The Park Hotel Weggis is a Swiss lake resort Hotel that has re-invented itself. It was once a very traditional Swiss Hotel, of mainly sombre wood and stone construction.

Today the Parkhotel Weggis presents a curious juxtaposition of old and new. Set in its own park-area beside the lake, it keeps its original main building and slightly later annexe, both of which are architecturally classic, but internally refurbished in modern styles of light wood. It adds a brand new in 2007, ultra modern, Spa and Pool facility. The latter offers an impressive heated outdoor “infinity pool” which is a tranquil and invigorating place to spend an afternoon in the sunshine. Sadly it is not always sunny or warm in Switzerland, and on a rainy August afternoon the pool was effectively unusable as the inclement weather swept through the place. Why in the world the designers didn’t put some glass doors between the roof and the ground I cannot imagine.

There are a range of accommodations to suit many budgets, but our lake-view room was spacious and modern in décor, and located on the second floor of the Annexe building. We found it fairly comfortable with the exception of a far too hard bed, but would also say that it could use air-conditioning on warm summer days, but this is rarely installed in Swiss hotels.

There are three restaurants in the hotel: the Sparks, which offers a healthy varied cuisine and is also the main restaurant for breakfast. It has a nice balcony which overlooks the gardens and the lake. We liked the food, and enjoyed the balcony seating, but found the interior atmosphere a little sterile and hushed.
The Annexe restaurant, located on the ground floor of the annexe, is the gastronomic choice, with up to 7 courses available on set menus at much higher prices.

The Grape is an informal restaurant located a few minutes walk toward the town, but owned by the hotel. It’s a nice location but we found food to be limited and of just about OK quality. Some inventive dishes would make the place a more attractive option.

Finally, don’t overlook the fact that this hotel has its own beachfront lounging area right on the lake, with a nice bar, great views, and the opportunity to swim in the lake, or at least paddle on a sunny day.

The accommodation costs in this hotel are average for a Swiss 4 star luxury grade hotel. However, the meals and wine could run you up quite a bill, especially breakfast, which is a simple buffet but at an extravagant price. You can easily opt to eat at one of several cafes and restaurants in the village, for simpler and cheaper fare.

The staff are all courteous and professional, welcoming but not effusive, and typically Swiss.

There is one very weird factor in this hotel: the recent addition of “art” that you will find dotted around the gardens and balconies. Scores, if not hundreds, of nude tan stone figures of various sizes from human height down to smaller than a baby. Some were sad and droopy in appearance, others like demonic imps, and a third variety recalled to mind the Roswell Aliens. Very weird indeed, and the things were literally everywhere, even at dinner with you. I guess you should judge for yourself whether you love it or hate it! But I must say we found it pretty hideous.

In terms of the location, Weggis is a beautiful area of Lake Lucerne (more correctly known as the Vierwaldstattersee), and the town is possibly only bettered by Vitznau, and in my opinion you really couldn’t choose a better situation for your stay.
Don’t expect lively nightlife though. Its quiet after 10:30, except at weekends, and even then its not a party town. For a livelier scene you need to get yourself into Lucerne.

Although this is not a terrible hotel, there were real problems with our stay which we had intended would be nearly a week but which ended after one night.

Of our two rooms, one had a lake view and balcony but the balcony was shared with two other rooms, there was another balcony to the immediate left, there was another balcony immediately overhead and there was a great deal of activity immediately below: far from being a rural idyll, one was always acutely aware of a great many people in very close proximity. This room was very hot at night and the bathroom was essentially a cupboard off the room although, in fairness, the hotel's website does disclose this floorplan.

The other room was over the hotel's front door: it had unappealing outlooks, no proper curtains to screen the bathroom windows from the hotel entrance/street and it was noisy throughout the night making consistent sleep impossible and a nearby building site started fairly early in the morning.

The hotel did disclose in advance that they have no permanent no-smoking rooms: they do however try to give non-smokers a room in which no-one has recently smoked.

Waiting staff in the hotel were all very nice but the standard of dinner in the mid range restaurant was mediocre with, for example, low quality bread . Breakfast was similarly unenticing.

Although the hotel website does not show this, there is a road between the hotel and the lake: and there was regular traffic through the night. There also seemed to be a fairly busy road at the other side of the hotel. It rained in the night and the following morning the car was covered in cement like dust, confirming our perception that air quality in the area was not so good.

The process of checking out was unpleasant. The duty receptionist was not senior enough to deal with an early check out so a more senior manager was summoned who in turn produced the hotel manager. The hotel manager insisted on charging a second night's stay to the credit card which, given the reason for our departure, was wholly inappropriate.

Again, this is not a terrible hotel, but it is also an expensive hotel and crucial ingredients for which we had hoped were not delivered.

I spent the weekend there and had a wonderful experience. The cottages are relaxing and serene. It rained all weekend, though, so I was not able to take advantage of the hikes and biking, but did manage to workout indoors at the exercise facility. The only negative for me was the limited room service menu. They do not have much to choose from, so dining at the restaurants was the only option. The atomosphere is sophisticated, but relaxed. I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a weekend getaway.

Enjoyed our weekend stay at the Park Hotel enormously, so much that we extended our stay one night. Blessed with sunny early spring weather for the stay we based ourselves at this lakeside hotel and were not disappointed. Booked a lake view room which was spacious and had a good size bathroom.

At the end of winter the lake steamers do not operate in such numbers as in season, so it needs a bit of time planning to leave your car at the hotel and take the boat into Lucerne...... last one back at 4 20 pm until early April. Lucerne charming and with a good variety of things to do and see. Do not miss the Transport Museum or the art museums.

We ate twice in Annex and once at The Grape, 5 minutes walk towards the town, owned by the hotel. Both excellent in their own way. Service at both was very good.

Hotel staff were helpful (why do Americans refer to staff in the singular, there are so many people employed?) and when we had a couple of blips they took steps to put things right as soon as possible. Our third night should have been billed at the spring rate but they offered it at the winter rate we had paid for the first two nights. Just what we had hoped for. No complaints and cannot recommend both the hotel, Weggis and the area highly enough.