Minotel Bellevue

Wengen’s little details made me smile: the marble race sculptures, putt putt course, cute shops and restaurants. On a Saturday in September, I even saw the cows come through town from the pasture. It’s a great starting point for Männlichen, and the train down to Lauterbrunnen is scenic. Without a Swiss Pass, the round trip costs about $15. There are two walking routes down; I picked the steeper one and it was tough on my knees and ankles. It took almost two hours instead of one, though I stopped a lot for photos and videos. I spent three days at Hotel Bellevue, booked through Airbnb, in the smallest room since I was travelling alone. It suited my minimalist needs, with a huge armoire for storage. The shared bathroom and shower down the hall were clean and never too busy. I would have liked a fan, since I could only open the window a crack. The hotel has a small yellow shuttle from the station, but I found the walk short and pleasant. It’s quiet there and the view is wonderful. Breakfast wasn’t included, but I ate there both mornings. The buffet had boiled eggs, fruit, cereal, great cheese and meats, bread, coffee and a nice juice selection. At $15, I thought it was fair.

We loved Switzerland, but left very disappointed with this hotel. We often felt unwelcome, as if we were a bother. Judith’s manner could be off-putting, which was especially disappointing after the reviews we’d read. After check-out I asked for a ride to the train stations. Judith didn’t seem pleased, and when I struggled to understand her accent, she became irritated and raised her voice. When we were pickpocketed during our journey, Judith showed little sympathy and only said, “it happens.” A local told us the hotel should have helped us report it so other tourists would not be targeted. That lack of support concerned us. The romantic suite was spacious, but the shower had a sloping ceiling that made it impossible for either of us to stand upright. It might work if you’re under 4 feet or prefer baths. We wish we’d been told before booking. There was no air conditioning, which made things uncomfortable, though opening the windows helped. Breakfast was included, but we were first seated farthest from the windows despite having booked the most expensive room. I asked for a better table, and the next morning we were moved just one table over, still far from the windows and beside another guest. It felt worse than before.

Our balcony and the terrace both had stunning views. Judy and the staff were accommodating when my joints needed a softer setup, and gave me another duvet to sleep on. My UK husband likes a very firm mattress, so the beds suited him perfectly. I appreciated having a hairdryer available, too. This feels more like a top-notch B&B than a hotel, with a homelike atmosphere and a traditional Swiss feel. It’s peaceful and away from downtown bustle. The food was excellent: breakfast had everything we wanted, including table service for tea and coffee, and both dinners we ate there were outstanding.

The location and views were outstanding, and the food was excellent. The hotel was clean, but our room was quite small. The owner or manager seemed lovely at first, yet in almost every interaction we felt talked down to, with condescending remarks and eye rolls. The rules felt very strict. Dinner had to start between 7 and 7:15pm, and we had to argue to begin at 8pm, which felt unheard of for Europe. Service was below average: we asked several times for tea at breakfast, and another guest had the same problem. The worst part was the privacy issue. We put up a do not disturb sign while we were out, but staff entered our room after we asked for fresh towels. The manager said there was no other way to give us towels and that they enter rooms from time to time for safety reasons. It felt like a blatant breach of privacy, especially given how strict the rules were for guests. We wouldn’t stay again. For us, the view was 5/5 from the right room, the food 5/5, and friendliness 0/5.