Central City Hotel Rochat

We stayed in early July, when a women’s football tournament game was on that evening, and it was fun seeing the fans around town. The hotel was very clean, with friendly and helpful staff, and they have a dedicated room for luggage if you arrive early. Breakfast is a good buffet with plenty of hot choices, well worth the small extra cost. It’s a very pedestrian-friendly area, about two blocks from the old city centre and close to restaurants, shops, and bars. The river is around a seven-minute walk away. We’ll definitely stay here again.

I was looking for a reasonably priced, clean Old Town hotel with fairly easy access to the station while travelling from Paris to Interlaken. I wasn’t after luxury, but this stay was disappointing. Getting there took longer than I expected by tram, and from the stop it was uphill with luggage. Finding my room inside was confusing enough that staff had to explain the route in detail and give me a map. The room was also badly affected by noise. There seemed to be a local festival nearby, with a rock band whose bass came through so strongly it shook the room and kept me awake. At 12:40 a.m. the music was still going. I can understand a festival concert lasting until 10 or 11 p.m., but well past midnight felt excessive. I knew an old building might not have perfect soundproofing, but the noise made the night miserable. Then at about 6:50 the next morning, no staff were available when we tried to check out. The delay meant we missed our planned public transport and had to rush into a taxi, which was stressful and inconvenient. Between the awkward access, late-night noise, and lack of morning staff, the budget-friendly but decent stay I’d expected turned into a letdown.

I had this booked for me by the University Hospital. The hotel has a quirky setup and a distinct character, and the outside gives a misleading idea of its size and scale. My room was comfortable.

We had a large room, including an enormous bathroom, even by North American standards. The air conditioning was a welcome surprise on a hot August day, and breakfast was excellent. A very good place.