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HOTEL BELVEDERE

The Hotel Belvedere is the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. The travel guides rates it as four star but it was nicer than the U.S. Four Seasons chain renown as the place where Hollywood and music A List stay when away from home. While in Switzerland we stayed in one five star hotel, the Zurich Hilton, which was nice and deserved its rating but was not even close to being as nice as the Belvedere. While riding the train up the valley into Grindelwald, the Belvedere is the first major site of the town. We arrived late at night and when we read directions on the sign at the train we could not believe that we were staying at such a beautiful place.

The staff sent someone to the train station to pick us up along with all of our gear. From the moment you arrive in Grindelwald until you leave the staff makes sure that you want for nothing. Urs/staff has scheduled activities such as curling at the skating center, games in the looby, sledding and suggest you attend all of them. Not only is it a blast but you meet wonderful people in a relaxed atmosphere you would not know the guy to your left owns a chain of newspapers or the lady on your fight is a Dutchess from an enchanting land.

We had spent all night on a plane from Atlanta to Zurich, arriving early in the morning to Switzerland. After spending the day sightseeing in Zurich, we then took the last train out that would still get us to Griindelwald. When escorted to our room wwe wer stunned but morning was the mind bender. There was a basket of goodies welcoming us along with a personal greeting written by the owner, Urs Hauser. We were so tired that we slept very late the next morning. About 10:30 a.m. were were awoken by the telephone and a friendly staff person asked us if we wanted breakfast. We were famished and said we would be right down. It turns out that breakfast was long over but they had held the dining room open an almost an hour so that we could sleep in and still get something to eat. The entire kitchen staff was put on hold just for us. That is hospitality taken to the extreme.

If you ever travel to Grindelwald you must treat yourself to this wonderful experience in accommodations. If your Budget does not allow for this Hotel then try the Hotel Steinbock which is owned by the same folks. That said, stay at hotel that best fits your budget but if necessary take out a second mortgage on your home to spend your last three nights at the Belvedere and do not be late for dinner.

THE VIEW WE HAD UPON OUR ARRIVAL