Villa Albatros

We spent eight nights at Hotel Albatros and felt like Kings and Queens. The rooms were gorgeous and spotless, and we stayed in three different ones. Staff were incredibly kind and attentive. Breakfast had a fabulous selection, and we loved the fireplace, spa, comfortable beds, and balconies with Matterhorn views. The location was perfect and quiet. Thank you Mdm Grand, Juliette, Aline, the two ladies who cleaned our rooms, and our breakfast server, whose lovely smile greeted us every morning. You’re all amazing.

The room was comfy, with a Matterhorn view right from the balcony. Reception is open only from 8am to 9pm. The two hotel concierges were friendly and gave good food recommendations. It’s a brisk 10-minute walk to the train station, or you can arrange the hotel shuttle for 20Franc/trip.

My friend and I booked the Matterhorn-view option and got to watch the sun set and rise against the mountain. There’s a balcony wrapping around each level, so you can sit outside and take in the view. The hotel is less central than some in Zermatt, but the small town is very walkable, and we slept well there. Zermatt has no cars, though plenty of electric taxis are available. Breakfast had a good spread of juices, cereals, breads, some hot food such as bacon and scrambled eggs, plus cold cuts and cheeses. The spa needs to be booked an hour ahead, and the cleaning staff were lovely. The shuttle arrangements could have been explained better. We were told the day before arrival to call reception when our train got in, but neither of us had call minutes on our temporary Switzerland SIM. Only on our last day did we learn there’s a phone at the train station for hotel pickup calls. When we checked out with another couple, reception didn’t ask if we wanted a lift, even though we were heading to the station. We saw the shuttle pass with that couple inside and plenty of room for us too. We were surprised nobody mentioned the ride, though the town is small and luggage-friendly, so it wasn’t a big deal.

We really enjoyed our four nights in Zermatt. The atmosphere felt comfortable from the lobby through to the rooms, and the beds were very inviting. Thomas was a great help, with lots of good ideas for things to do and places to eat. We met the owner on our last morning and could tell how proud she was of her hotel. We’d stay here again.