Hotel Meisser, Guarda

Beautiful village though very quiet. Limited walking from the hotel.
Accommodation and service excellent, above 4*.  Evening meal not 3* standard.

Beware of the streets being very icy and also make note of the fact that buses are not available back to the village in the middle of the day - the walk from the station is not to be recommended!

This was an excellent holiday, Hotel Meisser is characterful, comfortable and relaxed without being too formal, the food was generally excellent, two of the evening meals were not quite as good as the others, but overall we were very happy with the food. The winter walking was beautiful and the main routes well marked. The supplied winter walking map is fine as long as there are also markers but at 1:61000 is not that detailed. We took to photographing the maps by the trails which were much more detailed and also showed the summer routes allowing greater certainty of navigation. Benno suggested some interesting and more adventurous routes incorporating public transport, which of course being Switzerland worked flawlessly. Benno came up with a route, total travel time inc changes 57 mins, 3 buses and a train, so 3 changes at an average of 4 mins each! The 5-day travel pass is expensive but is convenient and does allow significant flexibility and the freedom to change plans as the weather changed. However even using it all 5 days I don’t think our total travel would have exceeded the cost of the pass. There are some additional tobogganing facilities available, it may be time for a visit and to update the information?

Whilst one can go on a few walks directly from the hotel, for a whole week of walking one has to take the bus and train at least one way so we felt that there is quite a lot of waiting around.

Everything at the Hotel Meisser - accommodation, food and service - is of the highest quality. All of the staff from the owner, Benno Meisser, downwards are very friendly and also very efficient. Benno is very helpful in giving suggestions for walks and providing local knowledge. A recent highlight is the setting up of a toboggan run. In our opinion, Guarda is the most attractive of the Lower Engadine villages and the walking and tobogganing possibilities are plentiful.

Make a careful note of the times of the post bus from Guarda station to the village. Not all trains are met by a connecting bus, and the 800' climb to the village by the path is quite arduous. If you want a day off, the rail trip to Tirana (which is covered by your travel pass) is memorable both for the views and the railway engineering.

It is the only place we have been back to again, the hotel feels so welcoming and the village of Guarda, high in the mountains, is a delight.

Guarda is a paradise for winter walking, both directly from the village and further afield using rail connections. Particularly the Muottas Muragl at 2500m reached by rail and cable car is a dream-like experience.

Walking over the frozen lake from Traspontina to St Moritz is highly recommended

Guarda is a lovely village with wonderful old buildings in a beautiful setting on the hillside. Our journeys to and from UK went very smoothly and the included travel pass was very useful but does not include the skilift from Scuol for which you can only buy a return ticket in February. There was a good choice of walks and apart from one day when there had been heavy snow the night before, the paths were clear and easy to follow. Notes provided by Inntravel for guidance were good. We enjoyed our walk from Fontana after getting the bus from Scuol, and walked up through the forest and then back via Avrona where there is a delightful rustic cafe/restaurant. We were very lucky that we had good weather and there was still a lot of snow and we were able to walk every day. In poor weather there wouldn't be much to do in Guarda or the hotel and it has quite a small lounge. Snow tracks for boots are definitely a necessity especially in Guarda! This was my first experience of a winter walking holiday. It was well planned, travel was easy and maps and suggested walks were fairly straightforward with good signage. I would definitely like to repeat the experience.

We thought that Guarda was picture perfect and ideal for some lovely winter walks direct from the hotel. The provided 'Travel Pack' was excellent, full of very helpful information specific to your own destination and hotel.

1) We thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Excellent variety of walks and beautiful scenery. 

2) When we needed a low level walk due to iffy weather Benno recommended Pontresina to St Moritz. We enjoyed this, including the walk across the frozen lake.  At weekends there is horse racing on the ice which must be quite a site (We were there on a Tuesday so didn't see any).  Once you get behind the Grand hotels etc St Moritz town, spoilt by tower blocks, is rather a let down unless you like high-end shopping. 

We had a really brilliant holiday and were so impressed with Inntravel's organisation in every way. As for Guarda and the Hotel Meisser, a truly magical experience!

This holiday was everything that we had hoped for. The hotel and accommodation came well up to our expectations and the village of Guarda was so peaceful with fascinating architectural features as well as the fabulous views. Although the weather was variable and we had everything from brilliant blue skies and sunshine to whiteout conditions in the snow, there was always a walk we could undertake at a higher or lower altitude.

It was all good. Both hotels had excellent food and first class staff, well able to cope with our linguistic limitations! Exactly (in other words) what we have come to expect of Inntravel! We couldn't hold you responsible for our colds or the rather indifferent weather at Guarda. We can imagine Hotel Meisser being very good for summer walking holidays.

INNTRAVEL NOTE: These customers combined two of our snow holidays in one trip - a week at Hotel Kristall, Weidach (Austria) followed by a week at Hotel Meisser, Guarda (Switzerland)

Highlights - the stunning views and the friendly people of the Engadine.

Friendly helpful staff of the Meisser and it’s inventive cuisine.

Travelling with the certainty of making connections!

Always use airport/station/city and village information centres.

A real escape when you lead a hectic life. Didn’t miss TV in hotel at all !

We particularly enjoyed the walk along Val Tuoi and others around Guarda in bright sunshine and fresh snow. The train ride to Alp Grum is spectacular and the walk to the Morteratsch Glacier both special and informative. The Klosters to Davos train ride through forest and thick snow is well worth it too.

We had a fantastic week winter walking. The location is great being able to walk both ways along the valley and get super efficient public transport back. Can also go further afield as well as up the valley above Guarda. Had a couple of goes at tobogganing, firstly above Scoul then a new long run which we climbed up to from the hotel. Would also recommend Bergfex Touren app for following routes and knowing where you are on the mountains.

A wonderful winter walking holiday. The hotel was an excellent base, and the prepared tracks were first-rate. Guarda is a little gem, and Hotel Meisser adds polish and lustre!

Make sure you put your daily train card into the machine before travel each day! Beautiful village and walking. Beware the afternoon gap in the postbus service, it stops working at the time you usually wanted to get back! The walk up from Guarda station is not to be recommended!

Lovely location in picture postcard village. If going in winter have your grippers ready for the walk up to the hotel from the bus stop, it's only 50 metres or so but was icy when we visited in mid Feb. The little village shop is handy, particularly for a bottle of wine or teabags and milk. Whilst we have no grumbles whatsoever about the quality of the food, the price of the wine in the hotel caused a sharp intake of breath! We'd forgotten how expensive drinking in Switzerland is. The excursions suggested by Inntravel were excellent and we were lucky enough to have beautiful blue skies and several centimetres of fresh snow which made for a magical holiday. 

 Fantastic location! Fantastic hotel!

Our stay in the Engandine Valley was exceptional. The hotel was a delight; small enough to give great personal service, large enough to offer use of snow equipment and an excellent dining experience. The situation high in the valley was a delight - Guarda is a lovely village with a lot of interesting houses. We were very fortunate with the weather; there had been a lot of snow and that combined with the sunny days meant we seemed to inhabit a picture-postcard.

The fact that we booked this year same place, same hotel, same everything, as last year, should speak for itself.  

Beautiful winter walks. Good to include rail pass so we could go to other places.

One of the finest Inntravel holidays we have experienced and we've done a few!

This was our fourth stay at the Hotel Meisser and it will definitely not be our last. The hotel has excellent facilities, the food is outstanding and the staff are friendly and efficient. Benno is always available to help and advise and gave us suggestions for interesting walks and toboggan rides in the area. This is a very beautiful area of Switzerland but comparatively unknown so not at all crowded - in fact, quite the opposite. Transport links work well so it is easy to get around and explore the region. One highlight this time was the newly created six kilometre toboggan run into the village of Ardez. The icing on the cake was six days of blue skies and sunshine on the pristine snow.

This holiday had everything - amazing scenery, wonderful winter walking, superb food, a truly exceptional hotel...and not too far to travel from the UK (the flight is under 2 hours from Manchester and the train ride, an adventure and pleasurable part of the journey in itself, just over 2 hours including the change at Landquart). We would love to return. Thank you Inntravel for your arrangements and making it possible for us to have such a lovely holiday! Remember to take micro spikes to fit over your walking boots - they make it so much easier to walk on icy roads and snowy paths.

Guarda is focussed on walking which is good. The local railway enables travel to and from other villages to extend the range of walks. The scenery of the Engadine is typically beautiful alpine.   

The village of Guarda was a great discovery for us as we had not visited this part of Switzerland before. The experience of staying at the Hotel Meisser was a delight. The ambience, comfort and professional service were all excellent. Staff were welcoming, helpful in planning our days and particularly caring when one of us had a fall and sustained a slight injury (during a walk not at the hotel). Our meals could not have been better - always a vegetarian option, every meal creatively planned and of the highest quality. 

To go snowshoeing you need to be used to walking alone and good at map reading.

We thoroughly enjoyed this holiday which was superbly organised by Inntravel. Our hotel suited us perfectly and we loved the fact we never used a car once. The snow-covered mountains and crisp, bright days were a tonic for body and soul.

One of our best holidays ever. Guarda itself is just an enchanting little place, and the hotel is wonderful. The food is quite excellent, and the breakfasts are enough to keep you going most of the day! The staff were both charming and helpful. The train and bus combo along the Engadine valley works absolutely perfectly, and made travelling about very simple, so that we could vary the walks. Lots of excellent downhill or flat walks for those wanting something not too strenuous. To be highly recommended.

We had good weather in general, and there was lots of snow. However, we were told that this amount of snow in March was unusual, and that earlier in the year was better for snow-walking. It does get icy on the streets, and crampons are essential.

Super holiday.  Sarah and all her hotel staff were brilliant, Guarda and the Engadine valley a very special place to walk ...... a winter wonderland! A photo opportunity around every corner. We will be back.

Walking on the crisp snow high in the Engadine, below a deep blue sky, was memorable.

It would be worth all visitors to double check up to date timetables.

A stunningly beautiful valley, generally amazingly quiet, with some outstanding walks. The hotel was charming, with very friendly owners and staff. As a vegetarian, I really appreciated the effort that went in to provding a range of delicious vegetarian meals each day.

We were lucky to have a lot of snow and a good proportion of sunny days so did both the recommended high trips in good conditions. Highly recommend the Funicular railway taking in the Philosophers trail at the top, the views are stunning. The hotel is wonderful in every aspect. We had room 27 having a bath where you could look right down the valley from, also shower and a good view from every window. The food was of a very high standard, four courses every night, staff were very friendly and helpful cannot recommend it enough.

Beautful village, welcoming hotel and staff. As we are used to your hotel-to-hotel treks, we found the description of walks a bit basic. We would recommend downloading or buying the detailed Swiss map, though, as you point out, these do not show the winter walks. We found the signing locally inadequate on some walks. Our best two walks you did not mention, Ftan to Scuol and Sent to Scuol. 

The amount of snow in Switzerland was just fantastic! But then I know Inntravel didn't provide that. Perhaps the cuisine at my two favourite hotels noted [Hotel Meisser and Aparthotel Castle] were highlights because it was so exceptional that I hadn't thought it possible. Each hotel went beyond the call on excellence, service and overall attitude. Belle Epoque was also excellent, it's just that the other two were fantastic in my book. Their food was rateable as "hotel" food, not exceptional in my book. But they were very nice people and have a reception on evening for guests. Also I did their raclette night at the next-door restaurant which was superb. 

The villages and towns chosen were wonderful. I loved the first two small villages. My excursions to Zermatt and Eiger were highlights. But then the Glacier Express and Bernina routes were wonderful in the amount of snow I viewed. 

Beautiful scenery and great walking, with lots of variation. A particular treat was having a golden eagle circle just above us for about 15 minutes on one occasion. The hotel was warm, cosy and welcoming.  Snow paths were fine, but in the village where the ice had thawed and refrozen it was treacherous underfoot. Next time we would probably take ice-grips for our boots. The hotel was selling them, but they were expensive.

Highlights: Tour notes for Paris. Walks around Guarda.

Inntravel note: This customer enjoyed a night in Paris at the Hôtel Saint Paul Rive Gauche, before and after the Winter Holiday at the Hotel Meisser, Guarda.

When we arrived, Guarda had just had over 6' of snow, the heaviest fall for over 20 years, and we were lucky to have sun every day, good walking conditions and wonderful views.  Guarda is a very attractive village in a superb location and the Hotel Meisser was excellent in every way. Benno and Maya were always on hand with helpful advice and taking an interest in where we had been.

This is a wonderful place for anyone seeking to experience the peace, tranquillity and grandeur of the Alps in a wonderful traditional hotel, situated in an idyllic village. Nothing is too much trouble for Benno, Maya and their staff at the Hotel Meisser. Delicious local food. Miles of outstanding walking/ snowshoeing from the door of the hotel, skiing in Scuol. A delightful uncommercialised centre a short train ride away. This is escapism at its very best!