This hotel is a journey back into time as the interior of the hotel appears a bit outdated and worn down. But it was compensated by the hospitality of the owners and their staff. Very friendly and service-oriented people.
Our rating would have been higher if the value for money ratio would be better. We paid definitely too much for what we experienced!

We have had the pleasure of staying at the delightful Cristal Hotel at several occasions, usually during the month of June. Most notably, we came here to celebrate mom’s 85th and 90th birthdays, and we are looking forward to coming back for her 95th.
Other reviewers have accurately and eloquently described the virtues of the quiet, quaint, and car-free town of Braunwald, untouched by mass-tourism, on a sunny terrace high above the Linth Valley. The views of the surrounding Alps are stunning, including the “Glarus Overthrust”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are pleasant hiking paths of all levels of difficulty, including some accessible to a little old lady in her 90s, my mom. We particularly enjoyed the gentle and scenic hike from the hotel to the rustic Restaurant Nussbuel, about an hour’s walk at a leisurely pace. Those who don’t feel like walking back after a fine meal may wish to take a horse carriage instead.
In this lovely town, the Cristal Hotel sits at an optimal, sunny location, just a bit outside of town, surrounded by idyllic meadows and grazing cows, facing the magnificent Alps. Right behind the hotel, you can board a gondola to bring you higher up into the mountains, where you will find more challenging hikes and some idyllic mountain restaurants. The hotel itself is tastefully and authentically decorated, with a simple but appealing elegance. The breakfast buffet is sumptuous and lovingly presented. The dining is simple but delicious, with the feel of a home cooked meal.

What makes this place really special is the dedication, energy, and amazing hospitality of the owners, the Schilling Family, who are the heart and soul of the hotel, always eager to help.

This hotel offers a great value as well. One can get a “room with a view” here for less than 100 francs per person per day (with a three day package), including breakfast and dinner. This is the most affordable hotel we have stayed in in the last ten years (in some ten countries, from Canada to Egypt) , and quite possibly the most delightful.

We (family of 4) were looking for a quiet few days in the mountains, not too far from Zurich airport. It's 2hrs and 2 train changes plus short funicular to Braunwald, but worth it.

Fantastic views, beautiful, quiet village with plenty mixed difficulty walking opportunities. We chose Hotel Cristal because of the earlier review on here, the helpful responses to our enquiry emails and the fact they offered a family room for 4 with balcony view.

The hotel is 5 minutes walk from the funicular (read the sign we missed and leave your luggage for the hotel to collect!) and has fabulous views over the mountains. It's basic but very charming and clean. Frau Schiller is a very welcoming host.

What clinched 5 stars is her approach to us all being vegetarian. We had made sure she was aware in advance, and decided to take dinner in the hotel, being unsure what else would be available. Good decision. The dinner menu is simple and fixed but 4 courses, and was adjusted to give us 2 nights of good vegetarian food. A lovely bonus on top of a relaxing couple of days in the clear mountain air. I'd be confident Frau Schiller will go out of her way to try to accommodate any special requests or needs you may have.

Thanks for a lovely start to our holiday.