Youth Hostel Zermatt

I was shocked when I saw the room. The beds were practically side by side, with almost no personal space. I was also the only woman in a room full of men, which made me feel extremely uncomfortable and uneasy. The accommodation was completely different from the photos and description. I had no choice but to stay because places in the area were so expensive. The location wasn’t convenient either. Walking uphill to get there was exhausting. This was a very disappointing and uncomfortable stay, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

At around 7:30 in the evening in Zermatt, the front desk guy said he couldn’t find my booking, then claimed he’d received an email saying the third party had cancelled it. My Agoda app showed the booking as confirmed and active, and I showed him, but he said he couldn’t help and that I’d need to make and pay for a new booking to stay that night. I stayed calm and asked for a printout saying I had cancelled, so I could take it up with Agoda later. I told them I’d go back to Zurich or Interlaken to stay with a friend rather than pay again, though I was bluffing. After that, when he saw he couldn’t do anything to me, he suddenly said my booking was showing as confirmed. Welcome. I’d ask everyone to avoid this place. There are better hostels in Zermatt.

The mountain views are beautiful, but getting to the hostel is a struggle. It sits on an extremely steep hill with lots of stairs that are very hard to manage with luggage, and there are no elevators for guests carrying a lot of bags. Staff were rude and unhelpful. A large school group was staying there and spent the evening screaming and kicking doors. When I told the staff, they said I’d have to deal with it myself and offered no further help. The room was typical for a hostel, with reasonably comfortable beds and enough space, but the bedside lights didn’t work and there were no privacy curtains. Wifi was extremely slow and only worked in some areas. I don’t usually leave reviews, but my experience here, especially with the staff, was so poor that I hope this stops others wasting their time with this company.

The building faces the Matterhorn, and you can enjoy the view from the breakfast area. If you’re lucky, your room may have a direct view too. The amenities are basic but work well, with what you need and nothing extra. It’s good value, especially with breakfast included, and there’s a buffet dinner option on site that’s handy after a long day out. Everything worked well for me. The one downside is that the building isn’t accessible for guests with physical disabilities. You don’t need a fancy hotel to get a Matterhorn view.