Holiday Inn BERN-WESTSIDE by IHG

I booked this place mainly for the pool, which I still haven’t tried, so I’m looking forward to that 😎. The restaurant meal, though, was a very pleasant surprise. The fish was really fresh and cooked just right, and the risotto was spot on, which doesn’t happen often in my experience. It was a simple, delicious dish at a very reasonable price. Great job in the kitchen, and no disrespect to HIs. The front of house and restaurant staff were also warm and friendly. It’s a really good hotel.

We stayed as a family and found the rooms super clean, with a fantastic view. I’d ask for a higher floor if you can. Getting around is easy, with the train and tram stops right at the hotel entrance, and the ride to the city center takes about 15 minutes. Since the hotel is attached to a mall, there’s a Migros grocery store and plenty of restaurants close at hand. The staff were polite and welcoming, especially the whole breakfast team. Housekeeping was regular and very good. I’d definitely recommend staying here in Bern.

The wellness center is very nice, though it can get busy. Keep in mind that the gym, pool, and sauna are on the far side of the mall, outside the hotel itself. IHG Gold members and above can use them for free, despite the website and Google photos giving a slightly misleading impression of where they are. The hotel is attached to Westside Mall and sits right across the street from the Bern Brünnen Westside transit stop. At check-in we received a free transit code for the 100/101 area, which covers most of the city. It’s one of the nicest IHG properties I’ve stayed in, in a nice, convenient location.

The staff are arrogant and seem to charge for every little thing. At 11 am on November 29, the woman at reception asked me to pay for parking. How can a four-star hotel charge for parking? The week before, I stayed at a three-star hotel in Schonberg in Bern where parking was free. In Western society, hospitality seems like a foreign concept: they welcome you when you have money and pay more. The room furniture was also in a deteriorating state. The chairs were old and very worn, and there wasn’t even a fridge in the room. Why? So guests have to spend more in their restaurant?