BEST WESTERN Metropol Grand Hotel^{(4 stars)}

Size of the bathroom

4.0

Cleanliness & linen change

5.0

Room amenities (TV, balcony, safe, etc.)

4.0

Size of the room

4.0

Atmosphere & furnishings

4.0

Quality of food and drinks

5.0

Overall cleanliness in the restaurant and in the dining areas

5.0

Variety of food and drinks

4.0

Competence (handling complaints)

5.0

Reception, check-in & check-out

5.0

Friendliness and helpfulness

6.0

Overall condition of the pool area

4.0

Leisure activities (e.g. sauna, tennis, entertainment, etc.)

5.0

Condition of the Hotel

5.0

General cleanliness of the different areas

5.0

Restaurants & bars in the area

6.0

Transportation connection and available excursions

6.0

Other leisure activities available

6.0

We had a double room which had an interconnecting door to the double next door where our friends were, the hotel opened the connecting door at our request which was very convenient. The rooms and bathrooms are of a good size, with enough space to not get in each other's way. Furniture all serviceable. TV, hairdrier etc. all worked. Bath robes and slippers are provided. Everything was clean. There is a WiFi network in the hotel, ask for the password at reception. The rooms were very hot, even with the heating off and the window open. All perfectly serviceable but full on 1970's brown covers, green bathroom tiles, padded fabric walls styling. I'm sure you get the picture.

1 restaurant and 1 small, but well stocked, bar near reception. We thought from the web site that there were two restaurants, a regular one and their 'Feng Sui' one, but in fact there's only 1 restaurant. It runs two menus, a regular one and a healthy one but you can skips across from side to side of the page and choose dishes from the two different menus. The food was of a good stadard, the plates not overloaded and off-putting and the menu was good value for money. The restaurant lacks atmoshphere and feels mostly like you are dining in a conference hotel. Don't sit near the odd water feature in the restaurant (I assume their attempt at a Feng Sui 'water' element) unless you like the sound of a constantly running tap. In the basement there is a whiskey and cigar bar (closed the weekend we were there) and a night club, but it was fairly empty and so had no atmosphere. It seems to be more for playing pool than a night club.

About half the staff we encountered were really lovely, friendly and happy to help. The other half were just plain rude, couldn't be bothered to help or answer questions or didn't know the answer and everything was too much trouble. Check-in in was swift and well organised. Check out was polite but tortuous and it took a long time to sort out the bill and establish what we had already paid, what remained, what had been charged correctly, what was in the bill and shouldn't be etc. We were encouraged to leave our key at reception when going out. But there is no night porter (we discovered) and you need your key to get back in the main door at night. After 40 minutes outside, and circling the hotel to try and find an open window or unlocked door, a member of staff just going off duty, by chance spotted me and let me in. It was only -1oC outside, if it had been a proper winter season temperature I would have been unspeakably angry. You can be assured that the hotel security is good - everything was closed and locked, including the access to the ski room which many hotels often overlook and leave unlocked all the time. Of course, the one time I could done with it being unlocked...! Take your key with you if you are going out.

We chose this hotel to combine a wellness weekend with some skiing, but in this aspect we were badly let down. On a Sunday, wellness treatments don't start till 14: 00. We tried to book treatments for Saturday but the appointments were all in the range from 13: 00 till 15: 00 so would have taken away half a days skiing. There were no treatments available for post skiing. The pool and jacuzzi are open until 19: 00 but are quite cold - you won't want to linger. Along the corridor from the pool are the sauna's and steam rooms. All perfectly adequate but be aware that the dress code is no swimming costumes, which is not what is implied on the hotel's own web site.

Large hotel with rooms that are rather dated and 1970's, although the rooms were clean. The hot water in the shower tends to run in bursts of hot then cold. Shuttle service excellent, waiting for us at the post bus station, available to take us to the cable car etc. and available promptly.

In an excellent location, half way between the post bus station the the centre of town. About 5 minutes walk to the middle of town and 10 minutes to the slopes, if that. Close to amenities but not bothered by noise.