Europe - Zermatt 5-star (or 4-star) hotel recommendations

Hello,

(N.B. Did a search and found threads e.g. this one (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=347014&highlight=zermatt+hotels) but looking for more recent and specific info if possible.)

I looked on the Zermatt web site (http://www.zermatt.ch) and it lists three 5-star hotels:

o Riffelalp: http://www.zermatt.ch/e/hotels/list/riffelalp.html
o Grand Hotel Zermatterhof: http://www.zermatt.ch/e/hotels/list/zermatterhof.html
o Mont Cervin Palace: http://www.zermatt.ch/e/hotels/list/montcervin.html

All look gorgeous. We've stayed in the Victoria Jungfrau in Interlaken and the Waldhaus in Sils (near St. Moritz) and liked them both.

This is sort of a 'last hurrah' (in a good way) -- a special trip -- so we're looking for the best of the best. Any recommendations among these three? Or others nearby?

We like to hike (not technical climbing) quite a bit and especially enjoy using public transport (bus, train, cableway) as part of our all-day excursions. We will arrive in Zermatt by train from ZRH. We also love spa facilities e.g. the huge outdoor salt water jacuzzi at the Victoria Jungfrau (which you should really visit if you ever have the chance!!).

We're going in Mid June, probably for a week or so.

Thanks in advance!

-C

At the top of the Gornergrat there is a hotel.......the 3100 Kulmhotel Gornergrat.

Probably not the most luxurious hotel in Zermatt (3 stars). But when we visited I had to wonder how awesome it would be to stay at a nice hotel at 10,000+ feet. Once all the day trippers leave and the sun goes down you have the mountain peak to yourself. I'm sure the star gazing is unreal.

I think its one of the most unique lodging experiences you can have in Zermatt.

http://www.matterhorn-group.ch/en/gornergrat/index.php

Thanks NorcrossFlyer for the tip! Looks like the Zermatterhof is closed when we're planning to be there (closed from mid April to mid June).

-C

You have certainly chosen a great place to go on holiday. There is really no where quite like Zermatt IMHO.

I have never stayed at the Rifflealp, although I have eaten there (it was very good). It is probably worth bearing in mind that the Rifflealp is not in the main Village, it is about a 20 minute train ride (might be a little longer) up out of the town on the Gornegrat cog railway. This makes the hotel rather romantic and it is certainly in a beautiful spot but it does make it a bit of a faff if you want to wander around town. This would be important for me because I think the town is one of the best bits of Zermatt.

The Mont Cervin is spectacular, but very old fashioned. You should get very good service there and top notch food but it is a bit formal for me.

One of the best hotels I have ever stayed at in terms of service/friendlyness and with good food is the Hotel Alex, be warned however the decor is fairly disasterous (very kitch).

I am not sure if you are fixed in flying into ZRH but GVA is slightly closer and is also easy to get to on the train. The journey gives you fantastic views accross Lake Geneva to the French Alps.
I hope you have a wonderful time.:)

Thanks Nylon for the info and tips! I sort of like the idea of being outside town and up a bit, altitude-wise.

I am not sure if you are fixed in flying into ZRH but GVA is slightly closer and is also easy to get to on the train. The journey gives you fantastic views accross Lake Geneva to the French Alps.
I hope you have a wonderful time.:)

As a UA person based in IAD, the IAD-ZRH direct flight is just too easy to pass up (particularly with two F award seats available when we wanted to go!!). I realize it's a 5-hour train ride to Zermatt, but then, I like Swiss trains!

-C

If you want to be on the outskirts of town take a look at the 4-star Hotel Berghoff, which is right next to the lift station.