Swiss hotels: coffee maker, hotel safe?

craig, That's a very broad question, and somewhat difficult to answer. I've found that room facilities vary to some extent between locations. Larger hotels (especially from "chains") are more likely to have amenities like that. Coffee is also important to me, but I've found that having a coffee maker in the room isn't really necessary. Hotels provide breakfast, so I can still have my morning coffee. When out touring, I just stop at the local Bar or Coffee places, and usually have a cup or two after supper. Even in hotels where Safes are provided, I don't usually use them. I didn't realize you were "west coast people", as I'm not aware of where "canada, Canada" is located. Cheers!

In my imperfect memory, I would say about half the hotels where I've lodged in Switzerland had coffee makers in the room, and all had safes. As Ken noted, the breakfast rooms will always have coffee, although for some weird reason, you can never get coffee from the breakfast buffet itself, the server brings you a pot for the table.

We have spent a total of eight weeks in Switzerland, in a variety of accommodations-small family-run hotels, rustic mountain inns, apartments, B&B's, and one business-class hotel (Radisson Blu at Zurich airport). The only places we had a coffee maker were the Radisson and our apartment in Zermatt. In each case, it was a Nespresso machine (which my husband liked so much he bought one when we returned home). Everywhere else, it was coffee at breakfast for the coffee-drinkers. You can check the website for each place you are considering and it will likely say what is provided in the rooms.

When I stay in a hotel without a safe I just use the hotel safe.. never had a problem myself, sure its less convenient having to have someone fetch your stuff back and forth , but I am fine with that.. Wondering why would you book a hotel without a safe and coffee making if its so important to you ? Also if hotel includes a breakfast its more likely there is no coffee service in room. As a "west coast person " too, I am more of a tea person but then I am not from "Canada" Canada lol Suggest if you are a Starbucks person you could bring those little individual instant coffees they put out, apparently they are not bad. IF you are a Timmys person then you are doomed, lol I actually like Timmys and coffee in Europe is not like Tims..

@Tom, "although for some weird reason, you can never get coffee from the breakfast buffet itself, the server brings you a pot for the table." Depending on the hotel, those small pots are often only good for perhaps two cups. I usually have to ask the Server to bring another pot, as that barely gets me started in the mornings. So far they've never refused. To digress for a moment, there was one hotel in Rome that tried to be a bit stingy with the morning coffee. When I explained the concept of "Senza Fondo" and what tourists from this part of the world are accustomed to, they modified their approach the following morning. Cheers!

Another Italy breakfast tip for coffee lovers, learned secondhand, as I don't drink coffee but have traveled there with a coffee drinker: The breakfast buffet coffee is brewed, and is often not good. But if you ask, they will make you an espresso, cappuccino, etc. This was almost never offered, and until my friend learned that he had to ask, he was miserable. He was never refused when he asked. I haven't been to Switzerland, so I can't say if this applies there as well.

@Harold, Actually, I've found the brewed coffee supplied in the small pots is very good, as each pot is brewed fresh. My most recent memory is my stay in Lauterbrunnen last September, and that was certainly the case there. Cheers!

Coffee in Switzerland is quite good. It is due to the Italian immigrant workers in the 60s that popularized Italian style coffee (replacing the coffee/hickory mix the Swiss used to drink). In fact a Swiss company is the exclusive provider of coffee equipment to all Starbucks coffeehouses and the Nespresso capsules are Swiss.

"It is due to the Italian immigrant workers in the 60s that popularized Italian style coffee" Really? Do you mean that super-concentrated drip coffee they drink in Italy? I gagged on the stuff everytime I had it in Italy, but I've always found Swiss coffee rather smooth and mild. Two of the biggest coffee makers in Europe, Nestlé and Mövenpick, are both Swiss firms. EDIT: I didn't realize it, but Nestlé actually owns Mövenpick...

Yes definitely. Maybe the Swiss coffee is what the Italians used to drink in the 60s and they kind of diverged. But I remember quite well the hickory mix we used to have (that was popular in France too) before the Italians brought their coffee brands with them (mostly Lavazza). Many Italian immigrants after working in construction eventually opened restaurants. Thermoplan is the exclusive provider of equipment to Starbucks worldwide.

Nestle only owns Movenpick brand ice cream. The other food brands (including coffee), hotels, and restaurants are a separate entity.

Guys, it's Chicory - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicory and go down to Root Chicory, not Hickory - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hickory.

Witloof-flavored coffee? Hmm, I like witloof well enough (especially with ham and cream sauce), but I can't imagine the flavor going well with coffee.

Witloof????

Notwithstanding my spelling error, chicory roots (Cichorium intybus) have been used in Europe as a coffee substitute.

Craig, I present to you: Aeropress! You don't have to bring the whole shebang; just bring the 2 main pieces. It's the size of a pair of tube socks. This could change your life - at home, too ;-)

Eileen, this thing is pretty cool, but yes, I'd still need a way to boil water.
For budget reason, I am primarily looking to book furnished apt now, which should solve my coffee problem.

Oh Eileen, great suggestion! We bought one after my espresso- loving techno geek son showed up for a visit with one. Now we carry it traveling. They would still need a way to boil water, though.

Two words - immersion coil.