My Stay in the Palace Luzern – a Luxury Hotel in Lucerne

My travels to Switzerland led me to the shores of Lake Lucerne, where in a village framed by an idyllic alpine landscape stands the Hotel Palace in Luzern. Almost every view from the hotel is postcard perfect. It is a luxurious, traditional 5-star hotel only 5 minutes walking distance from Old Town Lucerne.  The entire hotel has a very grand feel to it with high ceilings and large crystal chandeliers; sunny with a simple elegance. The staff goes out of their way for the guests and most things requested come with an extra surprise which really makes you feel special.

When we arrived in the room the first day, it was a delightful surprise to find the amenity of a large plate of various fruit, crackers and cheese. We had a commanding view of Lake Lucerne and Mount Pilatus through the large French doors and from the spacious balconies of our room.  It seemed that no matter where you sat in the room you had a great view.  The bathroom was huge even by American standards with heated floors, double sinks, large deep bathtub for soaking and a separate shower with multiple heads for an invigorating shower.  The bath products are of the quality one would pay dearly for and much appreciated at the end of our vacation.

That evening the maid performed the turn down service leaving fine Swiss chocolates in a nice little box on the pillow and the fruit replenished.  Speaking of the bed, it was a King size bed with double duvet so each person has his or her own bed in a bed.  The linens were fine Egyptian cotton and the pillows can only be described as dreamy.  The closets and drawers are so plentiful and large in size you could completely unpack with room to spare.  We even found the hotel safe large enough for a 15 inch laptop, two cameras and assorted other items.

Our first night at the hotel exhausted from the all day travel, we wandered into the hotel restaurant  just looking for something to eat.  To our surprise, they had a visiting Chef from a Michelin Star restaurant.  The final decision went to sharing a baked whole fish with steamed vegetables.  We were truly honor to have the Chef come to the table and serve it.  What a treat!  The wine they paired with the meal was a Swiss wine, that cannot be found outside of the country and was perfect. Light, fresh and cool.   The evening ended with a short stroll along Lake Lucerne promenade. What started out as grabbing a quick meal ended up being a special evening.

The Spa is a hidden gem, extremely peaceful and is smartly laid out and well appointed. I found their concept that blends traditional treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world using modern techniques to feel fabulous on my tired muscles. The spa comprises state-of-the-art saunas, steam rooms, lifestyle showers, ice fountains and much more.  We were very relaxed after an hour with their specialists.

Our final night, we had dinner at Jasper’s.  The restaurant overlooks the promenade with all of the City of Lucerne on the other side of the lake from us.  One of the special things they do is in between each course is they bring a little something extra to try.  Not much but just a taste of something special the chef had prepared to keep your taste buds engaged.  The wait staff always seemed to be right there when you needed them but they never hovered over you.  For the warmer months, they have a patio that would have made the dining experience over the top. Obviously, we will have to revisit Lucerne again.

What makes a hotel, a luxury hotel for you?
Service, Size, Quality, Location, Amenitites

Tulips, Castles & River Cruising: Part 4 of 4

We started Saturday morning taking a coach trip through the Black Forest with a local guide. The area is beautiful and would have been nicer had it not been so cloudy. There are many places to stop and visit, so my recommendation for this area would be for travelers to rent a car allowing for stops at will. We passed several stork’s nests near Gottenheim and Umkirch on top of this church and on these man-made poles, really amazing. They really believe in the power of a stork bringing fidelity, fertility and happiness to you. We unfortunately drove by some nice wineries in Glottertal but were unable to stop and sample the goods – if you love red wine this is the place to come.

The tiny village of Sankt Märgen has a beautiful church and the valley views are really something to see, with the fat dairy cows grazing in the pasture and the typical swiss mountain cottages,  it was still beautiful. The highlight of the morning was a stop at this old hotel of the stars where many famous people have stayed, and they have a cuckoo clock demonstration telling you a bit about the history of the clocks. And if that is not enough, there are Steinbech Nutcrackers, beer steins, and original Black Forest Cake for purchase. The main building is a cuckoo clock, at least one end of it, that we were able to watch at 12 noon in the rain – very cool to watch even if it was raining.

That night we had our cruise farewell dinner which was by far the best meal served. The entertainment with dinner was cruising thru locks, and it is amazing how fast you can rise up and we are still wondering how they manage to fit with such narrow free space on either side. Tight fit is a understatement.

Sunday morning, we departed Basel early for Lucerne. Upon arrival to the Palace Luzern, well before the normal check in time, we were happily pleased all our rooms were ready. With 180 degree unobstructed views of the lake, Mt Pilatus, Rigi and Lucerne, well appointed spacious rooms, unusually large bathrooms, and a welcome plate for fruits and chocolates – it was fantastic!

Making the most of our time we took a walking city tour of Lucerne with my favorite guide, Gabriele, stopping at all the key places like Thorvaldsen’s Lion, a tribute to the Swiss Guards fighting in the French Revolution, the Chapel Bridge with it’s incredible art in the rafters – originally build in 1330 but partially rebuilt after a fire in 1993.

The Swiss Transport Museum is a must for any car, train or plane buff and a easy walk. If you are a music lover, Richard Wagner spent many years here and there is a grand museum on the lake that is also within walking distance.

For Dinner several of us with a few local friends went to the trendy, art deco Montana Hotel with beautiful night cityscape views. The food is outstanding here and I heard from several people the Louie Armstrong  jazz bar is a must visit during the week.

Monday, we started with a walk to catch a lake cruise to Alpnachstadt with several stops along the way. The lake views are gorgous, and once you see them you understand why so many decide to live on the lake. Upon arrival in Alpnachstadt, we boarded the Cogwheel train to Mt Pilatus that in many spots is at 47% incline. The Mt Pilatus visitor center is at 7000 feet and we were lucky to have a decent view considering all the clouds and misty rain they have been having, but of course because it has been so cold there was no shortage of snow and ice. What I thought was interesting were the snow formations that had been blown in such a way they looked like feathers. With all the snow and construction the most hiking we could do was the basic loop sharing the dragon legend. Mt

Pilatus is a a hikers heaven with varying degrees of difficulty. We enjoyed a scenic lunch before our cable car and gondola ride to Kriens. The afternoon we enjoyed free time to explore more on our own, window shop the boutique shops in town,  people watch and sip a warm beverage. Our farewell dinner was lakeside at Jasper’s  where they went above and beyond in service to make the evening most memorable for everyone. A Swiss rosé was enjoyed with many people chosing chicken, trout or halibut for their main course.  It was an excellent finale to a great trip.

What is your favorite stop, site, city or experience on this journey?