Crêt-Bérard

A quiet place in a wonderful spot, with clean, comfortable rooms and a comfortable bed and pillows. There’s no fridge or toilet in the room, but the monastic feel is part of the experience. It’s pet friendly, and prices are low by Swiss standards. Lausanne is about 15 minutes away; the nearby village has supermarkets and GPL/CNG pumps, which makes it handy as a base for exploring Lake Geneva. Breakfast is minimal but complete, with a gluten-free option. The coffee was terrible to me, though. I’d much rather have American-style coffee than something from a vending machine.

The monastery setting is very authentic, and monks live in the private parts of the Foundation. That was the one thing that matched the pitch. I was there for a conference, and plenty of people escaped the venue on hikes; others brought in bottles of wine to pass the time. The room had several spiders during the night, and the blanket seemed fit for St. John the Baptist or someone homeless. At 75 CHF, I found the stay overpriced. The bed was hard and I slept terribly, the hallway was unheated, and there was no hair dryer. The website describes the rooms as simple and suited to retreats or pilgrimages, with a bed, table, chair, and washbasin, while toilets and showers are in the hall. It also says the rooms are sheltered from Wi-Fi relays for tranquility. In practice, I had to open the window in freezing weather to get any signal. If you want a convent or monastery stay, this may suit you, but the descriptions should be more down to earth.

The monastery rooms are basic, but they have real character. The setting itself is magnificent.

There’s a lot of life here, even though it feels calm and quiet. The staff are friendly, and the food is simple but delicious.