Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel Grindelwald — Hotel in Grindelwald

Apologies for the long post. Spent the first part of our honeymoon in Grindelwald and stayed here at Hotel Belvedere. Loved it for so many reasons especially the obvious … the gorgeous views of the mountains. So many great things to say about hotel and staff. First you are close to the train without feeling the noise and impact of the crowds but enjoying the beauty of the train! Secret tip for those who don’t want to make the rookie mistake that we did. Walk across to the other side of the train station to get to the hotel. That way you aren’t going up the steep driveway at the bottom to get to the entrance. Our room was beautifully decorated with a rose petal heart, a sweet chocolate treat and a handwritten congratulations greeting! Loved that personal touch to the welcome message. The night before we received yet another personalized message, a small token of thanks by the way of jarred honeycomb and hoping to see us back soon for another stay. We loved the space, our view and wished I took advantage of the pillow options offered from the tablet. I would used a different pillow or two during our stay. I was very excited about the separate comforters … it’s not common in the US. This solves the blanket issue for those like to have all of the blankie! The bathroom is situated with a large sink with plenty of space and a makeup mirror for those who need one. Large soak in tub, separate waterfall shower and a private toilette. There’s a glow light beneath it that neither my husband or I could figure out what the different light colors meant (if anything). I just thought it was great that we didn’t need to turn the light on for those middle of the night visits. The robes and slippers were also a very nice touch and they were very comfortable. I’m sooo very glad that we had the package that included a daily breakfast as we had been busy each day with getting to most of the Jungfrau sites. We needed that to get our day started. The breakfast offerings were great and I just wished we had asked for a banana as a takeaway to go with us. Only saw bananas once during our stay. But hey I loved my daily mimosa and cappuccino! Their cappuccino maker is awesome and with the ability for me to top it off with a sprinkle of cocoa powder was brilliant. We both hated leaving our room at Hotel Belvedere and missed it as soon as we left! Til next time and yes we already agreed that there will be a next time! Thank you for making honeymoon...

This so-called "4 star hotel" is over-rated, never live up to the standard of those like Hyatt, Intercontinental. Let me start with the check-in process. We arrived from east coast of US and told the hotel before arrival that we have jet lag and hope we can early check in. Upon checking in, we're told room will be available at 3pm. And we noticed a couple other families with young kids were also told the same. And all guests were gathered around a small lobby and outdoor terrace (it's around 90 degree!)

It's late summer and early of week, the slow season in Grindelwald. I can't think of any reason why the hotel held on check-in except it's under-staff, because exactly at 3pm, all the waiting guests in the lobby get keys at the same time. I had been waiting there since the morning and never saw a single guest check-out!

What is obligated me to write this review is the unimaginable horrible experience happened at the 2nd night of our stay. I booked 3 nigh stay and was upgraded for first 2 nights, and was told the 3rd night was not available. On the 2nd night, I went to the hotel lobby and talked to a guy on duty, his name is Alex* B*, to see if I can stay on the same room and pay the upgrade for the 3rd night. His answer is "NO" and I had to check out at 11am, got the luggage ready, and check-in at another room at 3pm. I told him, due to jet lag, I need to go out early for sightseeing and return to hotel around noon time to rest.

The hotel staff Alex* B* insisted that I have to follow their "house rule", no negotiation over checkout 11am and check in 3pm for the third night. I tried to explain to him that I book 3 nights in a row, if under the hotel's rule, the hotel literally "put me on the street" for at least 4 hours with nowhere to stay! At this point, this gentlemen got annoyed and became very aggressive, warning my wife and I that we're there giving him the hard time, and if we're talking to the owner of the hotel, the owner would insist the same rule.

I could never imagine a hotel staff (not sure if he is staff, or probably related to the owners), on duty at a so-called 4-star hotel's front desk, can be so rude and so confrontational toward a guest's reasonable request.

In concern of our personal safety, we check-out for next morning and stayed at...

My boyfriend and I suffered the worst case of food poisoning imaginable after eating at their restaurant. It felt as though we were knocking on death's door, vomiting incessantly until our bodies were completely emptied. The toilet became our agonizing refusal as we took turns in a never-ending cycle throught to night. We had our meal between 7:30 and 9:30 PM, with striking symptoms around midnight. With the reception closed overnight, we helplessly waited until 7 AM to request medication, only to be informed that we'd have to wait yet again for the pharmacy to open at 10 AM. When they finally got back to us at 10:30 AM, we learned the pharmacy was closed because it was Sunday -I piece of information that could have been shared earlier.

Frustrated, I asked about the possibility of calling a doctor—a service they had mentioned—only to be met with an indifferent response and no further details. Upon inquiring about the cost—well aware that everything in Switzerland has a hefty price tag—we were shocked to hear it was only a phone consultation. We couldn't believe that all they offered was a phone call with no medication, rendering the help practically useless.

The hotel's insensitivity peaked when they called us only half hour later, only to remind us the checkout time while we were still reeling from their food. With a flight scheduled for 6 PM and the need to catch a train by 2 PM at the latest (though we doubted we could even leave the bathroom), they had the audacity to demand an extra payment for prolonged use of our only refugee: their room (more accurately their toilet). This was after their meal had left us bedridden and in agony.

We firmly refused any additional payments. They should be grateful we hadn't involved the police—a step we might have taken if we weren't so preoccupied with our own survival and desperate need for medicine. They promised to call back within minutes but never did—a testament to their appalling customer service.

I implore you, think twice before considering this hotel with its dubious hygiene practices; After all, cleaning here seems solely to consist of bed-making. And if the potential for severe food poisoning isn't enough to deter you, perhaps the giant spider on the balcony will seal...