Hôtel Alpha-Palmiers

A l’image de la ville, cet hôtel est tout en dénivelé avec des fenêtres inclinées et un petit jardin verdoyant parsemé d’étangs… Et qu’est ce qu’on s’y sent bien dans ce petit jardin à se balancer confortablement dans les sièges suspendus. Ma chambre est grande et spacieuse, la salle de bain me fait déjà rêver d’un bon bain relaxant et du Toblerone m’attend bien sagement sur l’oreiller, je suis subjuguée! J’ai un peu déchanté la nuit parce malgré l’air co et la fenêtre ouverte, il faisait torride et je n’avais rien fait pour ça ! Pour le petit dej, il y a un grand choix de thés, de confitures, de céréales, de fruits, de fromages et charcuteries, des œufs, du lard, des petits boudins mais pas de haricots en sauce :-(Ils m’ont un peu manqué mes petits beans mais bon…
Je n’en ai pas profité mais pour les amateurs, il y a un wellness: sauna, hammam et fitness.

Alpha Palmiers Hotel is a unique modern building situated in central Lausanne. Located about two minutes away on a fairly steep path facing opposit the railway and metro station.
We stayed in a very spacious, and quiet family room (3 people) with a nice garden view for 3 nights.
There is a 24 hour reception and the lift only operates with your key card for that added safety. The staff
Was very friendly, polite and helpful, and offered free access to public transport in the Lausanne area.
Free Wifi throughout the lobby and room was also very useful.
The room design is modern and simple. Room service is available every day. Room facilities included a safe, minibar (extra cost), Iron, hairdryer, Kettle with tea and coffee (free of charge), Bath tub and shower, air con, LCD TV and lounging chairs. In my opinion that’s every basic need provided plus added comfort.
There was only a few things I didn’t like but wasn’t a major issue. The floor to ceiling style window overlooks a pleasant garden view, but doesn’t really let a huge amount of light into the back of the room where the full length mirror was. It’s quite a large room so the lights don’t really make much difference in the day. Perhaps the higher you stay the better light condition.
The other thing was the beds, I think they were a bit on the soft side, but that really is probably just me being picky.
No breakfast/​buffet included which can cost between CHF 5.50 to 25.00 extra.
I didn’t really have time to try out some of the other services that was provided i.e. gym and Restaurant.
Good Checkout time which is until 12.00pm if you like your lie ins. Overall a good and convenient place to stay in this area but it obviously reflects the price.

The hotel and the rooms are functional, however the owner (who owns both the the Alpha-​Palmiers and the Agora Swiss Night in Lausanne) needs to get a clue about accommodating guests.
While studying at UNIL– Lausanne in 2013/​2014, some classmates and I stayed at the Agora Swiss night for over two weeks at a time, roughly 10 guests per two weeks, for three separate visits in 2013 and early 2014. During our last trip in January 2014, I contracted some type of lung infection forcing me to visit a local hospital. And, while at the hospital in Lausanne, the doctor asked if I had been exposed to mold during my stay? This was an ironic question as I smelled what I thought was a muted urine scent while staying in my room at the Agora Swiss night for about 10 days prior to my sickness (black mold smells like urine). At the time, it was not strong enough to warrant a room change so I didn’t mention anything to the staff. However, after leaving the hospital I decided to change hotels (moving from Agora Swiss Night to Alpha-​Palmiers) notifying the staff of my request. To make a long story short, the management at the Alpha-​Palmiers told me I was not welcome to stay because I «complained» about their sister hotel. If I wanted to stay, the rate would be 3x what I was paying at the Agora (~114 CHF per night) and they would give me no consideration at their hotel (this was direct from the owner of both hotels communicated through his very rude, female manager at the Alpha-​Palmiers). I was very sick and had no place to go so I had to take the rate and the service. To put how sick in perspective, I needed help carrying my bags and checking due to trouble breathing from even walking up steps… keep in mind I am and avid runner; I have completed half-​marathons in the recent past at sub-​2hr pace).
The management in essence communicated, we do not care about your health and you are on your own as a guest in our country. I would’ve likely recommended the hotel, however, the ownership and management made me never want to stay or recommend the hotel to anyone traveling to Lausanne. I work for a large, U.S. based Global Financial Services company (with a market cap of $ 50B) which does significant business in Europe and I will make sure this hotel never goes on our preferred travel list. I had a very, very disturbing experience with the Alpha-​Palmiers and the Agora Swiss Night. (Please excuse any grammar or typos my computer was acting up while composing this review)

I stayed here in 2011 and having enjoyed the experience at that time I’ve decided to come back.
The hotel is well located just a few very steep steps away from the train station. It’s also some additional steep steps away from downtown. Great for exercising, especially if you’ve been eating too much of the delicious pastries and chocolate you’ll find all over town! :)
The place has been around for a while but management has kept the hotel in a good overall condition. The rooms are modern and quite spacious for European standards.
The staff is polite but I wouldn’t say they’re exceptional. They do their job and that’s fine by me.
There are a couple of restaurants in the premises but I didn’t bother trying them as I think they’re over priced and I’m not interested in the menu options. There are too many great restaurants nearby, too many nice bakeries, for me to be bothered with the options here. If anything, the restaurants look nice and seem to be busy most of the time.
The rooms have free wi-​fi, safe, cable, toiletries, a nice bathroom and some tea, coffee and hot chocolate alongside an electric cattle.
For the affordable rates, great location and good rooms, I think this is one of the best places to stay in Lausanne. Definitely recommended!

Modern and large rooms. Good breakfast buffet. Hotel bar is a bit limited. Will definitely stay again.

I liked the room and its location. Would have given it 5 stars but the wi fi kept going in and out which was very annoying.

I stayed here on Tuesday August 27, 2013. Checked in to a nice room on the first floor (that’s the second floor to USAers). The room overlooked the courtyard so it was nice and quiet. I slept with the A/​C on which worked great (I could’ve slept with the window open which would have been nice too).
I ate dinner in the Thai restaurant in the hotel. I had one of the Blackboard dishes which was more of the local fare, I had the Green Salad with hot Salmon and it was delicious.
The breakfast in the hotel was great, lots to choose from and the croissants were outstanding.

It’s impossible for me to evaluate this hotel in a broad context because my room was paid for directly by my hosts (so I never saw the bill) and because my experience with Lausanne hotels is limited to this establishment.
Nevertheless, I can say that it was a pleasure to stay at the Alpha-​Palmiers. My room was clean, quiet and spacious. The hotel seems friendly and accommodating. It’s located in what is often described as the center of town. It has free WiFi in the lobby and in rooms. I could go on with general praise…
I had breakfast in the hotel restaurant, where a «continental breakfast» will set you back 15 CHF. The breakfast features a variety of breads and bakery products, an assortment of fruit juices and espresso that you make yourself by pushing a button on the automatic espresso machine. (I used the «2 x ristretto» button, and I pushed it a lot.) The beans in the hopper seem to be a blend with plenty of robusta: you get a good caffeine kick and a «European» burned rubber taste.
My hosts at EPFL told me that they use this hotel for job candidates that they hope to recruit for full-​time positions at the Ecole. That’s a pretty good credential!

Excellent hotel. I enjoyed my room very much. If your room is in the front of the hotel you may have trouble sleeping with your window open due to the noise on the street at night. Wasn’t a problem for me though. I would definitely stay here again.

Ich bin hier eingecheckt, als ich für die Einweihungsfeier des neuen Büros der Liip Ag eingeladen wurde.
Schon der erste Eindruck war sehr positiv, denn die Tiefgarage unter dem Haus hat die Parkplatzsuche direkt einmal eleminiert.
Das Entreé des Hotels ist großzügig, freundlich und gibt direkt den Blick auf einen kleinen Innhof. Dieser ist mit Pflanzen, einem Kiesweg und einem kleinen Teich und Wasserlauf ausgestattet. Ausserdem ist es gewünscht, dass man zum Rauchen nicht auf die Strasse geht, sondern es sich hier gemühtlich macht.
Das Personal sprich englisch — gut für mich, da mein französisch Kurs erst im August beginnt ;)
Weiter geht es mit positiven Erfahrungen; beim einchecken bekomme ich eine Freikarte für den ÖV. Diese gilt für die gesamte Dauer meines Aufenthaltes. Ich bin verblüfft.
Das Zimmer ist, wie schon das Entreé sehr groß und der Blick durch die Glasfront in den Innenhof läd ein es sich in den Schwingsesseln gemühtlich zu machen. Ich hab leider nur kurz Zeit, da ich schon spät für die Party bin.
Der nächste Morgen führt mich nach einer ausgiebigen Dusche, ins im Erdgeschoss befindliche Bistro. Ein Sticker an der Tür zeigt, dass es wohl im Michelin Restaurantführer ausgezeichnet wurde — ich freue mich auf ein ausgezeichnetes Frühstück ;)
Und ich werde nicht enttäuscht. Neben den in der franzöischen Schweiz üblichen Chroissants, finden dich mehrere Sorten Brot, Toast und Cerialien (Kornflakes, süßer gepoppter Weizen, etc) auch ein, zwei Sorten von Brötchen. Die vier Saftsorten lassen mich mein (Kater)Frühstück sehr gesund beginnen. Später griff ich noch in das Chewingdish mit Rührei, gebratenem Speck und Würstchen.
Kaffee, heiße Milch und Wasser gab es zum Selberzapfen aus einem Automaten.
Fazit:
Ich habe mich selten in einem Hotel so wohl gefühlt. Es hat mir an nichts gefehlt und das Personal ist sehr freunlich und zuvorkommend. WEnn ch mal wieder nach Lausanne komme, werde ich garantiert hier wieder einchecken.

Hallo zusammen,
ich war sehr überrascht über das Hotel: die Zimmer sind sehr hell und geräumig, der Ausblick in den Innenhof ist beruhigend und schön. Das Zimmer, sowie das Bad waren sauber und gepflegt. Es liegt mitten in Lausanne-​Flon und ist mit dem Preis-​Leistungsverhältnis wirklich nur zu empfehlen. Kleines Manko sind die Sprachen, wer nicht etwas Französisch oder Englisch spricht, hat eventuell eine kleine Sprachproblematik an der Rezeption. Aber sonst tiptop!

Hotel 4* a Lausanne près de la gare CFF. Idéalement placé dans la ville.
Très confortable et bien aménagé. Belle deco du patio et de chambres.
Cependant mes deux visites m’ont déçu. La première pendant la coupe du monde, chambre en bout d’aile avec vue sur le lac très calme sauf lors de la victoire du Portugal les fenêtres n’isolent de rien. La seconde les couloirs au milieu de l’hôtel sont mal isolés, les portes n’isolent de rien non plus.
Bref très bruyant. Et franchement Cher.
Pas essayé le resto mais cher (plat autour de 40.-) et très moyen calme.
EDIT ²²⁄₀₄: troisième visite et les prix sont multiplies par presque deux. 550CHF la nuit pour un 4* c est trop cher à mon avis. Le resto thaï est bon mais cher. Quelques plats occidentalises.

C’est l’une de ces adresses surprises que l’on s’échange avec plaisir.
Idéalement placé lorsque l’on arrive à Lausanne par la gare, à 100m en remontant la rue du Petit-​Chêné pour être exact, l’hôtel de l’extérieur né paie pas spécialement de mine.
Mais que cela n’empêche pas le Qyper averti de pousser sa porte battante, afin de découvrir le lobby tout entier construit autour d’une agora verdoyante et chaleureuse.
L’hôtel, dans un style sûr, est agréable et confortable. Ce que j’ai aimé par dessus tout, c’est le temps pris à né rien faire assis dans l’un des larges fauteuils havanes de la véranda, à siroter un jus d’abricot frais en mangeant une mousse au chocolat maison.
Pour des faims plus importantes, l’hôtel partage son hall avec un restaurant thaï, qui d’après ma Lausannoise favorite est l’un des meilleurs de la ville

The Hotel Alpha-​Palmiers? is a smart modern hotel close to the station in Lausanne. The hotel is an unusual donut shape with a hollow centre with a small garden. This gives many of the rooms an interesting view (see night picture). My room was quite large with two small tables, five chairs a desk, a small kitchenette and a nice modern bathroom with a shower over the bath.
There is no pool, but the top floor includes a small gym and sauna. The hotel is reputed to have the best Thai restaurant in Lausanne, and when I tried it the restaurant was quite busy and the food was spicy and very tasty. Breakfast is a bustling affair with a large buffet with a good selection of mainly cold food. Provided you don’t mind the fact that this is a very modern rather than traditional hotel, I would recommend this hotel.