Hotel Alpina - not in Rick's book

Janet, I don't know why the Hotel Alpina is no longer listed in the Guidebook. They seem to change a few of the hotel listings from year-to-year, but not sure why? It doesn't necessarily indicate a change in quality. The Hotel is in a great location with fantastic views. I was by there in September, and it looked really nice. As I recall, it's on the same end of town as the rail station, so you won't have far to walk. I was staying in Lauterbrunnen, so can't offer any comments on Hotel Alpina. Happy travels!

We had a great experience at Hotel Alpina.....but that was in 2006. The view is incredible. We also noticed it wasn't in the current guidebook, but that didn't keep us from reserving for this coming July. I do remember that there weren't elevators, but for the view, I don't mind going up two floors with luggage. Included breakfast was average.

Janet, the fact that Rick does not list a hotel means LESS then nothing to me.. I have stayed in dozens of hotels in Europe none were in Ricks books, all nice thanks. And I have done one tour with Rick, and guess what, almost none of the hotels the tour stayed in were in his books, and they were all fine too.
Do not get into the "ricks book listings only " headset, you will only hold yourself back.. I use tripadvisor.com reviews, but I also cross check other reveiw sites, simply by googling a hotels name and the word "review" you can pull various sites some are hotel booking sites where guest reviews get posted. I also ask here, some of our posters do stay at non Rick listed hotels too,, good resourses to check at many at possible. I just get frustrated that people misuse Ricks books, the name of the original book was Europe Through the Back Door" and the philosophy was to learn and find your own "back door".. not just follow in ricks footsteps. He gives suggestions and ideas but not limits.

Thanks all who responded especially about the absence in Rick's book not indicative of quality. Still would be interested in others who have stayed at Alpina recently - and the view at the Blumenthal chalet. Thanks.

It is no problem if RS doesn't list a hotel. He and his staff can't visit everyplace, and they have their idiosyncrasies in what they look for like everyone else. We have stayed at lots of non RS-listed hotels and done fine. However to me it would raise a caution flag if earlier editions of the RS book recommended it and later ones do not; I'm not sure if that's what you're saying though. If it used to be listed, loss of listing could have an innocent explanation. But being mentioned in the RS book drives a good deal of business to a place, something RS is well aware of. In turn, each book solicits feedback from travelers. I recall a hotel RS recommended in Rome, a location very convenient to the Roma Termini station. We stayed there and it was fine, paid cash since they offered a small discount. However on this website there began to appear complaints that the credit card machine would be "out of order today" if anyone wanted to pay that way. Presumably some people also wrote to RS. Subsequently I noticed they are no longer in his book. BTW there is an article about TripAdvisor, "Deconstructing TripAdvisor", that appeared in the Wall Street Journal that you can find online. It can help you make the best of that resource and identify when reviews may have been gamed.

John - Thanks for the link to the WSJ article. It was imformative.

It was in Rick's book when we stayed there in 2009. AS to why it was ped, I have no idea but I do know that on a previous trip to Italy we stayed at a place outside Sienna that had been ped and we were very satisfied. His books are only guidelines. The Aplina is right on the edge of the valley and our room was very small but the view from our balcony was fantastic. The catch is to make sure you get a valley side room.

Thanks, Irv. Good to know.