Bivio has a handful of hotels and many more vacation rentals, some of which are only available during the winter ski season.

Hotel Solaria

Run by Giancarlo and Genny Torriani, the Solaria is in every way a family business—from the friendly vibe at the front desk to an all-around do-it-yourself work ethic. Giancarlo’s grandfather opened the Solaria as a small hotel in 1935, and the original building retains a rustic charm. Despite several renovations and expansions over the years, the family has preserved the original floor in the lobby, made of a local gemstone called serpentinite. An arched stone, which Giancarlo’s father found along the Septimerpass and presumed to have come from an ancient Roman chapel, hangs on the wall near the front door. Black and white family portraits add to the timeless feel of the place.

With an endless display of energy, Giancarlo replaces a light bulb in a common area one moment and repairs a stone step in the entryway the next—all the while wearing his white chef’s coat—for he is, first and foremost, a professionally trained cook. That he is also a former Swiss bobsledding champion adds yet another layer of character to the operation.

Though the hotel has only 36 rooms, it is almost entirely self-sustaining, with two restaurants, a bakery, a bar, wine cellar, laundry facility, bowling alley, and even a bocce ball court on the premises. Most guestrooms have a balcony or terrace, along with phone, radio, minibar, and TV. The décor is basic but immaculate throughout. Additional amenities include a small sauna, excellent homemade cuisine, and numerous terraces for outdoor dining.

Rooms in the original house (Stammhaus) are the least expensive but also among the most charming, with low ceilings and small baths. Number 202 is relatively large, with a beamed ceiling and spectacular mountain views. Number 203 is smaller, but with a pine ceiling, windows on three sides, and access to equally impressive views.

Family rooms in an adjoining 1970s-era building are darker and less attractive, although several have lofts. The Solaria’s newest rooms, including  Number 309 and Number 310, are found in the Valetta addition that was built in the early 1990s. During the early summer runoff, you can hear the river roaring into the valley from some of these rooms. They are tastefully designed in natural pine and white bath tile, with heating racks in the tubs. Low pile industrial carpet was installed presumably to handle the winter slush. For a special occasion, book Number 311, a corner suite on its own mezzanine floor, facing the Julierpass. The pitched ceiling, sofa, and balcony create a private and romantic hideaway. 

As part of the Minotel marketing group, the Solaria occasionally offers good deals, such as three nights for the price of two. Check the Minotel website (www.minotel.ch) for information.

Contact: Hotel Solaria, Strada del Guiglia 43, CH–7457 Bivio, tel. +41/081 684 5107, fax 5290, e-mail solaria@hotelsolariabivio.ch, Web www.hotelsolariabivio.ch
Daily Rates: Summer singles CHF 70–95, doubles CHF 140–190; winter singles CHF 80–125, doubles CHF 160–250
Rating: Quality 15/20, Value 14/20

Hotel & Restaurant Post

Of all the guestrooms available in Bivio, those at the four-story Hotel Post have the most character. As with most of the businesses in town, the Post has been in the Lanz family for several generations.

A sprawling yellow facade marks the beginning of town at the bottom of the Julierpass. Enter through a slate floor lobby with arched doorways and relax in the cozy sitting area that adjoins the reception desk. In winter, a small fireplace warms the room. Arven pine walls and furnishings create a warm environment throughout the hotel, from the guestrooms to the banquet hall. Most rooms have relatively new furnishings, carpet, and bath fixtures, and are exceptionally clean.

For the best rooms in the house, reserve one of the junior suites. You can watch (and hear) cars descend the Julierpass from  Number 55, a corner suite. The room is done in a French motif, complete with a vase of dried lavender on the desk. The planked ceiling is painted white to contrast a French blue carpet and floral linens. A pine bed frame and antique-looking chairs complete the look. A large, elegant bath has off-white tile walls and a marble floor, with a separate bath and shower. And there is an additional half-bath near the entryway.

Also beautifully furnished, suite Number 54 features a pale-green color scheme and a loft area for the double bed, plus a rose-colored sofa and pine wardrobe. Number 53 on the same floor has only one window that faces the Septimerpass and a smaller bath, but is still a top pick. Cozier rooms on the fourth floor have rough-hewn beam ceilings and a more rustic décor. Number 16 is a basic, single room with a full-size bed and a small bath.

Amenities include a sauna/solarium, elevator, and TV upon request. With wall-to-wall windows on two sides framed in Arven pine, the spacious breakfast room is a great place to start the day.

Across the street are a handful of cozy rooms in the Chesa Lanz, also featuring Arven pine décor (singles CHF 78, doubles CHF 128–168).

Contact: Hotel & Restaurant Post, 7457 Bivio–CH, tel. +41/081 659 1000, fax 1001, e-mail mail@hotelpost-bivio.ch, Web www.hotelpost-bivio.ch    
Daily Rates: Singles CHF 82–97, doubles CHF 138–168, junior suites CHF 228
Rating: Quality 16/20, Value 15/20

Hotel-Restaurant Grischuna

Norbert Elsa wears two hats in Bivio, overseeing the Hotel-Restaurant Grischuna and serving as the main tourist office contact. A third-generation property, the original part of the Grischuna was built in 1940, with a western addition tacked on in the early 1960s. Today, the hotel has 37 guestrooms, with balconies on the southern side, facing the Julierpass, and numerous outdoor terraces for relaxing in the mountain air. Number 32 has light wood furnishings, a small but clean private bath, and a balcony with views.

All rooms have a bath tub or shower, as well as a TV, radio, and safe. There is an elevator for transporting heavy suitcases to the upper floors, and you can rent well-tuned mountain bikes from the hotel reception desk.

Contact: Hotel–Restaurant Grischuna, 7457 Bivio–CH, tel. +41/081 659 1212, fax 1213, e-mail grischuna_bivio@bluewin.ch, Web www.grischuna-bivio.ch   
Daily Rates: Summer singles CHF 67–92, doubles CHF 52–77 per person; winter singles CHF 89–129, doubles CHF 74–99 per person
Rating: Quality 13/20, Value 11/20

Hotel–Restaurant Guidon

Sylva and Fritz Guidon-Andreoli have five basic rooms with pine furnishings above their roadside restaurant. All five rooms share a bathroom down the hall. The building is unremarkable, but the food downstairs is appetizing, and if all you need is a place to crash, the price is right. Across the street is a building with two four-room vacation rentals and one three-room unit, all of which were renovated in 2003. Rooms are on the dark side, (particularly on the ground floor), and the location on the main thoroughfare can be noisy in summer with motorcycles passing by.

Contact: Hotel–Restaurant Guidon, 7457 Bivio–CH, tel. +41/081 684 5221, fax 5821, e-mail info@hotel-guidon.ch, Web www.hotel-guidon.ch  
Daily Rates: Singles CHF 50–59, doubles CHF 50–59 per person; vacation rentals CHF 85–110
Rating: Quality 11/20, Value 14/20