Hotel Schweizerhof Sils Maria, a Faern Collection Hotel

The best part was the location in Sils, which is ideal for a weekend of walks nearby. Otherwise, the stay was mediocre. Our room was dirty and unbearably hot when we arrived, and the bathroom had only an open shower with a curtain, so water inevitably went everywhere. The à la carte restaurant was very expensive for the quality. Some staff were nice, but others weren’t welcoming, and they forgot to note our restaurant reservation during our stay.

The breakfast buffet was huge, with pretty much everything: eggs and sausages, local cheeses, coffee and espresso machines, tea, cocoa, juice, fruit salad, muesli, yogurt, breads, croissants, and jams. You could go back as many times as you wanted, and the kids seemed to love that. We also got Engadine Cards for booking early and paying ahead, which cover regional trains, buses, and cable lifts. That saved us money, and we used ours to take the Postauto to Chiavenna. The service turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Everyone we dealt with, from reception to the breakfast room staff, was friendly, helpful, and competent, despite my worries from other reviews. This feels like a family hotel, but we were comfortable as a couple. Apart from the occasional little feet overhead in our third-floor room, we didn’t notice much noise from children. For me, whether I’d stay again says a lot, and we would. The Schweizerhof in Sils Maria has plenty going for it: the price is fair, the location and service are excellent, breakfast is generous, and there are two small pools and a terrace to relax on. It’s right by the hiking trails to the Fex Valley, just below the classy Waldhaus Hotel, where you can go for a cocktail and music, and near the horse-drawn carriage staging area and local restaurants. Even so, it’s very quiet. I’d say it’s the best spot in Sils Maria. The hotel is a little worn around the edges and dated. The basement games area, library, pool, and terrace could especially use renovation. Our room was simple, functional, clean, and gently renovated. The balcony view was lovely, though the balcony itself wasn’t in the best repair. The bed was a bit firm for me, but not too bad. The shower had good pressure, and bathrobes were available for the pool, whirlpool, or sauna. There was also an in-room safe.

We’d been having a good stay until an incident in the pool raised a safety concern. An adult was throwing a small rugby ball very hard and fast back and forth with another person, taking over the pool. Families with children like ours and elderly guests had to leave because it didn’t feel safe. Hotel employees were there and saw it, but didn’t step in. The next day, I asked to speak with management. Reception first tried to brush me off so I wouldn’t speak to them directly, but I insisted and someone from management came out. When I described what had happened, he responded in a very unprofessional, attack-as-defense way and didn’t comment on the incident itself. I wasn’t angry or criticizing the hotel. I was simply letting them know, in case they wanted to update their policies or better prepare their kind staff for situations like this. The response was disappointing and very tone-deaf about customer service and social manners today. If you’re visiting with kids, be aware that the pool may not be a safe environment. And if something needs sorting out, I got the impression top management would rather be right than actually resolve it.

The rooms were small but clean and practical, and the beds were very cozy. We also enjoyed the spa, especially the pleasantly warm indoor water. Dinner was delicious every day, and the staff were very polite. We had a wonderful week in Sils Maria. The fantastic Silsersee is just around the corner, and public transport, which was included with our stay, made it easy to explore Engadin. Thank you!