Prize by Radisson, Bern City

For a two-star hotel, this was honestly a pretty good stay. I'd worked in the hotel industry before, and to me it delivered for the price. The room had nothing beyond a bed, but it was quite comfortable. The staff were almost always nice, and the free coffee, tea, and water in the lobby were a nice touch. The parking entrance was a little confusing, though the parking itself was good. There's a Coop just above, the city is close, and public transport stops right outside. The room was warm and there are nice gardens nearby. On the downside, the dryer was a little disgusting, and cleanliness was maybe 6.5/10: okay overall, but not detailed. I enjoyed the stay.

I wouldn't recommend this hotel to travelers. Breakfast servers were nice and clearly doing their best, but when a machine in the breakfast area broke and kept leaking, the receptionist told us to report it to the person serving there. I thought reception should be helping with that. The sheets were clean at check-in, but the floor wasn't very clean. There was no safe in the room, which was a first for me, and no minibar or wardrobe either. It felt like a place to sleep and leave. Just so you know, those are the basics the room is missing.

The rooms are roomy and bright at any time of day, and everything was kept clean. The staff were kind and welcoming. There’s a bus stop directly across the street, with buses to the city center and back every 10 minutes. You also get a Bern ticket during your stay for free public transport in the Bern region. A great luxury-feeling stay at a budget hotel price.

The staff were helpful, and check-in didn’t take long. It’s a two-star hotel, so the rooms are basic and there aren’t many amenities. My room had no kettle or bottled water, though the lobby has unlimited hot water, cold water, and coffee, which was a real plus. Underground parking was 20 eur a day. The rooftop bar was listed as open, but was closed when we tried on Monday, which was disappointing. We skipped breakfast at the hotel and went to the Coop in the same building, which has a good food selection. There’s a bus stop right outside, and it’s about a 10-minute walk to the city center. We also used the gym next door for a 12 eur day pass, and it was nice to have that option.