SwissTour Alpine Tour - Switzerland Zermatt to Chamonix

TEL: +1 608-238-6001 Email: greg@cruisingreview.com

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2006 Date: 9/25/2006

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Hotel Albert 1er check-in card.	Hotel Albert 1er business card.	Gornergrat Bahn rail ticket.	Gornergrat Bahn rail ticket.

Gornergrat Bahn rail ticket.	Riffelalp final bill.	Map of downtown Chamonix.	On the train to Brig.

Visp train station.	Coach seats.	Martigny train station.	Mount Blanc Express.

Monday - Zermatt to Chamonix	Mount Blanc Express
Monday morning we had a big breakfast, then checked out of the Riffelalp and headed down to Zermatt on the Gornergrat cogwheel. It was chilly and raining. At 11:15 a.m. we boarded the train to Visp and then on to Martigny. From there we boarded a very small three car train to Chamonix - the Mount Blanc Express. This is covered on a SwissPass, even though a portion is in France. The Mount Blanc Express is anything but - it travels a very leisurely slow pace as it climbs mountains to reach the French border. Unfortunately for us, it was foggy, rainy and overcast. Just before the French border, we got off the train in pouring rain and boarded a bus for the rest of the journey. In the off season, they do rail repair and operate a bus to complete the route. The bus sped past the French border control and 18 km later we were in Chamonix.

Arrival in Chamonix	Room at the Albert 1er
The bus goes directly to the train station, which is only about a block away from the Hotel Albert 1er. It was still pouring rain. We arrived at the Abert around 3:00 p.m. and checked in. The Abert is in the middle of the city, surrounded by a raised road and other city buildings. It is an oasis in the city, with many 100 year old buildings surrounded by grass and trees. The https://cruisingreview.com/cruise-reviews/photos on the internet are not accurate. Just before you reach the Albert, you go under a main road which is covered in graffiti.

Charming Rooms	Fireplace
The Hotel Albert 1er is actually a complex of a hotel, several chalet style buildings (for families) along with a building for the pool, Jacuzzi, more rooms and the country kitchen. Our room was absolutely charming.

Desk	Lounge Area in Room	Bed	Unique Chair

Double Sink in Bathroom	Sinks	Watercloset	Shower

Watercloset	Bed	One of Two Flatscreens	Desk

Use your key to turn on all the lights, and turn them all off when you leave the room.	Living room area.	Wall safe above minibar.	Minibar - each item is charged if consumed.

Second flatscreen above couch.	Really old chest.	Porch outside.	Unique and funky chair.

In room fireplace.	Lounge on first floor of hotel.	Bar lounge.	Flower at the dinner table.

Evening	Bar
After unpacking and relaxing, we headed down to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail.

Dinner	Appetizer
We sat down at the formal dining room after our drinks at the bar. The menu was in French, so I asked our English speaking waiter for some translations and suggestions. The menu given to me had prices, the menu given to Jane did not. They had two full-course dinners (without wine) starting at 140 Euro's (about $190 US dollars) per person. I elected to have the separate entree items (since I'm not a big fan of French food). We started off with a lobster appetizer which was delicious.

Roast Beef	Beef
For the main entree, we had beef for two. It was good, but still moving.

Dessert	Dessert Cart
For dessert, we elected to have the cart wheeled out. From it, you could choose amongst a variety of fantastic desserts. After dinner, we headed back to our room to build a fire and relax.