Swiss Hotels and Restaurants

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Complete Index of Articles on Switzerland

witzerland claims, justifiably, to have invented the hospitality business. The Swiss are rightly proud of the services a traveler will find. What you get is obviously relative to what you pay, but you'll get more in service and care (relative to price) in Switzerland at every level than you'd get elsewhere.

Their great hotels are among the finest in the world. Many of the most elite hotels in the world are managed by Swiss or Swiss-trained personnel. Even at the bottom end of the price scale, you will find excellent value.

About the Hotels and Our Selections

e've listed places at which we've stayed and enjoyed, and others about which we have received reliable (and usually enthusiastic) recommendations from others. The Swiss Hotel Association (SHA) publishes a comprehensive guide to member hotels (probably 90%+ of all hotels in the country) in both book form (available from the Swiss National Tourist Office) and on the Web at http://www.swisshotels.ch/.

Most of our stays have been at four-star hotels, but these selective recommendations cover a broad price range. You'll also find a few restaurant suggestions. If you're new to European travel you might want to glance at our Swiss Hotel and Food Notes. These include information on bargain accommodations and how to locate "Zimmer Freis" (furnished rooms/apartments.)

The 'net is great for finding hotel recomendations. Is it the best way to book them? Our answer may surprise you ... read Booking Hotels on the Internet - which also has quite helpful information on how properly to confirm your hotel booking.

Prices and Open Periods

rices provided as a guide, in Swiss francs (CHF) for 2001 except as noted, most prices from the SHA listings, most for two people in 'twins' with bath. Most Swiss hotels have single rates significantly lower. (Check today's exchange rate.)
-- see our hotel information page if you have questions about hotel terms like EP, MAP, half-pension, American plan, stars, or single, double, triple, twin, quad, etc.

Many hotels, especially those in resort areas, have seasonal rate structures; many have a broad range of rates depending on type of room and view. As well, some of the recommended hotels (especially in the mountains, and resort-type properties) are closed for parts of the year.

Consult the hotel or the SHA guide for more precise rate information and to check if your choice is open when you want to go.

What's Included?

ariffs generally include:

	service
	taxes
	Swiss-style Continental breakfast (rolls, butter, jam, coffee, milk, tea or chocolate, cheese, cold cuts, dry cereals, fruit, often fruit juice, and usually müsli.)

Breakfast is rarely included in Geneva or Zürich.

Some hotels, at peak season, require you to 'take' (read: pay for) the half-pension. More often than not it's optional. In smaller towns like Mürren, and even Grindelwald and Wengen, there are few independent alternatives. You'll likely find the hotel offering a good value in the market. Four-star hotel meals include five courses. The price includes no beverages except tap water. Unless the meal is required you can receive a credit (usually partial) if you wish to eat elsewhere on a particular evening, provided you give advance notice. Noon is usually adequate notice, sometimes later -- ask.

In resort areas (and certainly in the Jungfrau region) half-pension (evening meal) is most commonly available. Sometimes the room price includes the evening meal, often not. (Cost ranges from CHF20-45 pp.) While we like to eat elsewhere on a few nights during our visits, we find the half-pension arrangement a good value-for-money deal and we recommend you consider taking the option.

Phoning:

The Swiss country code for dialing is 41. When calling from the US precede the number by 011 plus country code and delete the zero (0) in the city code prefix.

If the person answering the phone isn't speaking English the following will be helpful to you:

	Do you speak English?	Does anyone there speak English?
German	Sprechen Sie Englisch? shpreh'-khern zee aingleesh	Spricht dort jemand English? shprikht dorhdt yea'-mahndt aingleesh

Berner Oberland Accommodations
(Jungfrau Region)

Mürren

Hotels

The Anfi Palace - is one of the top hotels in town. It stands at the highest point of any hotel in town with a superb command of the mountain view. Twins CHF240-290. Suites and apartments available as well. Half pension at CHF35.
PH: 033 855 24 24 - Fax 033 855 24 17
E-mail: palace@muerren.ch

Mürren's Hotel Eiger - family-owned and operated, it's top notch. Excellent accommodations; attentive service, helpful and friendly staff and owners. A fine example of traditional Swiss hospitality. Free pool and whirlpool on-site, for the use only of Eiger and Eiger-apartments guests. Along with its associated Eiger Guesthouse, this is the most convenient location in the village.

Twin rooms with breakfast from CHF240 to 320 . The mountain-facing rooms have a balcony and clear view of peaks and valley. Junior suites from CHF260-360. You can sample the view through the Hotel Eiger web cam.

In an upgrading program begun in 1998, all rooms will have been renovated by the end of fall, 2001. The freshly updated rooms retain a cozy, traditional (Alpine rustic) look.

Outstanding full-size suites are luxuriously furnished and finished, and include either a spacious terrace or a comfortable balcony overlooking the valley and mountains; prices from CHF420-560.

(Children -- in the same room -- up to age 2 on a baby cot free; 2-12 50% discount; from 12 years, 30% discount.)

Half pension (dinners) CHF30/pp if you stay for 3 days or longer, CHF45 for a shorter stay, very good, interesting and varied, even over a three week stay.

Say hello for us to our favorite hoteliers, Annelis Stähli-von Allmen and son Adrian.

PH: 033 856 54 54 - Fax 033 856 54 56
E-mail: eiger@muerren.ch

Hotel Alpenruh - Owned by the company that operates the Schilthorn cable. Twins CHF180-210 with bath and breakfast. Half pension CHF30pp. Open year 'round.
PH: 033 856 88 00 - Fax 033 856 88 88
E-mail: alpenruh@schilthorn.ch

Hotel Blumental many readers have enjoyed this one. Summer twins CHF130-200 with bath and breakfast. Restaurant is spoken highly of.
PH: 033 855 18 26 - Fax 033 855 36 86
E-mail: blumental@muerren.ch

Hotel Alpina - Twins with bath and breakfast CHF130-170 in the summer. The lack of room phones gives you 3-star quality at 2-star prices. Half pension at CHF25pp.
PH: 033 855 13 61 - Fax 033 855 10 49
E-mail: alpina@muerren.ch

The venerable Belmont began its life as the Eiger Guesthouse at the end of '99 under Eiger ownership. It's managed by Alan and Veronique Ramsay. Alan is a key long-time Eiger staffer. This Swiss-Scottish couple combine their experience and whole-hearted hospitality with the EIger's resources to make this an especially pleasant, good value-for-money choice for cost-conscious travelers. Families and backpackers will find it especially appealing.

Despite the bargain prices, 70% of the rooms have balcony and mountain views. Twins with bath, breakfast and taxes from CHF130 for two in 2001; without bath from CHF100. A dorm bunk bed from as little as CHF39 per person with taxes and breakfast. CHF23pp for half pension. The hotel is on the small side or it would undoubtedly rate .

Open a bit longer than most Mürren facilities, from mid-December to Easter Monday, and early/mid-May to mid/end-October. For those who can't bear to be out of touch with the Internet, you'll find two Internet surf stations among the amenities, as well as free use of the resort's pool. Along with its parent Eiger, the Guesthouse has the most convenient location in the village.
PH: 033 856 54 60 - Fax 033 856 54 61
E-mail: eigerguesthouse@muerren.ch

The Chalet Fontana is the town's bargain. Across the main street from the Stägerstübli in the middle of town, it's a charming B&B. The atmosphere and views are Alpine. It's operated by Denise Fussell, a lovely Englishwoman who's lived in Mürren since early '80s. The twin apartment includes bathroom; the two upstairs rooms share two baths. Prices from CHF35-50/pp. Full Swiss breakfast included. Harlan Hague recommends it highly. Mariela de Castro Santos said, (it) ... really has the Swiss atmosphere I was looking for.
E-mail Denise at Chaletfontana@compuserve.com
Phone 033 855 26 86 - Fax 033 856 86 96

Pension Sonnenberg - In the pretty Blumental (Flower Valley), about a 30 minute walk (uphill) from Mürren (or via the Almendhubel funicular and a short downhill walk) - CHF53pp with breakfast, CHF40 for dorm bunks, all with shower; 1/2 pension CHF15.(2001)
PH: 033 855 11 27 - Fax 033 855 11 27
E-mail: sonnenberg@bluewin.ch

Hotels operate seasonally in Mürren, and among the listings above only the Fontana and Alpenruh are open year-round.

Restaurants

Hotel Eiger Terrace, or the indoor Stübli. Good Swiss specialties (or a hamburger). Moderate prices. The full menu at night is not inexpensive but the range of selections is outstanding, all excellently prepared. Full meals run CHF30-50. Or, ask for the 'kleine karte' at night for prices as low as any in town. (CHF15-30 for a main course.)

You'll find a bar and full restaurant open all day long at the Eiger Guesthouse just across from the station.

Stäger Stübli - in the middle of town - good value-for-money.

Pension Sonnenberg - a lovely, easy outing, via the funicular on your way up, and a scenic stroll back to town afterwards. An enjoyable lunch; excellent, if simple, food.

For variation from a Swiss diet you might want to try Tham's Snacks and Drinks - Chinese Restaurant. On Mürren's main street about halfway between the rail and cable stations. It's arrived since we were last there, so we haven't tried it, but two Singaporeans say it's good, and they should know, and we've received another favorable comment since as well.

Most of the hotels in town have open dining rooms or cafes; we've never had a bad meal in town.

TWEnJ Recommendations for more Hotels in the Oberland in
Wengen, Gimmelwald, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wilderswil, Kleine Scheidegg and Interlaken

TWEnJ Recommendations for Hotels in Other Swiss Destinations

Swiss Hotel Association Directory

Complete Index of Articles on Switzerland

A Personal Visit to Switzerland

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