Five Stars is in the context of a traditional Swiss German Restaurant…read more Ambiance, a 10. The place is frozen in the late 1800's with a few updates like an exposed knob and tube electrical system, at least for the dining room lighting. The wait staff are dressed in traditional Haut Valais garb but unlike many places where the outfits seem too theatrical, here they just seem to naturally blend with the place and the aromas of traditional Swiss fare wafting from the kitchen and every table. If you have never eaten a Swiss rösti you must have it here because it is perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. Once tried you will have your rösti benchmark from which to criticize all others. The meat dishes we ordered, veal, sliced cured local ham, calf's liver, were all delicious with a clean taste that told of locally raised stock. We were driving back to the Goppenstien from Zurich Airport with some tired travelers so we didn't stay for desert but what I saw looked like another trip to Reichenbach would soon be necessary.

This alpine hut is in one of the most picturesque and dramatic alpine settings you can imagine…read more The 2 hour hike to get to the hut was one of the most beautiful hikes we have ever been on--waterfalls everywhere, green, lush foliage along steep cliffs overlooking the town of Grindelwald below, groups of black and white sheep grazing on the mountainsides, four peaks of over 4000 meters looming above you... when you get close to the hut, you then have a gigantic glacier that appears to be moving down the mountain right to you. It's indescribably in words. The nice Swiss couple who run the hut are very helpful and maintain a very orderly and clean atmosphere (observe the rules!). Dorm-type room was simple but cozy--bring a sleeping bag liner sheet. Dinner was delicious, too. Highly recommend! If you are fit, love to hike, like be away from it all (no Wifi here) and love amazing mountain scenery, this is the place for you.

Quaint! That's the first word that comes to my mind for Les Pensieres. Located in a 15th century…read morebuilding, as part of the Merieux Foundation, Les Pensieres hosts public health related conferences. We were supposed to meet in Geneva for a meeting. However, the meeting organizers did not realize the fact that the Motor show is happening during the same week. Most hotels in Geneva were sold out, or ridiculously expensive. While the organizers panicked at not being able to get hotel rooms for the attendees, the Merieux Foundation graciously stepped in and agreed to provide a venue for our meeting. So, off we went to Annecy! Don't be fooled by the 15th century old school charm. Les Pensieres boasts of hi-tech facilities with video conferencing capabilities. The rooms are beautifully done, as no room is alike another. Breakfast was glorious with an assortment of cheeses (we are in the Haute-Savoie after all), charcuterie, and breads. Every lunch was an ornate 3 course affair and we tried hard to stay awake for the afternoon meetings. Les Pensieres could be an ideal location if you are vacationing in the Annecy region, but they do not let individuals rent a room to stay. You can only stay if you are part of a public health conference or organization meeting. Too bad, because I would travel to Annecy to stay here for a long weekend.

Absolutely gorgeous lakeside estate setting. It feels like you are in some show on the BBC when…read morestrolling the grounds. I was there for a scientific conference for three days and hated to leave. The food was classically French, with lunch and dinner three course menus that left you happy. The town of Annecy is a very pleasant 6km walk along the lake with many sections comprised of a boardwalk. If you ever get a chance to visit it is well worth it.

We loved B&B 18. First & foremost, the service was great. The owners were very friendly &…read moreaccommodative from the time we connected them over email. We were vegetarian & they provided us with what we needed. My wife is not pet friendly & we had no issues with that. They helped us immensely in guiding us around Interlaken. When we decided to leave Interlaken one day early, they did not hold a grudge. We had the Orange Room (blue colored) & had a non attached private bathroom. Everything was clean & tidy. We felt at home. The owners live upstairs. Hot water & heating were not problems. Things were modern but had character. Food was very good - a great variety of Swiss breakfast items. The location is very very close to the train station, center of town & the bus - none more than a few minutes walk & a 30 second sprint if you wanted to run. Stepping out from here, you have great views. Putting it all together, we would stay here again. It was quiet as well but not far from the hustle & bustle, given it is just off the main street. The 2 rooms upstairs have a shared bathroom, so be sure you know what you are getting.

A cute little mountain inn. The floors in the guest rooms are beautiful bare wood --- there's a…read moreshoe rack to put your boots. Bring sabots or slippers! Bathrooms are on the hall; the place was mostly empty when we stayed, and there was never a line, but there's certainly a limited supply. There's a small children's play room on the first floor, with some pint-size couches and a well-stocked bookshelf covering about 8 languages. The restaurant has some Indian leanings and doesn't serve red meat, but does serve chicken. For both the rooms and the food, service was very friendly but a bit slow --- plan ahead and don't expect to swipe your card and run to the train.