Eiger Hotel

Accommodation: The ski resort village of Muerren is spectacular. Hotel Eiger itself is ideally situated across from the train station, and a short walk from the snow. Even arriving in Muerren is an adventure. We stayed for 10 days in a triple room, with views directly toward the 3 mountains (Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau). The facilities in the room were excellent. The beds and pillows were very comfortable (a priority for me!), and very importantly, every evening the beds were turned down while we were eating dinner, and a delicious chocolate placed on our pillows. The hotel was very quiet, tastefully decorated, and well situated. Facilities within the room were wonderful - high pressure, hot shower; luxurious, deep bath; spacious bathroom; all the comforts of home (but better!).
Facilities: Other facilities in the hotel included spa, sauna, and pool with a spectacular view toward the above-mentioned mountains. The hotel had one computer terminal where Internet access was available for a reasonable cost. This was easy to access during our visit, but it was not peak season - I imagine access would be more difficult during busier times. The hotel has its own secure ski room, where you are able to store ski equipment. This is accessible on the ground floor, which is a bonus when you have your heavy ski boots on! In addition, the hotel has its own bar, with a disco most nights. There is another, separate bar that is in the same building as the hotel, but is a separate entity. This bar also serves food, and stays open quite late. Finally, guests of the hotel have access to the village sports centre, which contains anything a health minded individual could desire (more pools, saunas and spas, whirlpools, gym equipment, squash courts, table tennis, martial arts classes, aerobics classes, yoga, etc).
Staff: The staff at the hotel were wonderful. Friendly, helpful - and I think they all spoke at least 3 languages! The staff at Hotel Eiger were key in the success of our holiday. They treated all guests like honoured family members. Everyone was very polite, knowledgeable, positive, and we got the general feeling that no request was too big or small. We were made to feel very welcome.
Resort: We chose the Hotel Eiger because it caters for gluten free diets, and it didn’t disappoint (they of course cater for a range of other dietary requirements). Every night we were treated to a fantastic 5-course meal, and every morning we enjoyed a healthy, filling buffet breakfast. Gluten free food was always provided, which makes a change from other holidays we’ve been on.
Village: Due to its altitude, the skiing in Muerren in April was amazing. Sunny days, soft powder - what more could you ask? There was enough variety in ski runs to satisfy most skiers. My partner snowboards on black runs with the best of them, while I am a relative beginner at skiing. We were both more than satisfied. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular. I had to keep pinching myself to check that I was really there. If skiing is not your thing, there are a variety of other activities to do in Muerren - hiking, tobogganing, paragliding, etc (and even more in the summer). The village is full of friendly people, and it is very relaxed.
Anything else: Before we arrived, we were warned by several people that the cost of staying in a village in the Swiss alps would be overwhelming. This was unfounded. The cost of things in the village on the top of a mountain was no greater than the cost of things in any tourist spot, anywhere in the developed world. In fact, we stopped in Zurich for two days after this holiday, and found things to be much more expensive there. Alcohol is expensive, which some (not me) would see as a draw back. Everything else is relative. Muerren is a pedestrianised village, so the only way to get there is via train or cable car. This is all part of the adventure, and makes the village feel much safer and more pleasant. There are plenty of bars, restaurants and cafes, all serving a large variety of hot food (including the staple skiing diets of rostis, hot chocolates/ coffees, fries, schnapps). Our visit was quite late in the season; so much of the bars and nightlife was non-existent. This didn’t bother me at all - however I’m assured that during the peak season, the village rocks.
Summary: I loved Muerren. It really was an amazing holiday. The best tip I could give someone who is considering visiting this amazing village is to buy a Swiss rail transfer ticket before you begin your journey (you can only buy them outside of Switzerland). With this ticket, you can get from any airport in Switzerland, to any resort. It’s wonderful! As you can tell, I can’t sing the praises of Muerren highly enough.