The Hotel Alex was a fun hodge podge of rooms and sections. Old. Nice bartender. BIg dining areas and an incredible swimming pool. I had a big room...even a little living room area...overlooked the mountains, of course. In easy walking distance of everything in "downtown" Zermatt.

We were with a group and stayed 2 nights at Hotel Alex. Our room had a bedroom and a small sitting room. The decor was garish, it reminded us of a brothel shown in movies-dark red Damask walls with red furniture. Not very cozy. The room was expensive but not worth it. We stayed in much better places for much less. We had a problem with the room and went to the front desk the next morning to report it. As it turned out, one of the owners was there and was totally rude to me. He wouldn't let me tell him the problem. He kept interrupting and saying he would send someone. Finally my husband who was standing next to me told him that we would tell him the problem and not to interrupt. Fortunately, they did fix the problem in the room. Our group had dinner two nights in a row in the basement of the hotel. The servers were the rudest we have ever encountered. The food was mediocre. I had to wait 20 minutes for my food because I had ordered a vegetarian dish. They were not happy about it. Everyone was finished with their dinner by the time I got mine. Also, wine and soft drinks were not included with our dinner and it was very distracting as the waiter was asking payment from everyone instead of charging it to our room. The wine was expensive and not very good. A couple was charged $7.00 for a Sprite that they ordered for their child. It was clear to us that they were taking advantage of the American tourists. Our breakfasts were also mediocre. Needless to say, we will not go back to Hotel Alex and would recommend finding a better Hotel. The one positive comment is that my husband had sent in some laundry and we were to receive it around 9 pm and needed to pack really early. We asked the front desk clerk if we could get the laundry and she went and looked for it and found it. She brought it to us. We thought that was nice of her to oblige us.

Four friends and I spent a week at the hotel for a skiing trip. The location of the hotel is excellent. 2 minute walk to the main train station and Gornegrat rail to the slopes. My partner and I had a junior suite which was very stylish and comfortable. Two friends who paid the same as us had an inferior room that was not up to scratch. They were moved to a better room after a difficult discussion with reception. Hotel facilities are excellent, the bar area has lots of cosy seating areas and an excellent array of drinks (take care they are all very pricey). We had dinner in the hotel every night. The quality of food is the best we have ever had on a skiing holiday and the staff were very attentive to our vegetarian friends, which was a first on our ski holiday. The choice of wines with dinner is extensive but also very expensive (about £40 a bottle for the house wine). The ambience in the dining room is great, with lovely staff and a very relaxed atmosphere. The nightly greeting from Giselle, the owner, is a treat! A very good hotel but not for the budget conscious traveller.

We have stayed at the Alex five or six times now. We would never stay anywhere else in Zermatt. Granted the decoration is weird enough to give you nightmares but we think that is the charm of the place. We go with our teenage sons and they bring a friend each - so four boys in one room aged from 20 to 16. The staff still manage to turn their beds down and get into the bathroom to clean even though it is pretty much an impossibility! The food is absolutely delicious and the staff are lovely, especially if you engage with them. It is terribly expensive everywhere in Zermatt, and we did once stay somewhere else when the Alex was full. It was a bit cheaper but so basic and unwelcoming that it wasn't worth the saving. We talk about staying at this hotel all year round and would definately recommend it.