 Poster: A snowHead
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We've just returned from a week with Ski Esprit at the Spainiere Hotel in Chamonix.
Unfortunately, all four of us were ill there with a tummy bug, which rather spoilt the holiday. Maybe not unusual in itself, but for the fact that probably around 70% of the children there were also ill that week, plus a good number of the accompanying adults.
We heard on the grapevine that the problem has been ongoing for a number of weeks, so wondered if anyone else has known of any instances of illness there?
The question we ask ourselves is whether it results from the poor cleanliness / hygiene of the hotel, or is it just bad luck...?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Stephen
Is that the child/family friendly hotel in Cham? I was eyeing it up for a couple of years hence. Apart from your unfortunate problem, what's the verdict? Did it seem otherwise okay?
That's bad, especially all the children getting ill - not nice. Gotta be a food hygene issue surely.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Tim Sawyer, Not an expert but my understanding is that viral tummy bugs are not indicative of any hygiene issues - they just spread. Many of the strains are named after the cruise ships that they break out on. So stephen buck, just bad luck. Nothing necessarily to do with the hotel.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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stephen buck, possibly the hotel. Possibly not all the guests not washing their hands properly.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Kids are experts at infecting each other.... could be the food, could just be contagious gut-rot. 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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stephen buck, how was the food served?
Food kept warm for long periods (e.g. in a warming cabinet) or rewarmed is hazardous, as is chilled food (e.g. coleslaw) which at some time has been allowed to get warm.
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A number of resorts across the Alps have been hit by the same (or a similar) gastric bug that has been in the news in the UK. Not that uncommon when you have winter bugs and then throw people together in a nice warm environment where they are eating at the same tables, kids are playing together etc etc. A hygiene blitz by any operator would be the norm but that may not be enough to nuke it when you have a constant through flow of new people (and inevitably some of the staff periodically going down with it).
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Tim Sawyer, the hotel is in a great location, but is tired and not really up to scratch. The staff and childcare, however, were excellent.
Nick L, most food appeared to be served hot direct from the kitchen. One thing we noticed, though, was that there were no serving tongs for the breakfast buffet, so people just used their hands. There was no bacterial handwash available either, which I've seen used on cruise ships and in hospitals when bugs are doing the rounds.
Ski Esprit did not seem at all concerned by the situation, which rather bothered us. No apologies or sympathy were offered to the very disgruntled and unhappy guests.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I visited that hotel in January with a view to bringing the family out in March. Having waited 20 minutes for someone to appear at reception I had plenty of time to look around myself. I was not impressed and finally left without speaking to anybody - it is a place that did not inspire confidence in spite of the fantastic location for Kids
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| stephen buck wrote: |
.......The staff ....... were excellent..............
Ski Esprit did not seem at all concerned by the situation....... |
You seem to be contradicting yourself. 
| Quote: |
| One thing we noticed, though, was that there were no serving tongs for the breakfast buffet, so people just used their hands. There was no bacterial handwash available either, which I've seen used on cruise ships and in hospitals when bugs are doing the rounds. |
Shortly after the Aurora had its bug scare, Mrs a and I cruised on it. Not surprisingly, standard could not have been higher. Passengers had an instructional leaflet on hand-washing (I know, but actually it made me realise that I was sometimes a little cursory). Those using self service were not just offered hand-wash, there was a member off staff present to ensure they used it. More that that, there were staff regularly dis-infecting handrails throughout the ship. However, I have never seen these precautions in a chalet or hotel when skiing. Immodium is a must in the first-aid kit!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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achilles, perhaps I should have said that the managment were not concerned at the situation.
The more junior staff were excellent and did not begrudge changing all the dirty sheets, matresses, mopping up etc. The nursery staff were also very good at lookng after the children.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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stephen buck, ah - now understand. Thanks.
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| Quote: |
| The more junior staff were excellent and did not begrudge changing all the dirty sheets, matresses, mopping up etc |
Good for them; obviously well selected and well trained. This thread should be compulsory reading for those kids wanting to "do a season" with some starry eyed ideas about what might be expected of them. Very sorry to hear about your illnesses, stephen buck, must have made for a rather miserable week. My neighbour, who is one of those hygiene-obsessed people with a kitchen you could eat your dinner off, had a terrible housefull of this at Christmas. That was definitely a contagious virus rather than food handling - but given your comments better precautions against re-infection at the chalet would have been sensible. Achilles', description of hygiene on the Aurora sounds fantastic. We all need reminding; have you seen the way people "swill" the bottom inch of their fingers under a cold tap after going to the toilet. A hidden camera in the wash-basin area of a public loo would be a good basis for a fly-on-the-wall documentary. I bet half the people who tut-tut about MRSA and poor standards in hospitals would be doing either nothing, or the "dip and wipe on jeans" routine.
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You know it makes sense.
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Another Aurora rule: You went down with the bug - you were confined to your cabin. Could be a problem for ski holiday staff to enforce that one!
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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bURN IT burn It ALl
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Poster: A snowHead
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A few years ago I was called in to assist at a Hotel in Bath where one of the first Norwalk Virus cases occured.
The only way to eradicate the Virus from the old building was close it down to the public and then use specialist teams to diesenfect EVERY nook and cranny of the whole building and to change the air in the building completely (not as easy as it sounds). None of the staff were allowed to work in the hotel for 6 months. This action finally cleared the virus from the building.
I understand that a cruise ship has been similarly treated recently.
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