Hotel Bellevue

The room was nicely decorated and felt upscale, but the real draw is the breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps. You can find cheaper hotels at the foot of the mountain, though the view here is what you're paying extra for.

The view was beautiful, but the food was poor. I ordered the Pilatus Cheeseburger with Raclette Cheese for 38 CHF, and the bun was untoasted, soggy from the sauce, and falling apart. There was barely any “Raclette” cheese, and the fries were greasy and tasteless. I complained, but nobody followed up. I'm local to Kriens and visited Mount Pilatus again last week. At that price, I expected a gourmet meal. Instead it felt like cheap takeaway with a luxury price tag. Never again.

The sunset was incredibly romantic, and the range of hiking paths was unbelievable. As hotel guests, we got unlimited cogwheel train tickets, and the room Wi-Fi worked very well. We also had fresh, tasty breakfasts, excellent food, and polite, helpful service. The rooms were spacious, with a wonderful view and great water pressure. It's breathtaking here, one of the most unique experiences I've had. The value for the money was incredible, and we'll definitely return.

The Summit Dreams package covered two meals a day and transportation up and back, and the meals were excellent. One surprise was being charged for water. It was already on the table when we arrived, and the staff filled and refilled our glasses without us asking. Nobody mentioned an extra charge until we had left the dining room. The location is fantastic, with trails offering outstanding views of the Alps and Lucerne. Make the climb to the top for sunrise over the Alps.