'Smoke on the water, fire in sky¦,
Sung along millions of times, these words are powerful carriers of one of the most iconic and popular rock songs of all times by American hard rock band Deep Purple. The song was written as the inspiration came to the band while visiting Montreux for a concert, as the fire broke out just to the opposite end of Lake Geneva, where another rocking band “ Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention “ was performing.
There are many such stories that people love to tell about Montreux in a loving and longing way that can only come about to exist if the city is kind enough to those who inhabit it. Located on the shores of utterly beautiful Lake Geneva, Montreux is one such city where the boundaries of everyday world just seem to collapse in a heap of nothingness, as the nature leads one by their finger to peace and love.
Another claim to fame that Montreux has is its hosting of various music festivals. From pot to rock and from punk to jazz, all genres of music are celebrated in this city. More than 2 million music fans annually turn up into Montreux just to enjoy these festivals in an incredibly beautiful setting of Montreux and its Swiss surroundings. AC DC, Metallica, Guns N Roses, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire are some top billing bands that have had a love affair with Montreux, delighting audiences through multiple concerts every year.
All we can ask our travel-fanatic readers is to try out Montreux for once, because we have a feeling that its off-the-chart hospitality will surprise you with pleasure. To start planning, you don't have to look anywhere else though, as we have compiled a quick fact-sheet of hotels in Montreux, just for your convenience!
Lodging Cheap in Montreux
Switzerland is not really a cheap country to visit, in comparison to the rest of Europe. Usually, people are quick to dismiss France as the costliest tourism country in Europe. But in fact, Switzerland is much more poised to stake a claim at this dubious honor, as its strong currency and eternal popularity translates into much more spending for tourists.
To cut down on this cost, the only viable way one can think of is to find cheap hotels and book them at discounted prices. It is easy to spot such good deals in the off season of winter, while in summer, Montreux hotels are just next to impossible to get a hold of at cheap fares.
While assessing the cheapness of these lodging options in Montreux, the best deal we could stumble upon was provided by Hotel Tralala Montreux. The name does sound quite curious, as it is an ode to the rather unknown precinct of the city. It checks most boxes that tourists would want it to, in order for it to quality as a good, decent and comfortable cheap hotel: low fares, clean and hygienic room, good location, cooperative staff and easy check-in-check-out procedures.
Hotel Splendid comes up next in this list of cheap hotels in and around Montreux. It is a no-frills hotel that believes strongly in keeping things as simple as they can be kept. Rooms here are spacious and well decorated, complemented by free Wi Fi and a good spread of French-Suisse breakfast.
Eden Palace au Lac is located just next to Lake Geneva. It is among the very few budget hotels in Montreux that provide the enviable views of the lake, well supported by cosy rooms and delectable varieties of food.
Luxury Hotels in Montreux
A city like Montreux “ famous for its laidback life and exotic natural beauty “ is best enjoyed by letting go of your inhibitions. And when we say inhibitions, we mean the monetary kind.
Sure, you can save big bucks by choosing a budget hotel over a luxury one, but that should never stop you from enjoying the unparalleled hospitality of luxury resorts for a night or two. This is only fair to yourself, because that's what will make your trip to Montreux manifold more memorable and enjoyable.
There are many options in Montreux when it comes to finding good luxury resorts. Fairmont le Montreux Palace, however, stands out head and shoulders above the rest, as its long history of hosting A-list celebs, royal families and statesmen makes for an interesting account.
Grand Hotel Suisse Majestic can give Fairmont a worthy run for its money. It is a former aristocratic home turned into a popular luxury hotel that provides its guests with truly royal lifestyle for the duration of their stay.
Montreux Sightseeing Tips
While sightseeing in Montreux, do make sure that you know a tad bit about the history of the city. There are many good sites around the city that can be explored if you can tweak your itinerary a little bit.
If you can converse in French, there's nothing like it that can come handy to you throughout your stay here.
Also, keeping a good deal of short change with you is important, as some restaurants “ especially the street-side ones “ prefer to transact in cash rather than cards. Tipping problems can also be avoided by keeping spare change with you, all the time.
Hotels Near Montreux Airport
Montreux Airport is located at a short distance of about 3 km from the city center.
The drive won't take you longer than 5 minutes, and hence, we advise tourists not to waste time to find decent Montreux hotels near the airport.
When Should I Visit Montreux?
The best time of the year to visit Montreux (Switzerland, in general) is during the midst of the summer “ June and July.
During these months, you can see the natural beauty of the city and the surroundings at its peak, while a number of music festivals will make your stay interesting and entertaining.
Later summer is preferred by some visitors as hotel prices go down as the summer starts fading.