A1 Grauholz Hotel — Hotel in Ittigen

Chose this hotel as a base for 5 nights to explore the area and wanted a reasonably priced hotel with parking and air-conditioning and this was the hotel that met that criteria.||The hotel is situated just off the motorway and the only way I found to get to the hotel was by taking the motorway which while not a toll road does require your car having a Swiss motorway vignette which costs CHF40, my GPS did show a back road to the hotel but when I took it one day when trying to get back to the hotel it just ended at a locked gate.||The check in was friendly and easy and my room 317 was a good size but very basic and overlooked a rather neglected courtyard but beyond the courtyard were some lovely distant views.||The room was air-conditioned which was much appreciated during the heatwave they were having in July 2022. The room had a couple of problems one was the TV which wouldn’t turn off a few times and the only way to turn it off was to unplug it but the plug was under the desk and required getting down on your hands and knees to unplug it. The hotel was able to give me a power board so I didn’t have to go under the desk to turn it off which while not an ideal solution did solve the problem during my five night stay.||While it was a double room it was actually two single beds next to each other but as I was travelling alone and booked a single room only one of the beds was made up|There was a big luggage rack and small closet with some shelves and a safe at a decent height and a big bench for a desk with a chair and another easy chair in the corner.|The room was a disabled room and the bathroom just has a shower corner with a curtain and a fold down seat. ||A nice touch at the hotel from what I could gather was that any muffins and the like left over from the breakfast service were laid out on a table for guests to have later in the day and while there was no fridge in the room I was able to get some ice from the front desk each night.||Apart from a restaurant and petrol station at the entrance to the hotel there is nothing within walking distance so a car is a must if staying here but it met my needs as an economical hotel, for Switzerland for me to tour the area. There was plenty of free parking and while the hotel is situated in a motorway rest area it is up a bit of a hill from the petrol station so it didn’t cause any problems.||Can’t say enough nice things about the staff who were always friendly and helpful...

Review based on a two night leisure stay.|Bern is not a car friendly city, which is fine and understandable, but this poses a fundamental problem for those who have to travel here by car. Also, hotels linked to motorway service areas are typically a “distress purchase” and to be endured not enjoyed.|I have to say Hotel Grauholz breaks the rules. Yes it is on the A1 just north of the city, and yes it is adjacent to the petrol station and truck parking, but it is situated above them, and even rewards with views of the Eiger and Jungfrau in the distance!|Check in was quick and efficient, everyone is friendly and helpful.|The room was spacious and spotless. No coffee/tea making equipment-instead complimentary beverages, fruit and nibbles in reception between 12pm and 5am. Breakfast was fine. The restaurant on the western side was OK, 20% discount for hotel guests helps with the bill. Complimentary bike hire, did not try it.|I cannot think of a downside. public transport is not really feasible but you are where you are. The alternative is to stay somewhere in the centre and then spend a fortune on parking, if you can get it. Neufeld park and ride is an easy 10 minute drive. I know our choice worked....

Stay away from this place. The details sound good, but quite misleading. They claim to have 24 hour reception, refreshments for guests, and other amenities. We checked in at 11:00 pm, and previous guests had polished off the refreshments already. Understandable I suppose, but the next day when we checked out and asked for some water we were told to pay for it. The man on duty was very rude. Quite a shock, and very unlike the excellent customer service you'll find at other hotels in Switzerland.

Its also far away from the city center, and you won't get the free city transportation pass that other hotels provide. Better off going for one of the similarly priced hotels in Bern proper. We also specifically paid extra for a room listed as having three beds, and has the nice surprise at check-in of being told that it was a two room bed (our receipt clearly shows we paid more for the three bed room). They changed that when I complained, but it was another unpleasant bait and switch that is really different from the nice time we had everywhere else on our stay in...