Switzerland Luxury Hotels
Jul 20, 2018, 2:03 am
#152
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
As for the service, excluding the reception and check-in, it was just what I'd call fine. Nothing to complain about, nothing to praise. Food was very good though. All pictures of the spa were at 6am, an hour before they open, in case anyone gets excited about it being that empty - it was definitely not.
Jul 21, 2018, 2:38 am
#154
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Virtuoso | Four Seasons Preferred Partner | Rosewood Elite | Hyatt Prive - and more
Posts: 2,096
I like that the 'head' of the bath is at the right side of the photo - now you too can watch your significant other excrete while you relax in a bath.
Jul 21, 2018, 4:12 am
#155
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Even better, it's opposite the shower too - which has exactly the same door. Stand there, show your glory and stare directly into each others eyes whilst Barry White plays.
Jul 21, 2018, 4:17 am
#156
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
Next-up: Baur au Lac, where we stayed in a Junior Suite
A perfectly decent city hotel and nothing more. Were it between The Dolder Grand or Baur au Lac will entirely depend if you want to be in town or not and how important a spa is to you. The location is perfect, with everything within walking distance, but I would still pick The Dolder Grand due to the views and pleasant walks through the woods. The one area I really appreciated was Baur's 8 year room refresh policy, whereby every 8 years every room is refreshed, but do it in small chunks of around 15 rooms per year. This gave a unique opportunity to choose the room you want, based on the year it was made, so I felt a hint of sophistication in my life whilst requesting the classic 2014 vintage.
There is a garden, but do not go thinking it's Four Seasons Florence, The Goring or Hotel de Russie, as it's right next to a main road and it's more for show than practical use. Service was fine, food is what I consider standard Swiss prices and standard Swiss luxury hotel quality (i.e. very expensive and not great), but concierge recommended some very good restaurants nearby. We also decided to return to The Restaurant at The Dolder Grand for lunch one day, which sadly only offered 5 course tasting menu rather than their signature 10, as apparently business people only have 2 hours spare for lunch in Zurich, not 3. Tempting to move here with business lunches of this quality and length. It was not as good as last time, but it is still amongst my favourite restaurants in the world. The generosity is also very clear, with an overload of canapés, amuse-bouches and after dinner snacks. We walked back to Baur au Lac afterwards, which took around 45 minutes and gave me my de-facto sunburn of the holiday.
The only major issue was noise. On the first night a party was taking place and we could hear the bass approaching midnight. When we phoned down to complain they did reduce the noise, but still not significantly, so I'd recommend a higher floor and lake facing - not because you'll actually see the lake at all, but because it means you're away from the road.
I would return were I needing to be in Zurich, but whilst The Dolder Grand is a destination hotel, Baur au Lac is not worth visiting simply for the sake of the hotel. It is easily the best option within central Zurich, far surpassing The Widder or Park Hyatt.
Jul 21, 2018, 6:28 am
#157
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,521
Jul 21, 2018, 3:07 pm
#158
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: England
Posts: 1,361
I hear ya, but the difference is that those bathrooms have solid doors on them, so no one can enter - these do not, they are open planned.
Jul 22, 2018, 10:44 am
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
dolder would not serve 10 course on request?
lunch offers a la carte (dinner does not)
curious re 5 course amuse bouche option
wonder re top upgrades at alpina and chedi
la reserve geneva villa rates are 5 figures
alpina chalet suite seems from 4 figures
lunch offers a la carte (dinner does not)
curious re 5 course amuse bouche option
wonder re top upgrades at alpina and chedi
la reserve geneva villa rates are 5 figures
alpina chalet suite seems from 4 figures
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Jul 22, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Jul 22, 2018, 11:34 am
#160
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,600
Chedi almost handing out lowish upgrades to everyone asking, very common is from Junior Suite to Deluxe Suite or from Grand Deluxe Room to Junior Suite, but don't dare to inquire about upgrades from Grand Deluxe Suite to Gemsstock or Furka Suite. I once asked and they answered "Why don't you book a standard room and we upgrade you to a Deluxe Suite?"... well thank you.
Jul 22, 2018, 6:21 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 11,521
Aug 2, 2018, 1:44 pm
#162
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 35
We returned to Park Hotel Vitznau a few days ago for a 3 night stay in order to meet the wedding planners. I should have known better than to visit a European hotel in peak-Summer; I have always avoided it for these very reasons, so PHV is not alone in is misdemeanours. It will not alter our plans for getting married here, but it really does highlight the difference of staying in some properties during full occupancy. Perhaps had we not come last May during a quiet period we would not have the same expectations, but we did. Gone is the serenity, the slick service, the thought-through welcome and empty spa and pool. Thankfully it has not been replaced by the Insta-crowds of Villa Honegg, so could be worse, yet the endless waiting around for orders, the inability to get a table or seat near the pool begins to irritate after enough time. So definitely go, but get the most out of it and avoid July and August.
After PHV, we went to Alpina Gstaad, and what a contrast. Proactive, warm service at every step (and a stellar hard product). We loved it so much we ended up extending our visit by a night. One of my favorite hotel stays in quite a while.
Aug 3, 2018, 8:48 am
#163
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,265
We were there probably just a few days after you, and had a similar experience. The service was – given the price point – a disaster. The icing on the cake was the total indifference when we mentioned our displeasure to the front desk staffer at checkout. No apology, no offer to speak to the manager; just a shrug.
After PHV, we went to Alpina Gstaad, and what a contrast. Proactive, warm service at every step (and a stellar hard product). We loved it so much we ended up extending our visit by a night. One of my favorite hotel stays in quite a while.
After PHV, we went to Alpina Gstaad, and what a contrast. Proactive, warm service at every step (and a stellar hard product). We loved it so much we ended up extending our visit by a night. One of my favorite hotel stays in quite a while.
Sep 15, 2018, 3:16 am
#164
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
I don’t trust the internet on this, but i do trust this forum. We have just started our Swiss trip. The service has been incredible, and most places have not had a service charge on the bill, and include a tip line when we charge it to our room. Despite the internet saying tipping is not required, is that really the case at these luxury hotels ? I’ve still been tipping.
Sep 15, 2018, 9:32 am
#165
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: Virtuoso, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Hilton Impresario, IHG Luxury & Lifestyle, Hyatt Prive etc
Posts: 2,004
I don’t trust the internet on this, but i do trust this forum. We have just started our Swiss trip. The service has been incredible, and most places have not had a service charge on the bill, and include a tip line when we charge it to our room. Despite the internet saying tipping is not required, is that really the case at these luxury hotels ? I’ve still been tipping.