AlpenGold Hotel

The AlpenGold Hotel Davos, a Michelin Key Selected property, offers a distinctive luxury experience in the Swiss Alps, characterized by its unique architecture and comprehensive amenities.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Guest sentiment for AlpenGold Hotel Davos is generally positive regarding its facilities, location, and the friendliness of its staff. However, reviews indicate a mixed experience, with recurring concerns about service quality, cleanliness, and value for money. While many guests praise the "amazing service, rooms, restaurants and spa", others highlight significant issues that detract from the overall luxury experience.

2. Key Highlights

The hotel stands out with its futuristic oval gold exterior, often compared to a "pine cone," which creates a striking visual against the alpine backdrop. Inside, a modern design is complemented by alpine materials like stone and wood, fostering a warm atmosphere. Key attractions include an extensive 1,200 m² Nescens Spa featuring heated indoor and outdoor pools, a gym, yoga room, saunas, and steam baths. The hotel also provides a kids' and teenager's club with film screenings, a convenient free shuttle service within Davos, and on-site facilities for skiers such as free storage, a ski school, and a ski-pass vendor. Its elevated location above Lake Davos offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.

3. Room Quality

The AlpenGold Hotel boasts 216 spacious rooms and suites with contemporary chic decor. Guests frequently commend the comfort of the large beds and pillows. Rooms typically feature hardwood floors, seating areas, private bathrooms, satellite TV, and a complimentary fully stocked mini-bar. A significant highlight is the floor-to-ceiling and wraparound windows that offer spectacular mountain views, often complemented by private balconies or terraces. Suites are particularly lauded for their spacious layout, high-quality materials, designer furniture, and luxurious bathrooms equipped with free-standing bathtubs, large rainforest showers, and L'Occitane products. The unique curved architecture of the building is reflected in the rooms, with some bathrooms featuring egg-shaped tubs for relaxation after a day on the slopes.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel offers a diverse culinary journey with several à-la-carte restaurants and bars. Guests can enjoy an excellent buffet and continental breakfast, though it may incur an additional charge of 45 CHF per adult if not included in the room rate.

• Sapori serves classic Italian dishes, including pizzas, pastas, and salads.
• The Cheese Factory provides a traditional Swiss experience with raclette and fondue, served in a unique glass tube setting and utilizing regional cheeses and local Albula Valley potatoes.
• La Muna offers an acclaimed Japanese and Peruvian fusion menu.
• For vegetarian options, there is Atelier Vert.
• The Nuts & Co Lounge Bar and Le Fumoir provide additional options for drinks and casual dining. A 24-hour room service is also available.

5. Service & Staff

Feedback on service and staff is varied. Many guests have praised the staff as "friendly," "nice," and "outstanding," noting "amazing service". Specific examples of excellent hospitality include greetings from the general manager and executive chef, and highly praised, calm, and entertaining kids' club staff. However, a notable recurring complaint concerns issues with service quality and a perceived lack of language skills among some staff members.

6. Location & Accessibility

The AlpenGold Hotel is ideally situated in a quiet mountain setting, elevated above Lake Davos and at the edge of a forest, offering serene surroundings and captivating views. While outside the immediate hustle and bustle, the center of Davos is a convenient 5-minute drive away, with the hotel providing a free shuttle service within the area. Davos Dorf train station is also easily accessible, located approximately 0.91 km away or a 1-minute drive, and the hotel offers a free pick-up shuttle from there. The hotel is within 1.9 miles of a ski elevator and close to popular attractions such as Lake Davos (12-minute walk) and Davos Skiing Resort (16-minute walk).

7. Value & Pricing

As a luxury 5-star property, the AlpenGold Hotel comes with pricing that reflects its offerings. Guests frequently cite value for money as a concern, with high prices for certain services. Winter rates can start from around CHF 450 (approximately £400), while summer rates may begin at CHF 320 (approximately £285). Average prices can fluctuate significantly, ranging from $244 to $1,753 depending on the room type and season. January is typically the most expensive month, with an average 211% price increase, while September is the cheapest, seeing a 42% price drop. During peak events like the World Economic Forum (WEF), hotel room rates in Davos are known to significantly exceed standard government-authorized limits.

8. Common Complaints

The most frequent criticisms revolve around inconsistent service quality and issues with cleanliness. Some guests have reported serious cleanliness shortcomings, including uncleaned rooms, unchanged towels, garbage, and bed sheets, as well as dirty cups and floors. The lack of language proficiency among some staff has also been noted as a significant service issue. Additionally, some guests find the spa and pool facilities to be undersized for a 5-star hotel and for the number of guests it accommodates. The overall value for money, especially concerning the high cost of certain services, is another recurring point of contention.

Sources

1. kayak.com
2. booking.com
3. tablethotels.com
4. alpengoldhotel.com
5. michelin.com
6. alpengoldhotel.com
7. travelweekly.com
8. expedia.com
9. thechicadvocate.com
10. alpengoldhotel.com
11. davos.ch
12. agoda.com
13. hotelcareer.com
14. theweek.com
15. hotels.com
16. booking.com
17. guidle.com
18. alpengoldhotel.com
19. thefamilyof5.com
20. alpengoldhotel.com
21. trip.com
22. swissinfo.ch