Hotel Roc et Neige

Our organised Newmarket trip was good, but this hotel let it down. The room was very basic, dark and much too hot, with no air conditioning or even a fan. It didn’t look like it had been refurbished since the 1970s. We knew there was no tea or coffee setup, so we brought a travel kettle. The only usable sockets were at waist height, so we had to balance it on a suitcase. There was a socket above a bedside table that would have worked, but we were told not to remove its plug because it powered the TV and box through an extension cord. WiFi was supposed to be available in all rooms, but we couldn’t connect at all in chalet 1. Guests reported the problem daily. One time, a staff member said coverage was poor because the router was in a guest room and someone had unplugged the socket for their kettle. They went to fix it, but nothing changed. Putting a router in a guest room where it can be unplugged makes no sense. Dinner was only available on 5 of our 7 nights, and the menu was fixed, with a vegetarian alternative as the only choice. We ate 3 of the 5 meals included in our stay. One was okay but nothing special, and the other two were very poor. The vegetarian dishes just swapped the meat for something else: tasteless corn fritters instead of a chicken leg, with potatoes and carrots; tasteless falafel instead of fish, with tasteless rice; and sloppy vegetables instead of meat loaf, which was apparently more like a burger, with sloppy mashed potato. Other guests told us the two meals we missed were awful. Breakfast was basic but okay. I wouldn’t return.

The staff could use updated training, especially when it comes to manners. One positive was Wendy, our guide, who looked embarrassed by the situation. We were told on arrival that we’d have to hire a kettle and plug if we wanted them, something the brochure hadn’t mentioned. Our holiday included 5 evening meals, but none were available for the first 2 nights, and nobody explained why. We had to buy food at the local shop and go to the local pub for dinner. The menu was very limited, with no fresh fruit or vegetables. On the 3rd night, the meal portion was so small it seemed suitable for a young child.

The restaurant and bar staff worked really hard and were very friendly, though the evening menu didn’t offer much choice. There are a few restaurants and bars in the village, plus a local supermarket with a great selection of food and drink. It’s Switzerland, so expect to pay Swiss prices. The town is a 10 minute walk uphill, so be prepared for that. We were there for a week on an escorted tour. Our room was well appointed, had excellent views, and was a good base for walking on our free day. You might want to bring a travel kettle and Swiss plug adapter, since the plug isn’t the same as the usual European one. The hotel can rent them out, but you have to leave a deposit, which is returned at the end of the holiday. The Golden pass train and Glassier 3000 were highlights, and definitely not to be missed if you’re okay with heights. Chateau-D'oex is known for hot air ballooning, and David Niven had a home there and is buried in the local Cemetery. A wonderful hotel in a wonderful location, with wonderful memories.

The breakfast was delicious, with everything fresh and local, and the staff were very friendly. It’s in a quiet spot, very close to the train station, with plenty of parking. Our only issue was the paper thin walls. Noisy people kept waking us in the morning. Otherwise, we really enjoyed our stay.