Tourist

We stayed one night. The room had a beautiful view of nature and the nearby waterfall, the bed was comfortable, and the hotel manager was kind and welcoming. We appreciated that. But the breakfast was extremely limited: butter, one kind of cheese, three kinds of cold cuts, jam, a few fruit yogurts, and bread. When we asked about eggs, the answer was simply “no.” For a room advertised with breakfast, we expected something more satisfying and thoughtfully prepared. In such a touristy area, basic options like eggs or croissants would make a big difference, even though they cost little. This was the weakest hotel breakfast we’ve had so far, and after checking out we had to stop at the nearest market to get something to eat. We ended up wondering why we’d paid for breakfast.

We stayed for a week, and Martin and family looked after us well. They gave us a card for free local public transport, so we went everywhere. There are fabulous walks, beautiful alpine villages, Reichenbach Falls, the Sherlock Holmes museum, lovely meringues, which were invented here, and the incredible Aareslucht Gorge, all close by and walkable. This is a relatively cheap auberg about 1 km from the town centre, a simple, friendly family-run place. The rooms and facilities are clean and tidy, though a little sparse, with no TV, for example. Our tiny shared bathroom wasn’t great, but the restaurant food was nice and the low-key atmosphere was a pleasure. Breakfast was simple continental style, but it set us up for the day.

We were very pleased with our stay and felt lucky they could fit us in at short notice. We’d stopped for food while visiting Reichenbach Falls and asked about a room, though the number of cars outside made us think there might not be one. They had one, perhaps the last. It was small but clean, with a comfortable bed. Dinner downstairs was one of the best meals we’ve had since arriving in Switzerland, with several vegetarian options and good drinks and desserts. The staff were friendly, too. After dinner we noticed that our window looked straight at Reichenbach Falls. Sherlock fans, take note: it was room #5. The falls aren’t very close, but at night they’re lit up like a beacon, so they’re unmistakable. That view isn’t mentioned anywhere, which made it a nice surprise. The nightly price was lower than at other places we’ve stayed, and included breakfast and a pass for free public transport while we’re here. The quaint-looking building has a modernized, well-appointed interior. The surroundings are gorgeous, and if we didn’t have to be elsewhere tomorrow night, we’d stay longer and hike. I can’t think of anything negative about our experience, so 5 stars it is.

We spent two days there with our children. The room was great, but the breakfast was the poorest I’ve ever seen at a hotel. For what you pay, you get very little, especially in one of the richest countries in the world. If you book, skip breakfast. It isn’t worth the price.