Life is all about balance and I don’t think traveling is an exception. Throughout my years of traveling, I’ve slept on the floor of our family RV, stayed in hostels, slept on couches or in sleeping bags, avoided getting under the sheets at dirty hotels and even spent the night in an airport chair. But I’ve also had ocean view rooms, two-bedroom suites, top-notch amenities, and some five-star service. It’s balance. As I get older, I certainly prefer the plush beds over the bunk beds, but I think the hostels help me appreciate the suites. Know what I mean? So as I was deciding on where to stay in Lucerne, Switzerland, I chose to give us a little luxury.
Lucerne was our middle stop and I already knew it would be a more laid-back city. We were visiting right between Amsterdam and Oktoberfest so yeah, I wanted a little extra pampering and relaxation. When I came across Art Deco Hotel Montana, I didn’t think twice about the price, I just booked it.
Art Deco Hotel Montana
Nestled on the side of the mountain overlooking Lake Lucerne, is the Art Deco Hotel Montana. You can’t miss it. On top of the hotel are giant letters spelling MONTANA. It’s about a 5 minute taxi ride from the train station and just when I thought it might be a little too far to walk to Old Town, Art Deco had a pleasant little surprise. Right in the lobby of the hotel is a funicular that takes your from the hotel down to street level where the bus stops are located. It was so convenient, making the walk to Old Town less than 10 minutes, and transportation a breeze.
The staff at the hotel were exceptional. When we forgot to bring the Swiss converter, the hotel provided us with one to borrow. They also had extra toothpaste for us, band-aids for me, and concierge that somehow managed to get us free champagne at the Fondue House in Old Town. I’ll take it.
Junior Corner Suite
The best part about this place? I surprised my husband with the most spectacular room. He usually doesn’t care where we stay as long as there’s a bed, so seeing his reaction to this place was priceless. With only four Junior Corner Suites in the whole hotel, snagging it for our travel dates was a real treat. I opted to get the “city view” corner suite, but Art Deco blew me away with the lake view we had from the jacuzzi. I mean, pinch me! It was incredible.
There were three sets of doors leading out to the balcony, two lounge chairs, and another set of chairs with a table. It was vacation perfection.
Let’s talk about this sweet little junior suite. Located on the 5th floor of the hotel, it’s a large room with a mini bar, sitting area, king sized bed, and a beautiful bathroom. But what makes it stand out is the giant wrap-around balcony featuring the two-person hot tub and lake views. The corner suite had plenty of room for the two of us to spread out. With in-room amenities like an iPad that allows you to order different pillows or read e-magazines and a seat heater on the toilet, we felt extra spoiled. The luxurious robe and slippers were my go-to any time we were relaxing in the room. Let’s not forget that the minibar was stocked with champagne, wine, and beers for us to enjoy – all complimentary.
The only thing that surprised me about the room was that the bathroom was totally different than it looked online. Their website featured photos with double sinks and gold accents while ours had a single sink and a more contemporary feel. It didn’t affect our stay at all, but note-worthy because I fully expect photos to reflect the specific room when there are only 4 Junior Corner Suites in the hotel.
Restaurants & Bars
Art Deco Hotel Montana is also known for it’s Beach Club Lounge with stunning views of the lake. The lounge area has sand for you to dig your toes into and the atmosphere is laid-back but polished. I believe they’re only open May through September, so we caught the tail end of their “season” and thank goodness we did! We spent every evening at the Beach Club and even had a light dinner here one night. The views in photos simply don’t do it justice.
Scala Restaurant & Terrace boasts more lake and mountain views while serving up some of the best fine dining in Lucerne. We made dinner reservations there for our first night and it was just one more way to spoil ourselves at the hotel. It was busy for a Wednesday night, but the live pianist and violinist made it feel intimate and special. The wine list was impressive and the food was delicious. You can find the menu for your travel dates a few weeks before arriving.
The Kitchen Club can be booked for private events and offers an interactive experience of watching the chefs prepare the surprise four-course meal in front of you. It delights all of the senses and provides a unique experience that we didn’t get to do during this trip, but would love to next time!
Louis Bar is a stunning bar in the hotel that’s said to have the most precious whiskey collection in Central Switzerland. With a live pianist setting the tone for the evening and a bartender whipping together specialty cocktails, it’s the perfect spot to end the night.
Overall:
It was so hard to leave this hotel in Lucerne. We could’ve stayed for weeks with the comfort and luxury, but I have a pretty good feeling we’ll be back one day. Lucerne totally stole our hearts and we were blessed with the most amazing weather. If you’re heading to this lakeside town, the Art Deco Hotel Montana will give you everything you want and more. I mean, if a jacuzzi on the balcony is your kinda thing.
What do you love to splurge on during your travels?! Hotels? First class? Dining out?
