After the year 2021 without visiting my sister Florence in Zug in Switzerland, I finally returned to the Confoederatio Helvetica in March 2022. I stayed over a week. More than a family visit, I organised an excursion to French-speaking Switzerland, also known as Romandy, to visit Maxime and the vineyards of Lavaux in the canton of Vaud, near Lausanne. I also booked a journey on the world-famous Glacier Express from Sankt Moritz to Brig. Furthermore, I looked for a nice way in and out. The ÖBB Nightjet night train from Amsterdam to Zurich and the voyage home via Lyon in France.

Hotel Arte in Sankt Moritz was included in the Switzerland Travel Centre package deal for the Glacier Express. This centrally located three-star hotel is also the home of La Stalla Restaurant, Chamanna smoker bar, Pizzaway takeway kebab and pizza, Hemingway night club and the Harry Lakewood Bar. I did have pizza at Pizzaway, which was only 5 to 6 CHF for a square slice, which is cheap here. 

Reception and room

The receptionist was friendly and helpful. Nothing special, but I am then again not a club member here or there no extras or whatever. Very straightforward. The receptionist even escorted me to my room on the third floor. How old school!

The room is yellow. Thick beige furniture and a full rug give it a strong 1990s vibe. I don’t understand why the room is decorated in pre-Columbian Aztec and / or Mayan art. But there’s a huge painting of Chichén Itzá (Mexico) on the wall.

Anyway. 

The bathroom is standard, although the showers looks like a space launching pad. A nice feature is the floor heating in the bathroom. 

There are no coffee or tea making facilities, which a bummer. But there are two chairs and a desk. There’s even a plastic plant. There is also working fridge, so you can cool your snacks and drinks. 

A nice feature are the overhead storage spaces over the bed, which can be locked. 

As Sankt Moritz is a ski resort, there’s a plastic mat for your snow-wet or muddy shoes. Nifty. 

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in La Stalla. The offering is quite substantial for a three-star restaurant. Cheeses, cold cuts, salmon, some salad options, cereals, yoghurts, fruit, honey, coffee, tea and hot chocolate milk, cold milk, juices, croissants, bread rolls, donuts, marble cake. 

While not spectacular, I honestly expected less. One tip: it would be nice to remove the cleaning cloth from sight.

So?

Hotel Arte is a no-thrills but decent hotel. 

Switzerland 2022

1. Zandvoort, home of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
2. REVIEW | ÖBB Nightjet Amsterdam – Zurich night train.
3. SWITZERLAND 2022 | Thun and Thun Castle.
4. SWITZERLAND 2022 | The Lausanne Métro.
5. REVIEW | Hotel du Raisin in Lausanne.
6. SWITZERLAND 2022 | The Vineyard Terraces of Lavaux in Vaud.
7. SWITZERLAND 2022 | Two days in Lausanne.
8. Romandy.
9. SWITZERLAND 2022 | Sankt Moritz.