We just returned from a two-week Eurorail trip that, for a couple of thirty-somethings (lower end), was an attempt to turn the clock back a decade or so and take the sort of high-octane Europe-tour vacation one might take as a 22-year-old, but at the slightly slower pace and slightly higher budget creaky knees and a couple graduate degrees (albeit with the accompanying debt baggage) can respectively support.
So my wife and I just did London for a few days to start and then a tight loop through France rather than, say, all of Western Europe in a couple weeks. We didn't stay in any hostels, but neither did we stay at the Ritz. We had baguettes and fruit for a lunch or two, but we also found some decent restaurants along the way. We were on a moderate budget but we'd stretch it now and then when the opportunity was right for a potentially good memory.
The Hotel Faucigny fit into our plans perfectly. At the advertised off-peak price, it was a great value, in our opinion, and the service and treatment from Guy and Jacqueline (the owners) was sincerely unmatched during our trip -- especially from the perspective of a couple of Americans who, quite sheephisly, don't speak French (but we're learning) and had otherwise been curtly reminded of such during certain other moments of our travels. Guy and Jacqueline greeted us warmly nearly every time we walked through their front door and were always available for advice.
While I imagine all the rooms have great views, I can't imagine there were any better than ours, which was one of the full balcony rooms, mentioned and photographed in another review recently submitted. When the weather cleared out during our three-night stay, we had our wine and our cheese and simply gazed up at Mont Blanc near dusk for an hour or two. In good company, with a day's worth of hiking upon which to reflect, a wine bottle on the table and this hotel's Mont Blanc view before you, no other entertainment is necessary. (I tried attaching our own shots from the balcony, but the Mbs are apparently too high.)
I never write these without throwing in a few criticisms, as every place requires them. Undoubtedly, the walls are perhaps a little thin (we could easily hear the rumblings of others next door from time to time). The room furnishings were a little plain -- and I think any American dropped into it directly from the States would say they were small, as well ... but on this latter point, of course, this is typical of many European hotels and the Hotel Faucigny's rooms were larger than others at which we stayed. Neither of these observations was enough to beat the overall value and great quality of our stay, however.
At the risk of too much sap (but hey, we're freshly back from our trip -- I'm giving myself a pass here) let me say that my wife and I loved our stay at the Hotel Faucigny. We would recommend it to anyone and will cherish the memories we took from it!