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iamian16
County Durham, United Kingdom

Classic hotel in perfect location with wonderful staff.

4.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed Jun 29, 2024
This is a classic grand hotel from a past era. It's location, on the waterfront and less than ten minutes from the old town, Bahnhofquai and railway station makes it ideal for the city and its south facing aspect enjoys a view and the opportunity to sit out away from the Luzern traffic.

The public rooms are palatial though it is only right to point out that much of the building is given over to residences, offices and independent restaurants so it is clear it is not quite as opulent as it was in its heyday. Nevertheless, it survives with some of that feeling of splendour. It also manages, perhaps uniquely for Luzern a small indoor pool and the maze-like walk to it reveals some of the hidden staircases and vaulted ceiings. However, one doesn't often visit a city-centre hotel to marvel at its architecture!

The staff are, without exception, quite wonderful. Helpful, attentive, courteous effecient and nothing was ever too much trouble. Of course their English was perfect, as if it would not have been, the Swiss have been doing the hospitality thing for a century or longer! The breakfast staff, in particular brightened every day of our stay.

Breakfast (included in our tariff) was great, food quality perfect and plenty of choice. Perhaps the service was relaxed but this must be deliberate as when we mentioned we had an early train to catch things happened almost instantaneously.

We enjoyed mixed weather during our stay so we ate both inside and out. The hotel boasts al fresco dining at the Brasserie Juliette but moves inside when it rains. This seemed to dent the efficiency when there was an unexpected change in weather. The Juliette also doubles as the hotel's bar and on two occasions we as guests were pushed aside by corporate functions. A shame, when there are other rooms available for those sort of events. Otherwise the food and service were impeccable.

It is an old hotel and though it has been continuously updated, some things seem not quite up to the mark. Every high end (and many mid/low end - Holiday Inn Express, Ibis, Novotel etc.) hotels boasts an abundance of electrical outlets (European standard) and the essential USB socket by the bed. Disappointingly, we found the few sockets filled with adaptors and the USB charging station hidden inside a desk 2m away from one side of the bed. OK, we weren't there on business but everyone needs to charge their 'phone/iPad etc. overnight. The wi-fi worked but it seemed some streaming sites had been blocked.

The TV seemed to have lots of channels but again half seemed unavailable. Really bizarre but whilst we could watch BBC2, CBBC but other BBC channels and indeed the fallback of CNN were not available. I understand the licencing issues but I have watched BBC World in Mumbai and Louisville as well as BBC1 throughout Benelux.

On the matter of past glories I alluded to the independent restaurants which occupy the building. Jialu, Chinese Restauant is excellent and Franz, Austrian, which was never full and at times seemed deserted was very good with abundant portions.

Altogther though a wonderful stay with only minor niggles.
Date of stay: June 2024
Room Tip: Bring a 'phone charger and long leads.
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
4.0 of 5 bubblesValue
4.0 of 5 bubblesRooms
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesCleanliness
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
4.0 of 5 bubblesSleep Quality
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Guest Relations, Guest Services / Front Office at Grand Hotel National Luzern, responded to this review
Responded Jul 1, 2024
Dear iamian16,

Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback about your recent stay at our Grand Hotel National!

We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our hotel's location and it's wonderful to know that you appreciated the historical charm of our public rooms and the unique features like our small indoor pool. :-)

Your compliments about our staff are truly appreciated. We strive to provide exceptional service, and it's rewarding to hear that our team was helpful, attentive, and courteous throughout your stay. We will certainly share your kind words with them, especially the breakfast team who brightened your mornings!

We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the great food quality and variety offered at breakfast and will let our passionate breakfast chef Tim know. It's our intention to provide a relaxed experience while ensuring prompt service when our guests have time constraints, such as catching an early train, which we hope you could catch in the end. ;-)

We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the unexpected changes in dining arrangements at the Sharing Brasserie Juliette during inclement weather and the disturbances from corporate events. Your feedback regarding electrical outlets, USB sockets, and Wi-Fi availability is duly noted, and we will definitely review these areas for improvement!
If you could tell us, which streaming sites didn't work with our WIFI that would help us a lot.

Also, we do understand the importance of having a variety of channels for our guests' enjoyment and relaxation.
It appears that there may have been some licensing restrictions some days ago affecting the availability of certain channels at our location. We continuously strive to improve our entertainment offerings and will look into ways to enhance the channel selection for a better guest experience.

Thank you for sharing your dining experiences at our independent restaurants within the building. We will pass your kind words to the concerning managers of Franz and Jialu.

Thank you once again for your valuable feedback!

We hope to welcome you back for another wonderful, even better, stay in the future.

Best regards,

Ramona Bühlmann
Executive Assistant
Grand Hotel National Luzern
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Reviewed June 12, 2024

Tolghan Kücük was amazing, helping me out with reservation at Franz restaurant. He made sure we get a good spot in the restaurant and went above and beyond in organizing everything! Great service! He also provided some little gifts for us, just amazing!

Date of stay: June 2024
Trip type: Traveled with family
Thank KiranMenachery95
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guest Relations, Guest Services / Front Office at Grand Hotel National Luzern, responded to this reviewResponded June 13, 2024

Dear Kiran,

Thank you very much for your fantastic feedback! We're delighted to hear that Tolghan made such a positive impact. Ensuring our guests have a memorable time is always our goal, and it sounds like Tolghan went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for you, from securing a great spot to providing thoughtful gifts. :-)

We truly appreciate your kind words and will be sure to pass along your compliments to Tolghan and the rest of our team. It was our pleasure to assist you, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another exceptional experience soon.

Warm regards,

Ramona Bühlmann
Executive Assistant
Grand Hotel National Luzern

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Reviewed May 19, 2024 via mobile

Terrible, overpriced hotel and when the staff explain everything with sorry there is a weeding going…. Thank you but I would have appreciated to know that before 1) bar is closed because if a weeding 2) no room service because of a weeding 3) a disco in my room at 9- pm because of the weeding 4) we did not know because the weeding was planned yesterday WOW this is definitely not a 5 stars, it was not our first stay here (while the first one was as not perfect but ok) but after this one we won’t come back!!!

Date of stay: May 2024
Trip type: Traveled with family
Thank Maaxx
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guest Relations, Guest Services / Front Office at Grand Hotel National Luzern, responded to this reviewResponded May 20, 2024

Dear Max,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your recent stay with us. We are truly sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations and that you encountered several issues during your visit!

We deeply regret that the wedding event caused so many inconveniences, impacting the bar availability, room service, and overall noise level. We understand how important it is for our guests to have a peaceful and enjoyable stay, and we sincerely apologize for not informing you about these disruptions in advance.It is by no means in line with our standards that you experienced such a situation. We will investigate the incident internally and ensure that our team is sensitized and trained appropriately to avoid such misunderstandings in the future.

Your feedback regarding the price and the condition of the hotel is also noted. We strive to provide a high standard of service and accommodation, and it is clear that we fell short during your stay. Please be assured that we take your comments seriously and will address these concerns with our team to prevent similar situations in the future.

We are disappointed to hear that this stay has led to your decision not to return, especially since you had previously stayed with us. We would greatly appreciate the opportunity to make it right and restore your faith in our hotel.

If you would consider giving us another chance, please contact me directly, we will invite you and I will personally ensure that your next stay is up to the standards you expect and deserve. r.buehlmann@grandhotel-national.com

Once again, we apologize for the inconveniences you faced and thank you for your honest feedback.

Best regards,

Ramona Bühlmann
Executive Assistant
Grand Hotel National

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Reviewed April 18, 2024

The National hotel in Lucerne is overpriced for the hotel rooms it offers. It is Definitely not the five star hotel it pretends to be.
Overall very uncomfortable suits with bare cold floors. The pictures of the hotel do not match reality. My husband and I were utterly deceived.

Date of stay: April 2024
  • Trip type: Traveled solo
    • Value
    • Location
    • Sleep Quality
    • Rooms
    • Cleanliness
    • Service
Thank nevineaz
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guest Relations, Guest Services / Front Office at Grand Hotel National Luzern, responded to this reviewResponded April 22, 2024

Dear Nevineaz,


We're truly sorry to hear about your disappointment with your recent stay. We aim to provide a comfortable and pleasant experience for all our guests, and it's disheartening to learn that we fell short of your expectations. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the room conditions and any discrepancies between the images and reality.


We would appreciate it if you could personally contact us (r.buehlmann@grandhotel-national.com) and provide more detailed feedback on what led to your dissatisfaction, so that we can work on these specific points. Your feedback is valuable, and we will use it to make necessary improvements. Please know that we take your comments seriously, and we will strive to address these issues. We understand your decision not to book with us again, but we hope you might reconsider in the future, as we would love the opportunity to regain your trust and provide you with a more positive experience.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!

Best wishes,

Ramona Bühlmann
Executive Assistant
Grand Hotel National

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Reviewed January 5, 2024

.We decided to spend our pre-Christmas getaway at a luxury hotel in Lucerne, and we chose the Grand Hotel. In the first moments of our stay, we were immediately captivated by the aristocratic atmosphere, the spacious room, and the magnificent view from our balcony.
I absolutely loved the breakfast area, which was decorated beautifully for the holiday season . In general, the food was freshly made delicious and well presented.
Same goes for our dinner at Juliette’s restaurant.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this classy and aristocratic hotel, and I would highly recommend it

Date of stay: November 2023
  • Trip type: Traveled as a couple
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank lilobor
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guest Relations, Guest Services / Front Office at Grand Hotel National Luzern, responded to this reviewResponded January 8, 2024

Dear Lilobor,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience at the Grand Hotel in Lucerne. We are thrilled to hear that you chose us for your pre-Christmas getaway and that your stay exceeded your expectations.

It warms our hearts to know that you were captivated by the aristocratic atmosphere, the spacious room, and the magnificent view from your balcony. We strive to create an environment of luxury and comfort, and we are delighted to hear that we succeeded in making your stay special.

We are also pleased to hear that you enjoyed the holiday decorations in the breakfast area and that the food met your expectations. Our team works hard to provide a delightful dining experience, and we are glad to see that reflected in your feedback. It's especially rewarding to know that your dinner at Juliette's restaurant was a memorable one.

Thank you for recommending our hotel. We truly appreciate your kind words and are honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to your enjoyable stay. Should your travels bring you back to Lucerne, we would be delighted to welcome you again.

Wishing you a wonderful day!

Warm regards,

Ramona Bühlmann
Executive Assistant
Grand Hotel National Luzern

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Reviewed December 11, 2023

The most perfect massage experience! The spa manager is very capable and helped me with my back problems in a short amount of time! A small but very lovely spa and top notch quality. I can't wait to go again.

Date of stay: December 2023
  • Trip type: Traveled solo
    • Value
    • Location
    • Service
Thank 338annew
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guest Relations, Gästeservice/Empfang at Grand Hotel National Luzern, responded to this reviewResponded December 14, 2023

Dear 338annew

Thank you for your glowing feedback! We're delighted you had the perfect massage experience. It's wonderful to hear our spa manager helped with your back problems quickly. We appreciate your kind words about our cozy spa and top-notch quality. We can't wait to welcome you back for another fantastic visit!

Kind regards
The GRAND HOTEL NATIONAL Team
Leonie Zurfluh
Guest Relation

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