Montreux-which hotels?
 

My husband and I will be traveling to Montreux with 2 boys, age 12, next June.
We are considering Hotel Bristol and Hotel
Eden Au Lac. Has anyone stayed at either?
Rants & Raves forum has no comments.
Thanks for your help.

I don't know about either of these hotels, but we did stay at Hotel Masson last summer with our two sons (then aged 11 and 13). We had two rooms. It was a lovely hotel with a nice breakfast, nice gardens with a beautiful view of the lake and within walking distance to Chateau de Chillon. If you stay there, I would request rooms overlooking the garden.

Susan

I meant to mention that the website of Hotel Masson is hotelmasson.ch.

Susan

We stayed at the Hotel Masson a few weeks ago, and I second Susan's recommendation. They also have a nightly four-course dinner for 33 euros. It was very good.

The owner was charming, and she was very helpful in getting us directions on places to see. We had a great view over Lac Leman.

I love Chateau de Chillon. Have a great trip.
((H))

Hi robrose,

I've stayed at the Eden au Lac twice, once in 2000 and again in 2002. I think it's a nice hotel, not great. The location is wonderful, right on the lake and next to the Casino; it's right in the center of the action. When I was there in 2002, I could see the gardeners working on their lakeside sculptures from both my hotel room and from the breakfast room.

The rooms are decorated in Victorian style. The staff is very professional and eager to please. Breakfast buffets were good.

When I was there in 2000, the only personal safes for guests were rented by the day in the front lobby -- no privacy. When I was there in 2002, there were in-room safes but guests could also rent one in the front lobby.

Anyway, my review is at my personal journal page at http://www.igougo.com/planning/journ...p;EntryID=5246

I've never stayed at the Bristol, but it's an interesting choice. It's on the Territet side of town (not far actually from the Masson). It's not right on the lakeside, but only separted by a block, I think. The architecture is modern.

If you're thinking of staying on this side of town, also consider the Golf-Hotel Rene Capt (www.montreux.ch/golf-hotel). It's right on the lake, and the architecture is period with Belle Epoque interiors. It was recently renovated. It's where I intend to stay on my next visit.

Let me know if I can help further.

s

Spent three nights at Hotel Eden au Lac this summer. I agree that it is a nice hotel, not great (or certainly not spectacular). The views were magnificent and dinner in the lovely garden was very good. Couldn't beat the location. It seems expensive for what it was, but I suppose in Montreux that is to be expected.

I second the recommendation of Hotel Masson. I stayed there two years ago - it was very good, even if you consider it is a three star and much cheaper than the others you mentioned.

Definitely try to get a room with lake view. I am a little surprised maitaitom said the four-course dinner was very good. I would not pick half-board again. It was only average in my opinion.

However, the hotel is very charming (old world style) and the owner was very friendly and helpful. She even had recommendations on what to see and a map for us when we went to Geneva.

Ingo

"I am a little surprised maitaitom said the four-course dinner was very good."

The night we ate at their restaurant, we liked the food that was on the menu posted at the top of the stairs, decided to give it a chance, and the meal was actually very good. The menu for the second evening did not look that appetizing, so we went out for fondue.
((H))

Thanks so much to all of you for your help.-especially for the Hotel Masson website. How close is this hotel to the lake?

Distance from Hotel Masson to the lake is probably the equivalent of about four average-sized blocks, give or take a block. Masson is on a hill, so you do have an uphill walk on your way back, but nothing strenuous. You said you were going in June, and I know they had a hot summer this year. The owner said it was really hot for them most of the summer. We were there when it wasn't too hot, so air conditioning was not a factor. I don't remember if they had air conditioning or not. You might want to check that out.
((H))

Robrose,

Just wanted to mention that if you have a car, we enjoyed driving to Gruyeres from Montreux. There's a pretty cool castle there that your sons might like. My sons not only liked the castle, but also the raclette and fondue we got at an outdoor cafe.

Hotel Masson also had a nice breakfast that, if I remember correctly, was included in the price of the room. We did not eat dinner at the hotel as the food was not geared towards kids.

Have a great trip. Montreux is beautiful, albeit expensive. (One of my sons enjoyed seeing all the Ferraris when we went into town!)

Susan

We stayed at Eden with our daughter when she was 13 and we all liked it very much with the exception of the restaurant--food was just so-so. But the location was great and the balcony on the lake was beautiful.

My family and I have stayed time and time again at the Hotel Victoria in Glion, a hamlet above Montreux. It's simply wonderful, but expensive.

A friend of mine stayed just a few days ago at Golf-Hotel Rene Capt that Swandav2000 mentioned. He said, as Swandav did, "the rooms has been renovated nicely and the location is great just on the lake. Make sure to get a lake view room. It would be a bit disappointing to have a room without lake view."

Also try putting in "montreux hotels" in the search field on this page. I had posted the same question a month or so ago. Also try www.tripadvisor.com to get current reviews from people that have styed there.

I visited the Hotel Helvetie a few days ago and liked the looks of the common spaces alot. But probably not a family's best choice (a little on the faded brocaded romantic charm side for kids to appreciate).

Have you checked into the Hotel that's at the Casino? It's right on the quai and has a beautiful fantastic pool. A friend mentioned they sometimes offer package discounts so you might want to contact them directly.

Oops I realize this post is from last year, oh well, I'm still in a Montreux mood myself since I just returned Sunday.

Ooops.

kappa~ for a second i thought you were correcting my spelling of "ooops" LOL!

Will check out the Hotel Masson, thank you. Dropped in at Pensione Wilheim up in the Old Town and the price was right but it is literally on the train tracks which worried me for the noise. I'm needing to find something modest (as is possible en Suisse) for my next trip due to changing domestic arrangements with the friend I have always stay with. d*mn that new boyfriend :-)

So any ~$100USD single rooms in Vevey or Montreux of character, charm, and location (excepting the youth hostel in Vevey which I do hear is quite nice) would be welcome.

Folks,

I guess this thread is sufficiently old that I may interrupt . . . ??

Suze, I hope you will write a trip report! I'd love to indulge for a few minutes in some vicarious Vaud scenes! More aerobics at La Tour? Where did you guys walk? That apt above the Helvetie sounds like a piece of heaven! What else did you do? I'm curious to know what the Montreux gardeners are up to these days; they change their sculptures every few months, and I always love to see their work. When I was there in May, they were doing the signs of the Zodiac. I'm all eyes!

In return, I'll peruse my 2003 hotel guide to see if anything pops up. Some posters here have liked the Negociants in Vevey's old town very much, and I think they have a website. Would you go to the outskirts? The hills above town? Villeneuve? If so, look at the Des Alpes Vaudoises in Glion, the Chatonneyre in Corseaux, or the Bahyse or the Les Sapins, both in Blonay. Do you think you'll have a car or will be using the trains & buses? There are a few b&bs in & around Montreux with excellent rates, and you can find them at www.bnb.ch.

What hotel is in the Casino? Do you mean the Eden au Lac, next door?

Anyway, please consider writing a report, however brief. And pictures!! We want pictures!!

s

wow, I didn't even notice the date of the original post.

Well, thanks for asking. I will happily write a report to share, but my activities may not sound terribly interesting or inspiring to most - eating great food, drinking the fantastic local Swiss white wines, frequenting the open air farmer markets (twice to Montreux's on Friday and twice to Vevey's on Saturday), grocery shopping at the Migros, dinner parties with friends, BBQ's, sitting on the terrace getting sun at the apartment (which yes IS stunning as my friend has the penthouse of a 30's era building, view of the lake and mountains, huge 4 rooms with wrap around balcony up on Avenue de Alpes, the street of the train station). Went with a friend and her 7 year old son to the municipal pool one afternoon which was a hoot (think 100+ Swiss kids, 5 pools, diving boards, volleyball, snack bar). Around the house, I washed a lot of dishes and recycled wine bottles galore to 'pay' my way as a houseguest.

For the future I would be looking to be very central in Vevey or Montreux and would be using only the train & bus, and my feet obviously!! I travel solo so like to be in the middle of things and would be spending most time with local friends. I "practiced" both train and bus this trip under the supervision of dear friend so now feel comfortable getting around on either of these.

I'm not sure about which hotel goes with the Casino. People referred to it as "the hotel at the casino"; I've been there several times but only buying a day pass for use of their beautiful pool.

Need to sign off for now. This must count as one of the more bizarre trip reports ever posted!

I will return with tales of the Marche Folklorique celebrations at the Vevey market, and try to remember about the gardening on the quai (the big ole peacock along the main road still looks exactly the same!).

suze:

Yahoo! Delightful. Yes, stunning views from terraces, shopping at Migros (the huge, two-storied one at the Forum, yes?), eating well and wining well -- yes, yes yes!!! But I can't get my head into that stunning apartment with wrap-around terraces. You lucky devel! I've done some idle wandering around sites of Vaud real estate agencies, so I have an idea of what a gem that apartment is. Lucky, lucky you -- and lucky s/he who lives there!

So, a central single room at about $100? I think the Negociants would be your best bet. Its website is: http://www.hotelnegociants.ch/english/index.htm

Otherwise, try the rooms upstairs at La Rouvenaz (the pizza place across from the Tourist Info booth at the lake) or the rooms above the Hostellerie de Geneve in Vevey. The La Rouvenaz also has "holiday apartments" available. Website for La Rouvenaz: http://www.montreux.ch/rouvenaz-hotel/

How about renting an apartment for a week? Interhome (wwww.interhome.com) has a few small apartments in Clarens & in Territet, all close to bus/train stations. Their cancellation fees are harsh, though, so best bet is to reserve at the last minute (last minute also gets you some discounts). Also be sure to ask if towels are available.

Thanks for the mini-vacation!

s

No, my ooops was meant for my not realizing the OP's date :) Fortunately you did.

Swandav~ those are both BRILLIANT suggestions. Really funny thing is I hung out quite often in Il Baretto, the bar next door to (and serving the food from) La Rouvenaz, never even noticed the hotel above!

Hotel Negociants also looks just my style and in the exact right part of Vevey that I love so.

My humble thanks & I'll try to think of some more good vacation tales to share in return.

suze -- very happy to help! Both places, though, may be quite noisy at night and neither have ac (so windows open at night . . .). But because you're *very* familiar with both locations, I think you'll know what to expect!

And here's some personal trivia about La Rouvenaz. I went to boarding school in Montreux in 1968 (actually in Territet-Veytaux), and my sister and I loved the pizzas at La Rouvenaz, which we used as the "pizza-standard" for many decades! Back then, the restaurant was decorated in an African motif: zebra-striped walls and big brown nets draped exotically from the ceiling. I love that the place is still there, still serving killer pizzas. Now, I think the secret is in the flavored oils . . .??

Yup, more stories will be welcome!

s

Swanday and suze,

I'd love to be the mouse in the corner, listening to you guys talking about Montreux and environs. Better yet, with a glass of local Swiss white wine before me!

And so do I! In fact, I just opened a bottle of excellent white wine from the canton of Geneva and have a glass or two ...

Yes I figured that the hotel over La Rouvenaz might be a bit noisy (as our group often sat at the sidewalk tables making a racket ourselves late into the night!). Thanks for the history/decor lesson... will share with Lil in Montreux, she'll love it!

There is a wonderful hotel on the hill which over looks Chateau Chuillion ..the town which is above Montreux is called Glion ( sur Montreux)..the hotel is called the Hotel Victoria and it is wonderful.
If you aren't driving you can take a cogwheel train up the hill which is right near the hotel..
Gorgeous views, great hotel and reception and food and pool.