Gasthaus Alpina — Restaurant in Tschappina

I’ve lived in four different countries, traveled the world, never write bad reviews, but encountered the most hostile welcome at Gasthaus Alpina a couple of days ago.||While driving with my family and our tiny toy poodle from Italy to Switzerland, I searched for an overnight stay. ||Using booking.com, I happily came across Gasthaus Alpina. For being a two-star Hotel, it looked nice, had good reviews, and was reasonably priced. The location is off the beaten track, the surrounding looked green, and I even read something about their farm animals.||The choices left on the booking site were 2 twin rooms and a 1 single room with the possibility of 1 or 2 beds for the same cost. As foreign travelers might know, Switzerland is incredible expensive, and to save a bit of cost, we decided for 1 twin room and 1 single room with two beds for the kids. I booked and paid the non-refundable fee, including adding half board. ||Soon enough, I get a message if there are now 1 or 2 people staying in a single room? I wrote back that we opted for the single room with two beds for our girls. I got a reply that I would be charged the fee of a twin room because two people were staying in a single room. I wrote back, saying that I was under the impression that the fee was for the room; otherwise, I would have booked another twin room. I also inquired if the half board request came through. The phone rang while we were driving in the car, and the owner called to disputed the room fee in a rather unfriendly way. I went on to explain booking.com’s option and was told that this was a mistake. So, OK, I agreed to pay the higher fee for two beds in the single room, because the 2nd twin room was in the meantime rented.||After an 8-hour car ride, we arrived at 7 pm tired, hungry, and very much looking forward to relaxing and to enjoy an outdoor dinner overlooking the beautiful landscape.||Ready to check-in, one of the owners came running outside to tell us that we could not stay at their place, pointing at our toy poodle. Ooops, I forgot to check the small print and assumed that bringing our toy poodle would be no problem. Maybe because the place was advertised with farm animals, or because over the past two weeks, we stayed at numerous places were our tiny dog was always welcome. |I clearly made a mistake and apologized, saying that I forgot to check the fine print and that I was very sorry, and if an exception could be made. The answer was a firm ”NO”! Trying to find a solution, I offered that the dog could sleep in the car and was immediately accused that if ”I would smuggle the dog into the room, I would be given a ticket of CHF 5’000.” Also, ”that the house has little isolation and everything can be heard”! Not sure why, but I was also asked why I booked not directly with Gasthaus Alpina, and they ”had to pay all these fees to booking.com.” I was able to find Gasthaus Alpina because of booking.com, and it seems fair that they get paid for their service. ||After that incredibly rude accusation, I was ready to leave and pack up my tired family and search for a new place. I apologized again and asked for a reimbursement. ”NO,” I will not get my money back and that ”they were under no obligation” to reimburse me. I was stunned! Walking out the door, I said that I would then leave an appropriate review, and the male owner screamed after me I would have ”his lawyer on my neck”!||I respect the Hotel’s rule of dogs only allowed in the restaurant, but not in the sleeping rooms. But I was stunned by the inflexibility, the accusations, the rudeness and inability to help solve the issue.|I’ve genuinely never experienced a more rude and hostile Hotel encounter in any of the countries I have traveled over the...

I’ve lived in four different countries, traveled the world, never write bad reviews, but encountered the most hostile welcome at Gasthaus Alpina a couple of days ago.

While driving with my family and our tiny toy poodle from Italy to Switzerland, I searched for an overnight stay.

Using booking.com, I happily came across Gasthaus Alpina. For being a two-star Hotel, it looked nice, had good reviews, and was reasonably priced. The location is off the beaten track, the surrounding looked green, and I even read something about their farm animals.

The choices left on the booking site were 2 twin rooms and a 1 single room with the possibility of 1 or 2 beds for the same cost. As foreign travelers might know, Switzerland is incredible expensive, and to save a bit of cost, we decided for 1 twin room and 1 single room with two beds for the kids. I booked and paid the non-refundable fee, including adding half board.

Soon enough, I get a message if there are now 1 or 2 people staying in a single room? I wrote back that we opted for the single room with two beds for our girls. I got a reply that I would be charged the fee of a twin room because two people were staying in a single room. I wrote back, saying that I was under the impression that the fee was for the room; otherwise, I would have booked another twin room. I also inquired if the half board request came through. The phone rang while we were driving in the car, and the owner called to disputed the room fee in a rather unfriendly way. I went on to explain booking.com’s option and was told that this was a mistake. So, OK, I agreed to pay the higher fee for two beds in the single room, because the 2nd twin room was in the meantime rented.

After an 8-hour car ride, we arrived at 7 pm tired, hungry, and very much looking forward to relaxing and to enjoy an outdoor dinner overlooking the beautiful landscape.

Ready to check-in, one of the owners came running outside to tell us that we could not stay at their place, pointing at our toy poodle. Ooops, I forgot to check the small print and assumed that bringing our toy poodle would be no problem. Maybe because the place was advertised with farm animals, or because over the past two weeks, we stayed at numerous places were our tiny dog was always welcome. I clearly made a mistake and apologized, saying that I forgot to check the fine print and that I was very sorry, and if an exception could be made. The answer was a firm ”NO”! Trying to find a solution, I offered that the dog could sleep in the car and was immediately accused that if ”I would smuggle the dog into the room, I would be given a ticket of CHF 5’000.” Also, ”that the house has little isolation and everything can be heard”! Not sure why, but I was also asked why I booked not directly with Gasthaus Alpina, and they ”had to pay all these fees to booking.com.” I was able to find Gasthaus Alpina because of booking.com, and it seems fair that they get paid for their service.

After that incredibly rude accusation, I was ready to leave and pack up my tired family and search for a new place. I apologized again and asked for a reimbursement. ”NO,” I will not get my money back and that ”they were under no obligation” to reimburse me. I was stunned! Walking out the door, I said that I would then leave an appropriate review, and the male owner screamed after me I would have ”his lawyer on my neck”!

I respect the Hotel’s rule of dogs only allowed in the restaurant, but not in the sleeping rooms. But I was stunned by the inflexibility, the accusations, the rudeness and inability to help solve the issue. I’ve genuinely never experienced a more rude and hostile Hotel encounter in any of the countries I have traveled over the...

We stayed at this country hotel some five years ago with NZ friends and decided to come back with another couple of friends because we had enjoyed our first stay so much. ||Sandra and Roli are the perfect hosts for this cosy chalet sitting in a superb location to appreciate the rich scenery in the mountainous Graubuenden. They have the ideal mix of being willing and friendly hosts but leaving guests space to have their own fun and discussions. Sandra's sunny and entertaining nature is a real asset for this business - and the two of them work so well together as a team. ||Piz Beverin towers grandly on one side and the views into the Hinterrhein valley and adjacent mountain ranges are to die for on sunny days (and yes we struck it lucky). ||Tourism is not a big feature in the mid season (September) and we enjoyed just being part of the rural landscape and being able to explore the closer vicinity of the Alpina. ||The food (dinner and breakfast) is generous and yummy and the wine was outstanding. We can in particular recommend the Fondue (a very large portion at a very reasonable price). Wine and grappa and a delicious dessert rounded of our second dinner - indeed a night to remember. ||The premises are spotlessly clean and the Jufers have put their own quirky identity into many details, be it in the dining room, bathrooms or guest rooms. To keep standards high, the hosts insist that no outside shoes are worn inside the guesthouse and provide house shoes for those who don't bring their own. Rooms and beds are comfortable and modern and can be heated to individually selected...