I was originally inspired to try this hotel based on its web site, proximity to Lac Leman, Geneve itself, and because I had never traveled to Switzerland before.

4 years and 3 visits later, Hotel du Lac has, presumably, changed ownership – or at least I hope it has, because it is not what it was 4 years ago.

Once a charming reception, complete with awaiting outdoor dining (complete with celebrity diners), and a large master suite, it has failed miserably – at the same rates.

At CHF435 a night, there is help with the bags, a front door that is required to be unlocked just to get bags through it, awful parking across the street, and seemingly no one anywhere, except a single, lone person at the front desk who’s as helpful as …

This time, September, 2007, we stayed two nights. Each night, we battled spiders crawling all over the room. The first night we killed 8, the second 12. Finally I was told to complain. The aforementioned front desk help told me that “a house with spiders is a healthy house”. What?

They may not kill but most females, and some males do not relish the thought of sleeping with SPIDERS!!!

During our stay, the wind had kicked up a bit and the draft through the windows was howling all night long. Almost no sleep.

We had breakfast at 8:00am. After ordering “oeufs brouillard” (scrambled eggs) we were politely told by the waiter that the kitchen doesn’t open ‘til 9am. This after being charged CHF 25 per person for the privilege of having breakfast at their hotel.

By the time we checked out, we had complained to no avail, brought it up, and the lady at the front desk did lower the price of the “so called” breakfast slightly – and we were told to contact the manager for further discounting or comments.

For 2 weeks following, we emailed the same address that, in the past had so warmly welcomed our arrival, to no avail.

Observe – if they tell you, like they did us, “on a clear day you can see Mont Blanc from your room” – you can’t. It’s is obscured by a huge hill. Their web site clearly states that all suites have balconies. They do NOT.

We’d also complained each visit that the carpet runners along the concrete falls were a slip hazard (we lost our balance several times, sober!) and roller suitcases constantly snarl in them. Nothing was ever done about it. They simply appear not to care about anything.

Enough said.

Luckily we did spot alternative accommodations that we look forward to on our next return.

In a sentence. Skip this hotel especially at the price. 10 minutes from Geneve; you can find better! It’s a pity really because it could be such a gem with the right people running it.