Is the Bernina Express a Tourist Trap?
Is the Bernina Express a Tourist Trap?
The Bernina Express has been described as a tourist trap because of the way it is set up. It was designed to cater to the specific type of tourist that was there in droves during the build up to Euro 2012. That was essentially people looking for a great place to stay in other than hotels, and those who were not willing to spend much money on food or souvenirs. Unfortunately the luxury service that is offered here is a far cry from this.
It is hard not to be impressed by the design of the hotel. The building exudes a sense of classic elegance that seems to get right to the core of what luxury hospitality is all about. From the lobby to the room service, everything feels very high-end. The decor, the furnishings, the high quality of the furnishings – everything about the hotel screams “I’m classy!” But the service doesn’t offer much more than this.
There is nothing particularly spectacular about the location of the hotel either. The center of town is packed with restaurants and other retail stores. There is very little street-life, and you will not find any of the street performers that you might find in a city like Amsterdam or Paris. The closest thing to having some kind of nightlife is a small beer garden (or bar) that is located off of the main pedestrian shopping area. You will also notice that most tables and chairs are placed against the walls rather than in the open. This, as a whole, does not offer any kind of visual stimulation that you might find in a city that is as transient as Amsterdam.
The one positive aspect of the hotel that does redeem it somewhat is the quality of the rooms. These rooms are a step up from the generic hotel rooms that you would find in the average city center. There is a sense of space and coziness in the rooms that make them feel welcoming rather than like a place where someone could fall asleep. The rooms are comfortable, clean, and have all of the modern amenities that anyone would want. For those who do not travel that often to the city, the rooms can be helpful in providing a place to spend a few days. For those who do travel frequently, they are simply not worth the cost.
If you are planning to visit the Express, you will want to take in some of the restaurants and bars that are on the premises. While the hotel offers some delicious dishes, most of the food that is offered is subpar. Many people will be able to get away with a few meals and a few alcoholic beverages, but for those who like to eat a good meal and a good drink, the quality of the restaurant is not worth the price of admission. This is especially true for the many tapas restaurants that are located on the property.
Tapas restaurants are some of the worst places to go if you are trying to find a decent meal. Tapas is just a Spanish word, which means, “little fish.” These restaurants often use raw seafood, which is not at all good for one’s body. If you want to try one of these restaurants, you should make sure that you know which restaurants have the best tapas. Word of mouth is usually the best way to find out this information, as it is usually a common practice to only go to the most popular tapas restaurants.
Another thing that many travelers will find concerning the hotel is that it is very overpriced. The hotel itself is very expensive, and the food that is offered will not make one happy unless they are a very heavy guest. Fortunately, there are many more budget-friendly places to stay in town that offer better food and service. The Express is simply a place to stay if one wants to be taken advantage of. There are so many good options for a stay in the town of Bernina, that it will be hard to justify paying over $100 for a room.
This hotel definitely falls into the “tourist trap” category, but the tourists that visit the area will be glad that they did. The prices are reasonable, and the quality of the food and service far exceeds what could be expected at this price. It is a good thing that people can now find a good deal on a good place to stay when they are staying in Bernina. If you have never been to the area, then this probably isn’t the best place for you to stay, but it is certainly worth checking out if you are coming from out of state or even outside the United States.