Vacation Rentals by Owner

Completely lovely

Guest: Jennifer (Port Angeles, WA)
Date of Stay: 08/14/11 Review Submitted: 08/26/11

We stayed for 4 nights in August 2011 - my mother, sister, daughter (5 years old) and I. Griech is a lovely little town with just one "road". My 5 year old loved "walking home alone" from the cable car. We spent two days hiking (it was easy to do all kid friendly hikes - level or downhill). First, we went up to Riederalp, played at the park there (the park has a small zip line - my child was in heaven!), took the chairlift up and then hiked all the way past a castle (in Villa Cassel), stopped at the park for more play time, stopped at the coop for groceries and then hiked down to Greich. The next day we walked from Riederalp to Bettmeralp (found another park to stop at), took the gondola up to Bettmerhorn, hiked down and then took the cable car back to Greich. Fabulous views - a gorgeous part of the swiss alps. The third day my daughter begged for "no more hiking" so we went to the pool/water park in Brig. It was a bit crowded but what a fabulous setting for an outdoor pool and waterslide. Instead of looking at a bunch of colored plastic like you do at this sort of place in the US, you are looking at the alps (the waterslide is built into the mountainside). Alice was wonderful. And getting around is very easy. Every time we thought "we don't know how to get (somewhere)" we asked someone and it always turned out to be easy. Example: the water park in Brig is a 10 minute bus ride from the train station. Where do you get the bus? Right at the train station. Switzerland was a fabulous place to take a child (or anyone) - clean, efficient, safe, and GORGEOUS. Haus Montanara was a great place to stay - we loved our little apartment in Greich. We loved the public transportation. I highly recommend this little place in Greich for your next vacation. Breakfast out on the balcony overlooking the valley below is only one of our many fond memories. (If you arrive on a Sunday, remember to buy some groceries in Brig as the coops in Morel and Reideralp are closed.)

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

a world away

Guest: Mike (Corvallis, Oregon, USA)
Date of Stay: 02/17/11 Review Submitted: 02/25/11

Two of us stayed in one of the apartments 4 nights during February. This was truly a different world and almost magical as such. We had a few quibbles with the accomodations, but the overall location and arrangements were too good to nitpick. Excellent location for walking or snow hiking. Once-per-hour tram service is not very frequent, but reliable once you figure it out. Next time, one week minimum, preferably more!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The great village of Greich

Guest: Swiss Frau (Washington DC)
Date of Stay: 07/14/10 Review Submitted: 09/21/10

Our family of 4 had an awesome time in Greich for 2 weeks. Switzerland is our favorite vacation destination for several reasons, here are some ... the mountains are green and awesome, the hiking trails are well marked and you often see/hear cows with bells wandering on the paths, the chalets on the mountains are adorable. The town of Greich is wonderful if you are looking for a quiet, peaceful vacation. There aren't a bunch of tourists there, just some farmers. We either hiked or took the bahn up the mountain everyday to hike. Our children enjoyed several great playgrounds on the top of the mountain. Haus Montanara is a beautiful chalet. We found the restaurants to be quite expensive, so we made most of our meals at Haus Montanara. We would definitely go again!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Jane Preston (Stuttgart, Germany)
Date of Stay: 01/02/10 Review Submitted: 01/02/10

We just returned from one of the best trips we have had, and we have had many! We spent Christmas in Haus Montanara with our three children and skied our hearts out for 7 days! The rental process was so easy and Marcus was wonderful to deal with. The apartment was clean and everything we needed was provided. We were so happy to be there when the Bryners and their daughter and son in law were visiting and left with new friends. The skiing was absolutely amazing with breathtaking views, delightful people on the slopes and fantastic skiing opportunities for our children. We can not say enough positive things about Greich, Haus Montanara, Reideralp and our trip there. I would and am recommending this apartment and area to friends! Thanks again for a great stay!

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Wonderful peace and tranquility with exceptionally scenic hiking trails.

Guest: Wishing we were Swiss! (Port Stanley, ON)
Date of Stay: 08/31/09 Review Submitted: 07/22/10

This was truly a wonderful vacation for our family. Wonderful peace and tranquility with the busier, larger cities just a short train ride away. We had a great time. The views are spectacular. The area is truly scenic. The hiking trails were long and well worth the efforts! The directions to get to this small, out-of-the-way spot were easy to follow and very accurate. We highly recommend this property.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, tourists without a car, romantic getaway.

Guest: Rich and Nola (Sacramento, CA )
Date of Stay: 08/09/09 Review Submitted: 08/09/09

What a beautiful place! Haus Montanara is situated on a fairly steep slope with a great view of the valley floor, the city of Brig, and of the surrounding mountains. This is the perfect place to "get away" from it all. The village consists of 20 or so inhabitants; the drive to the village from the valley floor takes about 20 minutes through numerous switchbacks; cows wander freely (how cool to hear the tinkling cowbells). Yet one can take the tram (or hike) to the top of the mountain for contemporary shopping in the small ski village. Accommodations were good and Alice the caretaker was friendly. Owners are very helpful and friendly as well. Highly recommended.

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Guest: Adrienne Spinozzi and Kevin Gick (Brooklyn, NY)
Date of Stay: 07/03/09 Review Submitted: 07/03/09

We stayed at Haus Montanara for 4 nights in mid- June and it was incredible. Everything about our stay in Greich was pleasurable, from the beautiful views from both the deck and out the bedroom windows, to the comfortable and clean beds. Marcus and Emily have thought of everything you could possibly need and we enjoyed coffee in the morning and dinner at night on the deck. It is the perfect place to stay for a true getaway--easy to get to, but out of the way enough so you can enjoy privacy and the surroundings pretty much on your own. Alice, the housekeeper, is lovely and very helpful should you need anything. We will most certainly be back at some point. Thanks for making our trip so exceptional!

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Guest: kal and Connie Chun (Nipomo,CA)
Date of Stay: 10/03/08 Review Submitted: 10/03/08

we spent 4days here in early October 2008. What an awesome place to unwind! There were many beautiful flowers, a cool fresh breeze and we loved hearing the cowbells echo across the valley. We easily caught the train to montreaux to ride the chocolate train one day, and everyone was very friendly and helpful. It got colder every day and I'm glad I brought long underwear! I highly recommend haus montanara! Alice the caretaker was very sweet and helpful too- especially when we couldn't figure out how to run the washer and dryer.

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Guest: Tracy M.1 (Virginia, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/06/08 Review Submitted: 09/06/08

I spent a week at the chalet with my 11-year-old. We loved it! After three weeks of traveling in Europe, it was just what we needed: a quiet, beautiful, peaceful place. We enjoyed hiking and biking. My son loved the playgrounds and activities for kids and the wonderful water park in Brig. It was a wonderful place to be "unplugged."

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/02/08 Review Submitted: 09/02/08

We spent 3 wonderful days at Haus Montanara in August with our 2 teenage sons. Accomodations exactly as described - comfortable and neat with amazing views in all directions. Very quiet. We enjoyed taking the cable car up to Riederalp to hike/bike for the day. Drive up from Morel to Greich is not for the faint of heart... would suggest parking at Morel and taking cable car up if have any fears of heights!! Owner very accomodating, easy to make arrangements with. Would recommend this accomodation.

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Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 09/02/08 Review Submitted: 09/02/08

We stayed in Aug 08 with our 2 teenage sons. Quiet, stunningly beautiful. We loved travelling up to Riederalp on the cable car and hiking/biking from there. Accomodation was perfect, as described in the advert. Owner very accomodating - easy to work with and offering suggestions prior to trip. Drive from Morel to Greich (town at bottom of hill) is not for the faint of heart - may suggest parking at base and riding cable car to Greich if you have any fear of heights! Would certainly recommend this accomodation.

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Guest: Roseanne & George McNeill (Ottawa, Ontario)
Date of Stay: 06/11/08 Review Submitted: 06/11/08

We spent a wonderful week at Montanara, May 18 to 25, 2008. The chalet was very clean, well-equipped and comfortable. The village people were so friendly and welcoming. Views across the valley and mountains were outstanding. The cherry blossoms were beautiful, and the myriad wildflowers everywhere. We enjoyed the local walks with varying degrees of challenge. The local trains are so efficient and easy that a car is not necessary. The aerial tram to Greich was no trouble at all. There are no food stores open on Sunday, however, if you arrive that day. Our week flew by too fast, and we hope we can return soon.

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Guest: Chris Kernick (Milan)
Date of Stay: 05/10/08 Review Submitted: 05/10/08

Stayed a few days in February. House is very accessible from Milan by main line train to Brig then on the mountain line to Morel, then cable car once an hour. Less than 3 hours door to door. The apartment is small but very well designed and suited well for 2 adults + 2 children. Area is beautiful; even in winter there are walking trails specially groomed on the snow above Aletsch Glacier. Good ski-school at Riederalp. Also a good range of ski runs plus nordic. Saturday is a bit manic as virtually the whole of Riederalp is either leaving or arriving- this would be a problem as the cable car fills up, but easy enough to work around either by change out on a different day or get away promptly in the morning. The villiage is very quiet- ideal for a young family or just to savour the tranquility of this fantastic place. And if you do want to party a bit, well Riederalp is just a few minutes away on the cable car.

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Guest: Victoria and Paul (Birmingham, UK)
Date of Stay: 04/25/08 Review Submitted: 04/25/08

We stayed in Haus Montanara for a few days in April with our two children, 3 yrs and 18 months. After the skiing season and before the summer, it was very quiet, which suited us well, and the weather was kind. It was beautiful up on top in the snow, and the views from the chalet itself were breathtaking. Inevitably, we didn't travel too far with the little ones in tow, but did manage some hiking and sledging, which made for a delightful family holiday. Car-free Greich was a perfect place for toddlers to run around and explore, with far more freedom than they can enjoy in a big city! We'd love to return, and I'd recommend Haus Montanara to anyone looking for a quiet getaway in this stunning part of Switzerland.

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Guest: Mary Browne (Chicago, IL)
Date of Stay: 04/23/08 Review Submitted: 04/23/08

Our week long stay at Haus Montanara was extremely relaxing and everything that we hoped it would be!!! We would highly recommend staying here to anyone looking for a more authentic Swiss Alp experience at a very nice chalet with beautiful views, located in a picturesque mountain village. The people were friendly, the food was great, and we enjoyed skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking around the mountains right outside the doorstep. The skiing was incredible; long runs and access to a huge area with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn in the distance on clear days. Hiking/snowshoeing was equally fun, with the awesome Aletsch glacier (the largest glacier in the Alps) at the top of the mountain! Montanara was the perfect, relaxing place to stay while exploring and enjoying this unique area of Switzerland. Our stay made us realize just how much Switzerland has to offer year round, and we would love to return to Montanara during the summer (or any time of year, of course)! Owners are VERY helpful and friendly also!

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Guest: Rick and Kay Henderson (Walla Walla, WA)
Date of Stay: 01/27/08 Review Submitted: 01/27/08

If you are looking for a unique and unbeatable vacation, we highly recommend this very comfortable and quaint chalet. The scenic views from the balcony are spectacular, the village folk are very friendly, and the skiing at Riederalp was fantastic and just a short tram ride up the mountain from the house! We definitely plan to return in the spring to do some hiking and more exploring.

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Guest: Harold Mayo (Monroe, WA)
Date of Stay: 12/16/07 Review Submitted: 12/16/07

I absolutely loved it! Spent 2 weeks in October 2007 here. I could easily spend months (or years) here exploring all the places this area has to offer. The apartment is the perfect place to stay to explore all this area has to offer. Everywhere I met fellow Americans, I gushed about this apartment, even going as far as giving them the web address. During my 9 week trip across Europe, I stayed in 23 separate apartments, hotels and B&B's, this apartment was by far the best lodging I experienced on my trip (and I did stay in some very nice hotels). There are several places I would love to see again in the spring or summer. Egga, a village above Naters, and the Rhone Glacier, especially the drive up to the glacier, are memorable spots during my stay. If you are going to the Alps in Switzerland, you would be a fool not to stay here. Wait a minute....why do I want to people about this place?!?....I want it all for myself. When I return in 2 years, I plan to stay here for at least a month. :)

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Guest: Gidon and Sharona Hover (Modiin, Israel)
Date of Stay: 09/15/07 Review Submitted: 09/15/07

We stayed with our two young children (ages 3.5 and 5.5) for a week. We had a wonderful time hiking around the Riederalp area. The hikes we chose were not too difficult for our children (or us!). Returning to our base at Greich was warm, welcoming and comfortable. We hope to visit again.

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Guest: Eamonn and Anne (Portland/Oregon USA)
Date of Stay: 08/21/07 Review Submitted: 08/21/07

We stayed for a month during the summer (Mid July thru Mid August)and had a wonderful time. The chalet was perfect and the views breathtaking. We pretty much hiked all over the valley using the chalet as our base. We were sad to leave but will be back.

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Guest: Veronica and Andy Jones (Venice Beach California)
Date of Stay: 07/11/07 Review Submitted: 07/11/07

Haus Montanara was more enchanting than anyone could dream, snow and all. We had a schedule and reservations in Venice Italy to make on time so even though the sun came out and we wanted dearly to stay, we are planning to return as early as possible and spend more time among the edelweiss. We were lost and headed up to Reid Morel (the next village over) when a kind soul with a sense of humour put us on the right track. Your directions were perfect but Swiss road signs were largely confusing and neither of us had any command of the German language past the pleasantries. So while we had a map and could point, we were at the mercy of the nicest people on the planet. We spent some time in the smaller towns, the bakery for breakfast pastries, the Cafe for the internet (yes my work followed me even to Switzerland), and dinner at the wonderful Mongolian BBQ. We should have planned to be there for at least a week. We saw (and heard) the cows and their bells up the mountain and the goats always greeted us when we went in or out of the door. Some nice people spoke to us in German, we answered in English, it seemed to work and we used the only word in german we knew with regularity...Bitte... Thanks for allowing our dreams to be fulfilled, the snow added to the enchantment. Veronica

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Guest: Dan Serns (Vancouver, Washington, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/24/07 Review Submitted: 06/24/07

My sons and I spent a couple nights here- wish we could have spent a week or two. It was incredible! I kept taking pictures of the mountains and valleys and villages and cable car- and all from the porch! We enjoyed pizza in the evening in Brig. What a great place to get away from the rat race and enjoy natural beauty, hiking, skiing and down time. I highly recommend this place.

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Guest: Patti Catalano (Redlands, CA)
Date of Stay: 04/26/07 Review Submitted: 04/26/07

We enjoyed a week at Haus Montanara. The chalet is warm, comfortable and makes one feel like Heidi up on the alp. The quaint village with views of the magnificent alps was just what we wanted to experience. Hiking in the area is fun with lots of interesting destinations to explore. We skied on Riederalp and also at Zermatt - easy to get to by train. The local food, raclette, fondue and fresh baked breads, was delicious. We look forward to going back in the summertime when the scenery changes from snowy wonderland to flowers and green pastures.

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