InterContinental Geneva

After an eight-hour drive from Barcelona, my husband and I arrived feeling frazzled. Paola greeted us so warmly at check-in, and her customer service was exceptional. Every staff member we met was friendly and helpful, and it was a pleasure being around them. The hotel is a large, older-style building, but the experience was fantastic. Such a great place to stay in Geneva, and I'd highly recommend it.

Paula was excellent at reception when we checked out as well, and she was a real credit to the hotel when we arrived. She told us that, as Platinum members, we'd been upgraded to junior suite 1102. We also got a free drinks voucher and were told there'd be a welcome amenity in the room. The lounge and reception are lovely, with pictures of famous people who had previously stayed there, though from outside the building looks like an old tower block rather than a particularly luxurious hotel. I was disappointed with the junior suite. The bathroom was very dated, the mugs were dirty, and the welcome card had another guest's name on it. The view was of either a Shell garage or a local construction site. We told Paulo that the welcome amenity hadn't arrived, and it was sorted quickly, but for the room price we still felt let down. The pool had been drained, probably because of the cold weather, and the spa was very expensive, so we spent most of our time out of the hotel. On the second night, two cocktails, sparkling water, and some food at the bar cost £100. It was nice, but felt pricey for what it was. The hotel is in an odd mix of other hotels and embassies, when you'd really want to be by the lake. We felt it charged a premium for an experience that didn't match, even though the staff are very trained.

I spent four nights here and can't wait to return. The hotel is beautifully maintained, and the atmosphere, lounge, and amenities are magnificent. Victoria, Cyril, and Sarah from the breakfast team made each morning a pleasure with their exceptional service. Celia and Michelle at the front desk were welcoming and fun to talk to, and Nabil, the doorman, gave outstanding support throughout my stay.

The breakfast selection was good, and the service made it one of my best experiences being waited on. Sarah, in particular, was attentive, quick, and clearly passionate about her work and making guests feel pampered. My sincere thanks to her. I'm staying here for the next 7 days and look forward to more of this excellent service. I'll definitely recommend the hotel to others.