Chalet Colette

Malgré un court séjour sur Grindelwald, nous avons choisi ce studio pour sa situation géographique. En effet, bien qu’il ne soit pas dans le centre du village, on reste quand même à quelques centaines de mètres de la gare, des commerces, des restaurants et des parkings publics. Nous avons donc laissé notre véhicule sur un parking public longue durée (moins cher) qui se situe à 5mn à pied. L’établissement a un parking intérieur payant, mais il était complet.
L’accueil a été parfait. Nous avions choisi un petit appartement moins cher que les autres avec une cuisine et une salle de bain/WC. Le tout était très propre. Bonne insonorisation du studio. Pas de regret d’avoir fait notre cuisine dans ce studio car les prix des restaurants sont très haut. Grindelwald FIRST est à quelques pas de l’appartement. L’arrêt des bus également. Nous avons juste regretté l’absence du four micro-onde et de la signalisation du chalet dans le village (heureusement que nous avions un bon GPS).
Nous y retournerons surement une autre fois.

Wir waren in Grindelwald in den Skiferien und hatten im Chalet Abendrot eine Studiowohnung reserviert. Die Reservierung und Schlüsselübergabe funktionnierte sehr gut. Den Schlüssel für die Wohnung konnten wir direkt an der Reseption im selben Haut abholen. Das Gepäck konnten wir im Empfangsbereich deponieren bis wir die Wohnung beziehen konnten.
Die Wohnung war sehr schön und für unsere Bedürfnisse genau richtig. Wir genossen unseren Aufenthalt sehr.
Die Lage der Wohnung ist direkt neben der Talstation First und mitten im Dorf Grindelwald.
Vielen Dank für den angenehmen Aufenthalt.

La ubicación del apartamento es ideal, te permite acceder a cualquier servicio de Grindelwald sin necesidad de desplazarte en vehículo. Además, el parking privado es muy económico (12 CHF diarios) teniendo en cuenta la dificultad para aparcar en la zona y los precios que hay. Si bien se nota que la finca tiene unos años, los servicios del apartamento cumplieron todas nuestras espectativas. En resumen y teniendo siempre en cuenta los precios de la zona, una relación calidad precio excepcional!

Staying at Chalet Abendrot was a bitter experience in a cool country, Switzerland.

The apartment has a nice view and excellent facilities. All of their arrangements are well thought of. But the good things end there.

Almost all apartments selling at this price in the area have similar facilities. So nothing unique about it.
Also, in a picturesque mountain place like Grindelwald in Switzerland, any room has some mountain view from it. So, even that is a minimum standard here.

But, staying here can spoil your experience in more than one ways.

1) The spoiler comes in the service department.
The apartment has NO service.
Nil.
Zero.

We did not see anybody concerned enough to ask whether everything is okay or something is needed, during the five days that we stayed there. No human interaction or concern.

2) The biggest embarrassment was the absence of locking key for the common toilet. (Yes, you are given a real "key" with which you should lock the toilet each time you go to attend any minor or major call of nature.) But, in this apartment, the toilet key was not there. So, enjoy! You can't lock the toilet when you use it ! This is a two-bedroom apartment, so generally, families or groups of four or more people book and stay there. Imagine using a toilet shared by four people without a lock...! And that, too, in a posh apartment for which you have paid a bomb...!

When we pointed it out to Barbara, the person in charge of the check-in process, she asked us:

"Why do you need a stopper or a lock to the toilet? You are just two couples. Why can't the four of you use the toilet without bothering about the lock and making a fuss about it? I am sorry. I don't think this is a problem and nothing can be done.

But you can try and go to the reception tomorrow between 9 to 11. You may ask them if they can help."

This was one shocking experience of customer apathy on the part of a hospitality vendor. Please note that they did not care to remember that the guests come on tour to Switzerland and nothing can be more bureaucratic than telling them to "go" to the reception between 9 to 11 and then plead there to do something about a basic necessity in an apartment, at a time when they would be out for sightseeing or mountain activities for which they have come.

We contacted the booking agency in India and raised this concern. They advised us to contact Ms Muriel at the reception the next day who will do something about it.

Next day, when we met Ms Muriel and told her about the above, this is what she said:

"Oh, so you are told that I will solve your problem, right?
This is nice.

And you are the ones who have raised this issue TEN times, right?

I can't do anything about the missing key of the toilet door, because the key is NOT there I can help you with this:

a) We can put a big sign on the toilet door.
b) We can put a big stone in front of the door.
c) We can replace the door if you agree to pay 4000 CHF for it."

This was nothing less than an insult for which we felt we were charged!

Interacting with her made us feel like we are some school students who are being rebuked by their nasty teacher for raising a valid concern.

3) We were told that we would have a separate balcony, which in fact was a shared one and we suddenly found strangers staying in adjacent apartment peeking into our rooms.

4) They provided only two small soap bars to use for five days among the four of us.

5) These people are absolutely customer-unfriendly. They don't care about customers at all. They treat customers with complete disdain and indifference.

If you think that as a customer you can expect some care, concern and civil respect, this place is wrong for you. Also, forget some kind words, don't even expect a courtesy call from somebody to find out everything is okay or not.

In times when businesses pride themselves in going out of their ways to delight their customers, these people take their customers for granted.

This uncaring attitude of the hosts at Chalet Abendrot was the most undesirable part of our otherwise pleasant tour to Switzerland.

Two points are given above for the facilities.
The people and service deserve a zero.

Don't go to this place, unless you want to be insulted for being a customer and to be told to use a toilet without a lock.

It is a big disappointment.

The Chalet is situated on the main road, about 10 minutes walking from the Grindelwald train station. It is just 1 minute walk from the first flyer. The rooms are clean, spacious and have a balcony with a view. The kitchenette is well equipped. The balcony offers great views of the alps and one of the best place to have a meal. There are plenty of eating options and grocery stores in the vicinity. There is also a church nearby.