Intercontinental Geneva, Geneva

Service went above and beyond my expectations. The entire staff was multilingual, courteous, and very helpful whenever I had questions. The staff is reason alone for staying at the Intercon. The room was comfortable, although it was not modern-themed like the lobby/main floor, it was more of an 80s feel. But it was not serious enough to bother me. And the room contained as many amenities as you could possibly want. I stayed on the 17th floor in a standard room and had a partial view of the Jet d'Eau, however, we had full views of the rest of the lake and full views of the Palais de Nations (UN) and the entire diplomatic district. Which is why the hotel is such a great location. The Intercon is in a quiet (no constant car horns!), relaxed, and really beautiful part of Geneva. It didn't seem isolated to me, because within a 10 minute walk from the hotel you can be in the busy city centre of Geneva. And because the hotel is surrounded by embassies, it seemed more like a residential area, which was peaceful and very relaxing. Getting to the city centre or "old town" in a hurry was never a problem, so I would say the hotel was in a convenient location. A little less convenient than the hotels in the city centre, but with alot less noise pollution and alot more space. Additional tips: take a walk through the row of embassies between the Palais de Nations and the Intercon (it's a very nice area). And ask the staff for advice if ever in a bind or if you have a question, they were very knowledgeable about the entire region. And dont forget to eat out at the hotel's restaurant (good food).

The Geneva Intercon would be terrific if it were not in such an isolated spot. There are no restaurants nearby and only one in the hotel. So you pay, pay, pay, with breakfast costing more than a dinner with wine in an average restaurant in town. Service was beyond reproach though, with staff switching easily between languages. Very slick. To escape the price gouging, you can try the Coop supermarket around the corner, but how many times can you eat a takeaway sandwich in your room? Maybe guests on UN per diems have a better time than I did. But my 12th-floor room was excellent. I don't think it had been refurbished, but I found it very cosy and warm. Nice ocre colours. Lighting just right. Wonderful views. Mind you, the air con system was beyond my comprehension, and when it came to heating, it seemed to be a choice between very hot or stifling. Would I return? Absolutely -- if the hotel were somewhere else.

Rooms are on the small side and the AC did not work well when the temperture got above about 85. Location is ok as the town is easy to get around on public transport but once again this is not up to the standards of the other hotels in this chain I have stayed in.

There are plus and minus values for the Inter in Geneva. The lobbey area and reception areas have been redone as has the entrance and are very tasteful. The rooms need up-grading as they have not changed since I first stayed there in 1975. Then pool area (outdoor) has been redone and is quite nice. The exercise room is a joke. Location is excellent for business at the UN and UN agencies..it is a 25 minute boring walk downtown or a tram or taxi ride as there are no sights and few restaurants in the area. The upper floors on the lakeside have a great view but these are all more expensive and mainly suites. Breakfast cost is prohibitive but there is no other choice in the area. Service is top-rate and staff very helpful but expected for a 5-star and the cost of the room.