Hello there.

As part of our 14 day Swiss holiday, we still require accommodation for the following:

3 nights in Vevey - May, 2012
2 nights in Zermatt - May, 2012

Can anyone please help with information about clean, reasonably priced accommodation in these two towns?

Vevey: Preferably near the lake foreshore - around 125 - 150 CHF per night
Zermatt: Somewhere clean and also around 125 - 150 CHF per night - unless there is a hotel with a great view of the Matterhorn that costs a bit more.

We are happy for B&B, Apartment or Hotel.

Thank you in advance,

Steve

Hi Steve,

Is that budget for one person, or two, or three?

Here are some suggestions for Vevey (though I haven't stayed in any of them since I always stay in Montreux):

Hostellerie Bon Rivage in the part of Vevey called La Tour-de-Peilz. This 3-star place is right on the water about a 20-minute walk from the train station
http://www.bon-rivage.ch/

Riviera Lodge is a hostel that offers some private rooms: http://www.rivieralodge.ch/eng/lodge.html

Hotel Negociants right in the old town of Vevey. There is a restaurant on the ground floor, so if you have to open the windows, it may get noisy:
http://www.hotelnegociants.ch/

If you want to look for a B&B, you can search for one at

www.bnb.ch

Have fun!

s

Hello S,

Sorry, I should have mentioned. The accommodation is for my wife and myself. I have seen a couple of poor reports regarding Hotel Negociants. Is this correct or were those guests just over-fussy?

Regards, Steve.

Hi Steve,

Honestly, I don't know. I haven't stayed in the hotel, and I don't know the folks who wrote the reviews : ))

A friend of mine stayed in the hotel some years ago, and she said it was fine. Noisy but fine.

s

RE : Zermatt
Mid-April to Mid-June is a period where many hotels close in mountain resort areas such as Zermatt, Grindelwald and St.Moritz and your choice may somewhat be limited. 10 years ago (so may not be a useful info especially price-wise) but it was in May, I stayed at Hotel Primavera, then 2* in a double room with a balcony and the view of Matterhorn for the price of CHF 150 or less, breakfast included for 2 persons. The view was fantastic. I was able to see Matterhorn even lying on my bed. Perhaps you might like to do google search for this hotel. The hotel is closer to Sunnegga cable/metro station, 10 minutes walk from the railway station, rather in a quiet area of Zermatt.

You might try looking here:

www.rooms.ch

There are some closures in Zermatt but one place with decent views and not overpriced (IMO) is the Hotel Butterfly.

Be aware that Zermatt is small and can easily be walked in less than an hour and in terms of a view of the peak...that can vary with the weather. There are time when the peak is clear up above and shrouded down below.

I stayed in Hotel Neg. in Vevey in March 2009. It was fine, but pretty simple. I described it at the time as "Motel 6 furnished by Ikea". That might be a bit harsh, but the rooms are very simple (mine had white walls, minimal furnishings). it did, however, seem to be clean and had good wi-fi. If you just need a place to lay your head at night, it's fine. But if you're looking for charm or character, keep looking. Location is good in old town and just minutes from open air market that is on a couple days each week and close to the lake.

I spent one night after Vevey at Lavey les Bains (quick train/post bus ride)...LOVED relaxing in the thermal waters, stayed at the attached Grand Hotel.

"charm" sometimes = didn't pay a lot of money for stuff I never used

Thanks for the quick responses.

I will look into Hotel Primavera and Butterfly. And maybe I should look at few more tripadviser postings for Vevey's Hotel Negociants. Thanks again for the help.

Steve

Primavera will be good for your budget. It still remains 2* and rates don't seem to have chaanged much. However I found out the hotel is closed 01 - 21 May. You don't say the exact dates of your stay. BW Butterfly 3* will surely be more expensive (and nicer). Besides you have to see if it's open for your dates. I just read a positive review about Primavera but with one negative. The poster said the breakfast was basic. Yes, I agree. It was a palin buffet but still with ham, cheese,etc. With the price I paid I don't complain about it. You just need to see from price - quality ralation. Maybe it didn't even have a TV set. The room plain but clean and spaceous, also a spaceous bathroom, and especially a balcony with a Matterhorn view. As far as I'm concerned it was a great deal. After a day of hiking, I bought an inexpensive open rosé wine from the hotel's bar and sat on the balcony with a nice view of Matterhorn.

Steve,

Read BETWEEN the lines on any of those reviews and watch the descriptive words used. I agree that whereas "basic" is not the same as "extensive" or even "lavish" for example, that doesn't mean it isn't "any good at all."

I have yet to stay in even the most basic Swiss hotel, regardless of star level (and don't forget those stars are based on the number of amenities such as an elevator, a pool, etc,) that wasn't well-maintained and clean but perhaps I've just been lucky.

Zermatt -

We enjoyed Hotel Antika...but our favorite non-serviced accommodation in Zermatt is Casa Vanessa...fantastic off season deals.

We always stay at the Hotel Daniela (room 301) in Zermatt. the balcony has a view of the Matterhorn. It is a 4 star garni and the breakfast is very nice. Best part is it is owned by the family that owns the Julen Hotel and you can use the Julen's indoor pool area for free (Julen is about a block away). They will transfer you from the train station to their hotel also.

The Hotel Daniela rates should be within your budget.

Steve, I stayed at Negociants a few years ago and would stay there again. The room was fine and the bathroom was good. (I'm picky about bathrooms) I thought the location was perfect. There was a carnival in the town square so the morning market set up on the old town streets instead and so that was very noisy in the early morning. I think that was the exception though.

Agree with Barb-we stayed at Hotel Daniela in late May a few years ago and had a fantastic view of the Matterhorn. They will pick you up by shuttle at train station if you are arriving by train. The sister hotel is the Julen and guests at Daniela can use the pool there-robes are provided. Breakfast was excellent. We would stay there again for sure.

Hello guys,

Sorry I haven't revisited this post for a while - must have gotten busy. Anyway, seeing as you were all kind enough to offer your views I thought I'd better let you know that we have booked our accommodation in both places and from the feedback we've had from both hotel management staff, they sound perfect. So, the winners are:

Vevey - Hotel Negociants
Zermatt - Hotel Daniela

Thanks again for all your help.

Steve