Fairmont Le Montreux Palace
#46
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Geneva, Dubai, Paris
Programs: Disillusioned Cent
Posts: 1,880
#47
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
300 CHF is a good price, I would pay for it if I can get a lake view. You must get a room with a lake view.
They generally upgrade from the standard mountain view to a Junior Lakeview suite with a suite certificate.
They generally upgrade from the standard mountain view to a Junior Lakeview suite with a suite certificate.
#48
Join Date: May 2002
Location: West Coast
Programs: AA, WN, Hyatt, Club Carlson, HHonors, MRewards, CET, M Life
Posts: 1,959
Stayed two weeknights here as a short stop from Zermatt to Paris.
The hotel is conveniently accessible and only a few minutes walk from the train station. We had a junior suite and was upgraded to the Signature suite, which was luxurious with an amazing view:
Received a welcoming letter with a box of delicious Swiss chocolates, and fruits replaced daily:
Nice big bedroom, although I found the European bed a bit hard for my preference:
Two bathrooms with Molton Brown toiletries.
We were woken up to construction noises and inquired about it. Turned out they were building a restaurant. The noises stopped and never heard from again for the rest of our stay.
The free Riviera Card was very useful and we had half priced train tickets to Broc for the chocolate factory tour, which on the return we stopped at Gruyeres. Also easy access to bus 201 that stopped right in front of the hotel, which went to the Chillon Castle in one direction and Vevey in the other. The card was also good for free furnicular rides in Vevey.
We were surprised with a pretty tray of Swiss cheeses and meats the second day, for the construction noises.
The breakfast buffet (40eur) had a big selection with an omelette station, with very attentive staff members.
The jazz cafe had live music playing. The shrimp curry was tasty. Service was a toss up - it was really nice in the evening, but during the day we had a very surly older waitress.
All in all it was a great stay at one of the prettiest places I've ever been to.
The hotel is conveniently accessible and only a few minutes walk from the train station. We had a junior suite and was upgraded to the Signature suite, which was luxurious with an amazing view:
Received a welcoming letter with a box of delicious Swiss chocolates, and fruits replaced daily:
Nice big bedroom, although I found the European bed a bit hard for my preference:
Two bathrooms with Molton Brown toiletries.
We were woken up to construction noises and inquired about it. Turned out they were building a restaurant. The noises stopped and never heard from again for the rest of our stay.
The free Riviera Card was very useful and we had half priced train tickets to Broc for the chocolate factory tour, which on the return we stopped at Gruyeres. Also easy access to bus 201 that stopped right in front of the hotel, which went to the Chillon Castle in one direction and Vevey in the other. The card was also good for free furnicular rides in Vevey.
We were surprised with a pretty tray of Swiss cheeses and meats the second day, for the construction noises.
The breakfast buffet (40eur) had a big selection with an omelette station, with very attentive staff members.
The jazz cafe had live music playing. The shrimp curry was tasty. Service was a toss up - it was really nice in the evening, but during the day we had a very surly older waitress.
All in all it was a great stay at one of the prettiest places I've ever been to.
#49
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
Has this hotel disappeared from virtuoso and amex FHR? I found a decent rate for a stay next sept: 359 CHF. Would have been great to get some more benefits out of it. Any suggestions?
#50
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
The hotel has never been part of FHR or Virtuoso (AFAIK). But it is part of the Visa luxury collection if you have one (which means free breakfast, maybe an upgrade and a 25$ or CHF credit).
#51
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
#52
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Quebec and Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*E50, SPG/Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,917
#53
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,732
And it's a very, very good buffet breakfast. I think the regular price for that breakfast is about 60 CHF each. Had it not been included in my rate, I'm not sure I would have shelled out 120 CHF each day just for breakfast, but we certainly enjoyed it. After a while, I started to get used to the fact that everything is just expensive there.
#54
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: whatever comes with CCs
Posts: 1,082
That sounds great. I booked 2 nigths with visa signature for 359 CHF each. When my new certs arrive in feb, I'll add the 3rd night free and the use a suite upgraded. I will also get a free night cert from credit card in May so I blocked a base level room for a day after that. A 4 night stay would be good as I hate to change hotels frequently.
#56
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,732
Apart from some appetizers and desserts on La Terasse du Petit Palais one evening, we mostly ate away from the hotel during our time in Montreux (other than the included breakfast each day). There are a lot of great food options around. Some days, we ended up just buying sandwiches from the Coop supermarket and making a picnic by the water.
Enjoy your time there. Montreux is a very beautiful town, set in beautiful area with many things to see and do in the area, and Le Montreux Palace is a wonderful hotel.
#57
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
Booked to Switzerland and going to use my 4 free nights here. Rep let me book 4 nights on a Fairmont room. Wife and I used two suite upgrade certs and they told me I could call and apply the other two free nights after July 1. Will be getting GREAT value. Junior Lake View Suite is 750 CHF, which is a value of $4000 CAD of value for 4 nights. Going out of FPC with a bang.
Last edited by CanuckFlyHigh; Apr 22, 2018 at 12:19 pm
#58
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: Accor ALL Diamond, AC Aeroplan 25K, Nexus/GE
Posts: 2,732
Booked to Switzerland and going to use my 4 free nights here. Rep let me book 4 nights on a Fairmont room. Wife and I used two suite upgrade certs and they told me I could call and apply the other two free nights after July 1. Will be getting GREAT value. Junior Lake View Suite is 750 CHF, which is a value of $4000 CAD of value for 4 nights. Going out of FPC with a bang.
#59
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
whoops. Typo. We used 2 free nights. 1 SU cert.
#60
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Canada
Programs: A3*G, Fairmont Pl, Accor Pl, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Amex Platinum
Posts: 182
Stayed here earlier this year for my Birthday - Stayed 3 nights and used a suite upgrade certificate. Hotel was most beautiful Fairmont we ever stayed at. Suite Upgrade was best use of a suite upgrade ever and the service level was over the top. It was Mid-March - so the hotel was pretty empty - which made it nicer for us I think.
I used the Aeroplan Diamond rate to get the free breakfast. Best breakfast we ever had - highly recommend any rate that includes breakfast. Because it is really expensive. We used our "authentic local dining" experience here - which was basically a free dinner for two (all in - including a couple glasses of wine) at the Bistro. Best value we ever got out of the certificates because of the cost of food in Montreaux in general. It was a great meal too. Amount was charged to our room and then taken off by the front desk at check-out.
Our favorite Fairmont ever and our favorite use of suite upgrade and 'local authentic dining' experience certficates. Going to try to get back before the certs are gone forever.
I used the Aeroplan Diamond rate to get the free breakfast. Best breakfast we ever had - highly recommend any rate that includes breakfast. Because it is really expensive. We used our "authentic local dining" experience here - which was basically a free dinner for two (all in - including a couple glasses of wine) at the Bistro. Best value we ever got out of the certificates because of the cost of food in Montreaux in general. It was a great meal too. Amount was charged to our room and then taken off by the front desk at check-out.
Our favorite Fairmont ever and our favorite use of suite upgrade and 'local authentic dining' experience certficates. Going to try to get back before the certs are gone forever.