Residence Lauterbrunnen

Our room, 104, had its own bathroom and balcony with amazing views. It wasn’t brand new, but it was charming and very clean. The bathroom smelled strongly of bleach at first, though opening the windows for a while cleared it quickly. Check-in and checkout were easy with the key system, and we used the large luggage storage area the day after checkout. It’s a couple minutes’ walk from the train station and coop, with a great playground across the road and the cable car to Mannlichen right there. I think many negative reviews come from people who didn’t read the booking details about private or shared bathrooms and limited check-in times. This isn’t a 5 star resort, but if you’re planning to hike or ski all day and want a clean, comfortable place to sleep, it’s the right pick.

The balcony gave us a lovely mountain view, and the hotel is in a fantastic spot. For such an expensive area, it was good value and made a great base. The toilet and shower are fitted into the wardrobe space, which is certainly unusual!

The walk from the station is easy and flat, under five minutes, and the property has a famous Swiss restaurant serving good cheese fondue. Those were the highlights for me. The rooms and facilities felt much more like a hostel than a lodge. Ours was very basic, with just a bed, cupboard and wash basin. There was no kettle in the room. You could borrow one from reception, but only with a 20 Swiss franc deposit. Bathrooms and toilets are shared by floor, and there is no lift, something to consider if you're older, traveling with children, or have mobility issues. I was having breathing trouble from an asthma flare-up and asked for a lower-floor room, but staff resisted and put us on the third floor. They weren't very helpful in general. They said they run close to full capacity because of their lower prices, and it didn't feel like guest satisfaction mattered much. In hindsight, I'd choose somewhere better and pay 20 francs more. Hotel Silberhorn or Regina are far superior in every way and are also 30 meters from the station. I'd avoid this place unless you're on a strict budget or find an awesome deal.

For the price, the hotel is pretty normal, and it wasn't bad overall. There’s a small balcony, and Coop supermarket and the boulangerie are within walking distance, with a children’s park across the street. We rented three beds, but the toilet felt cramped even though it was full. The beds and pillows were really uncomfortable, and we could hear people walking upstairs because the sound insulation is poor. Check-in is late, at 18:00, and checkout is 10:30. There’s no reception on Sundays 😄.