What To Know Before Booking A Mountain Hotel In The Swiss Alps, Per Rick Steves

Switzerland is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful countries in Europe and a major bucket list destination for travelers from around the world. With cities full of history, some of the best skiing in Europe, sparkling lakes, and gorgeous mountain scenery, it's easy to see why millions of tourists visit every single year. Around the world, Switzerland is famous for culinary delights like chocolate and cheese. It's also well known for its quaint villages, history, and culture. While there are plenty of beautiful reasons to visit Switzerland, the majestic Alps are perhaps the most alluring.

The Swiss Alps offer some of the most stunning scenery on the continent. From lush green meadows full of wildflowers to rugged snow-capped peaks, it's pure, unspoiled natural beauty. One of the best ways to see it up close is by booking a mountain hotel during your Switzerland vacation, which is a wonderful way to escape typical tourist spots. Rick Steves is a best-selling travel guidebook author, television host, and tour guide — and he's a big fan of pretty Swiss destinations. In a post on Facebook, he shared some excellent tips for travelers looking to stay in Switzerland's iconic mountain hotels. We've rounded up some of his advice to help you plan the perfect trip.

According to Rick Steves, the mountain hotels in the Swiss Alps date back to the 1800's. Many of the first tourists to journey through the mountains were from England. Wealthy adventurers on their "Grand Tour" of the continent were interested in mountaineering, and so visits to the Alps began to grow in popularity. In response to increased tourism, the first mountain lodges were constructed, nestled within the peaks of remote mountains. Rick Steves describes the accommodations as "rustic-yet-elegant." In order to get there, adventurers would ascend from nearby villages on foot.

"While many of these are now easily reached by touristic lifts and cogwheel trains, several of Switzerland's venerable historic mountain hotels remain a several-hour walk from the nearest car or station," Steves wrote in the Facebook post.His favorite hotels are best experienced by embarking on a series of mountain hikes between each historic lodge. Steves' itinerary included three days of hiking between Tschingelhorn Mountain Hotel, Hotel Bellevue des Alpes, Hotel Schynige Platte, and Obersteinberg Mountain Hotel. Each can be reached from the village of Gimmelwald in the Bernese Oberland region. To travel between each property, Steves combined hiking and riding gondolas to some of the highest-altitude hotels. Switzerland is a great spot for winter adventures, but for these hikes, it's best to plan your trip during the summer. 

Before you embark on your epic journey through the Alps, Rick Steves recommends acquiring some necessary gear. As you will be traveling on foot, it's a good idea to pack only the essentials, and Steves suggests bringing plenty of layers and being prepared for bad weather just in case. Even in the summer, temperatures can be quite cool at higher elevations, so be sure to check the temperatures and pack accordingly. He also recommends packing lunch and plenty of water so you don't run out during your hike between hotels. There won't be anywhere to stop for provisions along the way. "On two occasions, we hiked for six hours with no access to water...so we were careful not to "pack light" when it came to filling our water bottles," Steves warned.

When you arrive at the hotels, expect mostly European guests with a" convivial and friendly vibe" and traditional and rustic accommodations, according to Steves. "Mountain hotels in this region are generally very woody, family-run, and charge about $100 per person," he wrote. He also noted small details like traditional water jugs and bowls placed outside each double room for guests to wash up. Shared bathrooms are the norm. Don't expect elaborate menus like you might at some of the hotel restaurants in Switzerland's iconic resort towns. At the mountain hotels, guests enjoy a preset menu that changes nightly. Dinner and breakfast are included in the hotel stay, so you'll only need to account for lunches while you're out on the trail.