries and protein to power you through the day.
Upstairs there are some lovely looking rooms, with balconies, but I have to say I have never stayed in any of them.
However, on the top floor, are about half a dozen small rooms a shower in the corner, and a shared bathroom. The hotel rents these on Airbnb, for about £80 a night even in high season (if you can get them).
So all of the above makes a fine place to stay. But the difference, as far as I am concerned, with the Aubergade is the staff. It is like they actually enjoy working there, there is a sense of fun and friendliness. You just don't see that often enough. And it makes all the difference. Fromt he moment you arrive, you feel you are part of it all.
That for me is the secret of the hotel. You can stay very cheaply in the top floor, and take advantage of all the fabulous facilities. Oops, but there I am giving the secret away!
Oh, and you also need to know that they seem to host the best concerts and gigs in Morzine – including a fabulous end-of-season party.