Hotel Lavaux

Breakfast was simple and could definitely be better. The restaurant next door, though, is good value, and the staff are nice. Rooms have a TV, mini fridge and safe, and the lake views are great. For exploring the area’s wine, food and lake, the location works really well. I’d make sure to get a lake-view room.

We liked the little touches, like the 24-hour snack and drink vending machine, the restaurant and terrace, and the fact that staff brought cutlery to our room when we asked. Daily cleaning was included. Cully is about a 15-minute walk away, with a good selection of restaurants. You can head straight down to the lake for a swim, and there’s a floating platform in summer. Hiking paths through the vineyards start just behind the hotel. Our room had a lovely panoramic window over Lake Geneva. The exterior shutters gave us privacy from the street and trains and kept out the sun. The setting among vineyards is beautiful, with wide lake views. The main drawback was the noise. We expected some from the road and railway, but could hear cars and trains clearly even with the doors closed. The balcony wasn’t relaxing, so we kept the doors shut much of the time. The bathroom was okay, though not spotless. Staff were polite but not especially warm or engaging. We’d still recommend it for the location and views, as long as you know it doesn’t feel like a quiet countryside retreat.

The views and location are nice, but I’ve been bitten all over and I’m unhappy about it. The room also needed a much better clean, especially the walls. There were too many dogs at the hotel for me, and I won’t be coming back.

The room and hotel were clean and functional, and the price seemed reasonable. The location is striking, with views of the lake, mountains and vineyards, plus easy access to the beach. Noise is a real issue. You can hear people in neighboring rooms, and south-facing rooms get a lot of train and car noise along with their gorgeous view. North-facing rooms avoid much of the outside sound, but the view from the first and second floors is very limited, basically a wall. I can’t remember whether there are any north-facing rooms on the third floor; if so, they may have a slightly better view. The decor is sparse throughout. I’ve seen modern hospitals that feel warmer. When I checked in late Wednesday afternoon, the receptionist was about as welcoming as I imagine a first day in prison would be. The place could feel much cosier with a designer’s touch indoors and some four-star customer-service training for that late-afternoon receptionist. Fixing the soundproofing would make it a real gem, though that would clearly cost a lot more.