When you add everything up, this turns out to be a three-star hotel. I stayed at the property for one week during early March on a group ski trip. We were a group of about 45 people, all traveling from the United States. The Engelberg ski area is relatively convenient to Zurich and this was our home away from home.
The large coach bus that was transporting us, was able to park at the bottom of the hill, close to the village and we were able to unload our luggage and skis. When entering the first time, it was a bit confusing, however after that initial entrance you are good to go. There are two underground tunnels that you take in order to get to the ski room and the reception area. The first tunnel is substantially longer and is softly lit. I must say that my eyes start playing tricks on me when entering with sunglasses on while it is a bright day outside. An elevator takes you up one level, and you make your way to the second and shorter tunnel. Skis are not allowed in the rooms or reception area. You will first want to drop your skis off in the expansive ski room. There was a sign stating that there is video surveillance on the room, for added safety. Once you've dropped your skis off, hop on the elevator (if you have luggage) or take the flight of stairs up one level to the reception area.
The lobby and reception area is decorated in a more historical style, complete with columns for support, antique artwork, and stunning views of the town of Engelberg. Check in was swift and efficient.
I shared a room with a friend and while it was perfectly fine for one week, it was on the small side. We were staying in the "new" wing of the hotel. Our room had two large windows you could open, which offered breathtaking views of the area. Sadly, no balcony. However, true to the hotel's name, there is a large terrace adjacent to the reception area. The rooms didn't offer much in the way of controlling the heat, so sadly we did sometimes sleep with the windows cracked open. Bathrooms were neat, but also on the small side. Not much in the way of counter space for toiletries. The staff did a great job of cleaning the rooms each day. Beds were comfortable, which is always welcomed after a long day of skiing.
Our first night, the hotel held an information session about the area and some of the logistics we might need to know for the week. The meeting was held in the downstairs bar/nightclub, called the Cave. Never made it back there, though I am sure there might be some good people watching there. The front desk helped us achieve a group discount (you need 20 people to buy the same ticket) on a 6 day lift ticket. They were able to give us our cards for the week, charge us separately, and collect the funds at the hotel instead of making us go down to the gondola station and potentially face long lines on a weekend morning. That was a huge benefit!!! For me, it meant that buying a 6 day ticket was cheaper than buying a 5 out of 6 day lift ticket when I factored in the discount. I was pretty sure I was only going to ski 5 days, but it was nice to have the flexibility, save time, and have that convenience available.
Our group signed on for half board, so both breakfast and dinner were included. It is an all-you-can eat buffet with different stations and a rotating menu each evening. You could always count on fresh veggies and a variety of salad dressings for the salad bar. Some nights, when it was red meat heavy (I don't eat it), I could get a great start to the meal with the salad. There was always a carving station, as well as hot and cold starters. The bread clearly seemed locally made and was always delicious. I sampled some of the soups and was generally impressed by those. House red and white wine was included in the cost of the trip (hopefully our group didn't drain them too much). Given the fact that it was included and there was a soft sell to get you to buy a bottle of nicer stuff, the house wines were actually quite good. The servers and staff in the dining room were extremely proactive in terms of refilling water and wine carafes as well as clearing empty plates. The dessert area included gelato and cheese each night. Other desserts were available, but I stuck with those two as they were both fantastic.
The staff was extremely helpful and on our final night when our group acknowledged the staff and handed out the tips to the different service areas, you could clearly see that they take pride in the service they provide.
For me, this is not a four- or five-star review due to room size, the food being hit or miss, and the long walk at the beginning and end of a ski day through the two tunnels. What makes this place better than a three-star review is the service from the staff. read more
