LaVue — Local services in Zermatt

We came to choose La Vue as an alternative to hotels in Zermatt as we were 3 couples interested in traveling together.||The self-appointed “Luxury living” has great reviews and a nice marketing (website) that looks attractive but leaves a lot of inconvenient FACTS aside…:||To start with: there are very limited views (“La vue” in French) from the building of the Matterhorn contrary to many pictures and most other hotels in Zermatt.||Secondly, the location is on the opposite side of town from all gondolas or lifts to the slopes: it is made worse by the fact that you have to climb a steep and long (400 yards) street, followed by a tunnel and 2 elevators before you can be back into your room: if you don’t mind the first time coming back from a long skiing day, it gets old after a few outings even to go for dinner down to the main street…Of course, that “detail” is not stated anywhere on the brochure or website and you have to be there to realize it.Lst but not least, the building is sitting above a major school with loud children and teens screaming at every break between classes...Worst if you are in a unit facing town...!!||Although the recently (2012) built building features simple but tasteful design and style as far as the 3 bedrooms apartment was concerned, the shared amenities (reception, Spa, lounge …) are quite limited and fall short of Luxury standards: the indoor Jacuzzi is small and serves as a pool (unlike the generous size real pools that other hotels that we got to visit (modern like the Omnia, Cervo, or older establishments like Mont Cervin Palace etc…).There is no gym or work out / biking machine and the Massage team and menu are quite limited and overpriced ( I actually went for a massage at the Mont Cervin Palace Spa with amenities that are of decent size with great, international team of trained masseuses and a dedicated Manager…||As far as Help/ Service is concerned, this “Luxury living” falls short again: front desk help has patchy hours ( when not smoking outside), most of the times nobody was there at standard hours and we had to deal with at least 6 different ( young/ inexperienced) agents over our 7 days stay…Except for Daniel, their English and knowledge was at best sketchy and their attitude not so great…If nobody is there, you then have to call the main hotel reception (Julen group) for remote (and delayed) assistance.||The “cinema” movie room was stacked with storage stuff that blocked a third of the room and we were told that they don’t offer any DVD movie library, you just have to bring your own content…||The only redeeming features at la Vue for us was a very abundant and quality breakfast served in room at the time of your choosing.||||When we went to the Omnia Hotel for a fine dinner, a few blocks away, we discovered an incredibly friendly and helpful reception staff even to outside guests, a great library/lounge bar/ area, an impressive pool and jacuzzi facing real Matterhorn views , and , of course, our dinner at their restaurant was incredible with great menus by a talented Chef and well trained, international caliber waiting staff.||The bottom line is that it really seems that beyond the great Design and architecture job invested in 10 years ago, the Julen group owners of this place have no idea what Luxury and Service mean and entail…Not surprisingly, In the one major Holyday week before Xmas that we stayed there, we didn’t even see ONCE a senior manager on duty supervising operations…(the one featured online was certainly too busy somewhere else…). It seems very much like that this place , initially funded by a local owner of several consumer businesses (budget hotels, Retail etc…) is treating this property like a cash machine without any real understanding of what international Luxury standards entails and without any professional , onsite overview from a real General manager who would keep an eye on everything and be dedicated to the delivery of quality of service and excellence: even in the many 5 stars hotels I had the opportunity to stay around the world, I always got , even during a short few days stay, to see or personally meet the General Manager who was actively supervising operations on the ground and available and eager to interact with guests for feedback and potential improvement…||In contrast, La Vue must think that they already offer you the infinite privilege of their real estate investment so they don’t feel any real obligation or commitment there to Hospitality or Service: just be aware of that FUNDAMENTAL FACT not featured on their website before you decide to spend like us more than $ 14 000 for a week compared to better, true Hospitality / hotel alternatives mentioned above that Zermatt has to offer to a...

We came to choose La Vue as an alternative to hotels in Zermatt as we were 3 couples interested in traveling together.||The self-appointed “Luxury living” has great reviews and a nice marketing (website) that looks attractive but leaves a lot of inconvenient FACTS aside…:||To start with: there are very limited views (“La vue” in French) from the building of the Matterhorn contrary to many pictures and most other hotels in Zermatt.||Secondly, the location is on the opposite side of town from all gondolas or lifts to the slopes: it is made worse by the fact that you have to climb a steep and long (400 yards) street, followed by a tunnel and 2 elevators before you can be back into your room: if you don’t mind the first time coming back from a long skiing day, it gets old after a few outings even to go for dinner down to the main street…Of course, that “detail” is not stated anywhere on the brochure or website and you have to be there to realize it.Lst but not least, the building is sitting above a major school with loud children and teens screaming at every break between classes...Worst if you are in a unit facing town...!!||Although the recently (2012) built building features simple but tasteful design and style as far as the 3 bedrooms apartment was concerned, the shared amenities (reception, Spa, lounge …) are quite limited and fall short of Luxury standards: the indoor Jacuzzi is small and serves as a pool (unlike the generous size real pools that other hotels that we got to visit (modern like the Omnia, Cervo, or older establishments like Mont Cervin Palace etc…).There is no gym or work out / biking machine and the Massage team and menu are quite limited and overpriced ( I actually went for a massage at the Mont Cervin Palace Spa with amenities that are of decent size with great, international team of trained masseuses and a dedicated Manager…||As far as Help/ Service is concerned, this “Luxury living” falls short again: front desk help has patchy hours ( when not smoking outside), most of the times nobody was there at standard hours and we had to deal with at least 6 different ( young/ inexperienced) agents over our 7 days stay…Except for Daniel, their English and knowledge was at best sketchy and their attitude not so great…If nobody is there, you then have to call the main hotel reception (Julen group) for remote (and delayed) assistance.||The “cinema” movie room was stacked with storage stuff that blocked a third of the room and we were told that they don’t offer any DVD movie library, you just have to bring your own content…||The only redeeming features at la Vue for us was a very abundant and quality breakfast served in room at the time of your choosing.||||When we went to the Omnia Hotel for a fine dinner, a few blocks away, we discovered an incredibly friendly and helpful reception staff even to outside guests, a great library/lounge bar/ area, an impressive pool and jacuzzi facing real Matterhorn views , and , of course, our dinner at their restaurant was incredible with great menus by a talented Chef and well trained, international caliber waiting staff.||The bottom line is that it really seems that beyond the great Design and architecture job invested in 10 years ago, the Julen group owners of this place have no idea what Luxury and Service mean and entail…Not surprisingly, In the one major Holyday week before Xmas that we stayed there, we didn’t even see ONCE a senior manager on duty supervising operations…(the one featured online was certainly too busy somewhere else…). It seems very much like that this place , initially funded by a local owner of several consumer businesses (budget hotels, Retail etc…) is treating this property like a cash machine without any real understanding of what international Luxury standards entails and without any professional , onsite overview from a real General manager who would keep an eye on everything and be dedicated to the delivery of quality of service and excellence: even in the many 5 stars hotels I had the opportunity to stay around the world, I always got , even during a short few days stay, to see or personally meet the General Manager who was actively supervising operations on the ground and available and eager to interact with guests for feedback and potential improvement…||In contrast, La Vue must think that they already offer you the infinite privilege of their real estate investment so they don’t feel any real obligation or commitment there to Hospitality or Service: just be aware of that FUNDAMENTAL FACT not featured on their website before you decide to spend like us more than $ 14 000 for a week compared to better, true Hospitality / hotel alternatives mentioned above that Zermatt has to offer to a...

Anyone who has been to Europe can tell you that the rooms are small and cramped, so when an American family of four with ski gear and clothes for weeks longer than needed in tow arrived in Zermatt after two train transfers, we were more than blown away by the size of our space. It was perfect for my wife, my two teenage daughters and myself. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths and a huge living area with kitchen was just what we needed.... .but that was not the best part.||The service was top notch. We had some reservations to change at the last minute in order to align with our jet lag was no problem. Changing reservations the following evening after skiing to go back to the original reservation was no problem.||Wine- delivered by the Concierge on request||beers- delivered by the Concierge on request||games- delivered by the concierge on request||breakfast table set in the morning upon wake up--- amazing!||There is a spa room with a huge hot tube, sauna, steam, showers and outdoor whirlpool. With only six apartments in the building, we rarely saw any other guest.||I heard great reviews about other hotels while we were there, but the food, the service and the accommodations could not have been any better.||Switzerland is stupid expensive so this is not a cheap treat, but how often do you go to Zermatt.||Great meal at Sharfestübe ( lamb and chateaubriand) and I recommend it highly. Decorated like an old Alpine lodge with great food, friendly service and amazing wine.||Milano for lunch was amazing... great pizza and...