Review: Gstaad Palace Hotel (Switzerland)

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In the present day: Overview of Gstaad Palace Resort (Switzerland)

Maybe greatest often known as the Bernese Oberland’s winter paradise, the luxurious Gstaad Palace is a favourite amongst energetic vacationers and people really within the know. The palace has presided over the tiny village of Gstaad since 1913, with splendid views of the Swiss Alps. You’ll discover 90 rooms and suites, 5 eating places (one rated 15 Gault Millau factors), two bars with reside music, a famend nightclub, and a full-service spa. The latter is a superb spot to rejuvenate with a soak within the hammam or a go to to the non-public spa suite after a day of snowboarding or {golfing}. A squash courtroom, 4 out of doors tennis courts, and an Olympic-size out of doors pool (calld PISCINE) can be found in summer time.

The Gstaad Palace options in my high 10 listing of the very best luxurious accommodations in Switzerland.

Have you ever ever stayed at The Gstaad Palace? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this evaluate (extra data and pictures beneath my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The Gstaad Palace is situated in Switzerland’s postcard excellent village of Gstaad. Lengthy often known as a wondrous playground for the wealthy and well-known, Gstaad gives a year-round Alpine trip vacation spot for {couples}, households touring with kids of all ages, jetsetters, celebrities, and teams of associates who’re searching for a good time. The village is surrounded by towering mountains, holding huge expanses of various terrain, ideally suited for skiers and snowboarders of all ranges. Over 200 km (125 mi) of slopes, an trendy community of chairlifts & gondolas, stylish mountain bars & eating places, and the one glacier ski space within the Bernese Oberland – Glacier 3000 – make Gstaad the popular selection for snow lovers. In summer time, the identical mountain pathways – dotted with wildflowers and bell-collared cows – welcome hikers and mountain bikers, too.

Towering above the tiny village of Gstaad, The Gstaad Palace enjoys an outstanding location on a hill, offering magnificent panoramic views of the encircling valleys and mountains. One other benefit of its elevated place, mixed with its orientation in direction of the south, is that the property enjoys a numerous sunshine, which is a large bonus for company visiting within the colder, darker winter months. Gstaad Palace’s unique location provides to the texture that the resort is a vacation spot by itself, but it’s solely a brief complimentary shuttle experience or a ten min stroll down a wooded path to the middle of Gstaad village. Right here, company can take pleasure in leisurely strolls on a pedestrianized promenade, lined by haute vogue boutiques (e.g. Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermes) and jewellery shops punctuated by the odd pharmacy or cheese store.

Driving by way of the Swiss valleys, climbing up the steep and winding roads of Gstaad, the primary view of Gstaad Palace – a fantasyland fortress with pointed turrets – will take your breath away. The historical past of this “white fortress within the Alps” dates again to 1905, when Robert Steffen – a neighborhood schoolteacher in Gstaad – acknowledged the potential for a grand resort within the area and bought his first plots of land. Steffen recruited buyers from Lausanne and Geneva and his resort – initially referred to as the “Royal-Hôtel and Winter Palace – opened in December 1913, with a design from Dutch architect Adrien van Dorsser. The resort’s first winter season was so profitable that a number of extensions have been constructed over the subsequent years. In the course of the World Wars, the variety of company declined quickly although. The Swiss authorities hid gold reserves in a two-story bunker on the resort (The Fromagerie restaurant is accommodated on this room at this time; extra on that beneath).

Monetary struggles related to low patronage throughout the Phrase Wars prompted the resort’s majority proprietor to promote the property in 1947 to Ernst and Silvia Scherz-Bezzol. In 1969, Ernst Andrea Scherz took over the possession from his dad and mom and ran the property till 2001. Underneath his administration, Gstaad Palace grew to become a world-famous resort and constructed a fame as an unique trip spot for jetsetters and celebrities. In the present day, Gstaad Palace is managed by the third era of the Scherz household and is subsequently certainly one of Europe’s final family-run accommodations the place VIPs expertise a first-class tradition of hospitality. Underneath the possession of the Scherz household, the property has been constantly renovated, refurbished and prolonged. The upgrading continues yearly when the ultra-luxe property closes its door between its winter seasons (mid-December to mid-March) and summer time season (mid-June to mid-September).

The Gstaad Palace’s inside is as grand and spectacular as its imposing castle-like exterior, mixing the traditional options of a Bavarian fortress with the cozily fashion of a Swiss chalet. The design of the general public areas is way because it was within the resort’s early days, although contemporary renovations, some timed with the resort’s centennial celebration, have added a recent contact. The intimate reception & concierge space, which is adorned with stunning floral preparations, leads right into a big foyer lounge flanked with stone pillars. That includes an unlimited, painted ceiling depicting Switzerland’s 26 cantons and their ornamental seals, the light-filled foyer is centered round a beautiful bar space. After a day within the mountains, company come right here to socialize, loosen up and lounge on the sofas by the open hearth or by the large home windows which supply nice mountain views.

The Gstaad Palace options 90 spacious rooms, together with 30 suites and one penthouse condo crowning the primary tower. All rooms and suites boast new furnishings and most provide splendid views of Gstaad’s genuine chalets and the encircling mountains. Throughout my go to, I used to be upgraded to a ‘deluxe room mountain view’ on the primary ground (quantity 114). Embellished in a soothing coloration palette, the room’s design exuded Alpine coziness and complex magnificence. It featured a walk-in wardrobe, kingsize mattress, writing desk, and a cushty sitting space. The ensuite lavatory was outfitted with two sinks, a shower, and a separate bathe; luxurious Molton Brown toiletries have been supplied. The room’s spotlight was an enormous terrace with eating desk, going through the majestic mountains and having fun with sunshine for a lot of the day. Welcome facilities within the room included a (each day replenished) fruit bowl and a Gstaad Palace branded scented candle.

The Gstaad Palace options one of the vital spectacular wellness areas within the Alps. The magnificent spa facility presents 9 therapy rooms, a non-public spa suite, saunas and steam baths, a novel hammam expertise, a hanging leisure space with Swiss-style hearth, an indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art health club, and a Pilates studio overlooking the Alps. To boost a mountain feeling on the spa, an imposing 60 m (200 ft) lengthy granite wall utilizing 50 tons of rock from the Blausee area was lower and painstakingly constructed. The spa’s spotlight, although, is the out of doors pool, which begins inside and continues by way of a glass hatch out within the open air, providing very good views of the mountainous surroundings between the plumes of rising steam. In the summertime, tennis courts and an out of doors Olympic-sized pool – referred to as PISCINE – are additionally out there to company.

Probably the greatest issues in regards to the Gstaad Palace(apart from these Alpine views) is its eating scene. From a sublime dinner to an informal get-together, from unique Swiss specialties to worldwide haute delicacies, the resort presents a number of eating venues and bars:
- Le Grill is the property’s signature restaurant, awarded with 15 Gault Millau factors. Prime cooks put together scrumptious dinners proper in entrance of the visitor’s in a present kitchen.
- Subsequent to Le Grill is Gildo’s Ristorante, an Italian restaurant named after Maître d’hôtel Gildo Bocchini, who was one of many hosts on the Palace because the Nineteen Sixties.
- Housed in a former Swiss gold vault, La Fromagerie serves typical Swiss specialities (e.g. truffle and Champagne cheese fondue or a standard raclette) in a country setting with numerous wooden and pink and white checked ornament.
- Le Grand Restaurant is the Palace’s primary eating venue, open for breakfast (served buffet fashion), lunch, and dinner. The latter primarily contains worldwide dishes in addition to Indian delicacies on chosen nights.
- The Gstaad Palace is house to one of the vital well-known nightclubs within the Alps: GreenGo Nightclub. The membership’s distinctive design and ornament by Teo Jakob take company again to the Seventies in a classy setting. Resident DJs play fashionable and hip music, guaranteeing an exhilarating social gathering night time for the resort’s illustrious clientele.

Greater than 100 years after it formally opened, Gstaad Palace retains a fame as one of many best luxurious accommodations within the Swiss Alps, attracting celebrities from everywhere in the world. Within the Nineteen Sixties, Marlene Dietrich, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald in addition to Maurice Chevalier, Gilbert Bécaud, Dionne Warwick and Petula Clark stayed on the resort. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton recurrently holidayed on the Gstaad Palace Resort again within the Seventies. Since then, a parade of celebrities – together with singer Madonna, designer Valentino, Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan, and actress Julia Andrews – have loved the Swiss hospitality on the iconic property. In 2000, Michael Jackson supplied to buy the resort, however the homeowners declined. One other enjoyable tidbit: scenes from the 1975 movie The Return of the Pink Panther starring Peter Sellers have been additionally filmed on the Gstaad Palace.

The Gstaad Palace Resort is counted among the many portfolio of the Main Lodges of the World (LHW). The latter is an unique assortment of greater than 400 luxurious accommodations and resorts in over 80 nations. LHW doesn’t personal accommodations; it reasonably presents a reservation service for unbiased accommodations and helps gross sales and advertising, promoting and public relations, monetary companies, high quality management, and resort inspections for its member properties. LHW has many iconic properties in its portfolio, resembling such because the 12 Apostles Resort in Cape City, The Datai Langkawi in Malaysia, Resort Adlon Kempinski in Berlin, Le Sirenuse in Positano (Italy), Il Sereno Lake Como (Italy), Laucala Island in Fiji, the Setai Miami Seaside, and The Ritz in Paris. From 1976 until 1989, Gstaad Palace’s proprietor Ernst Andrea Scherz was President of LHW; The alliance of main luxurious accommodations grows with the addition of a number of accommodations outdoors Europe below his auspices.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

The Gstaad Palace is not a ski-in, ski-out resort, though that’s not likely an issue because the property gives complimentary shuttle service to and from the closest cable automotive lifts (that are solely a 5 to 10 min drive away).

Having fun with a secluded hillside location, the Gstaad Palace is a strenuous 10 minute stroll uphill from Gstaad‘s beautiful middle the place you discover a number of outlets, bars and eating places. However for these company that don’t wish to stroll, the resort gives complimentary drop off or choose up service upon request.

Gstaad Palace is a glamorous winter fantasy come to life in one of many world’s most glitzy ski resorts, so the costs (room charges, dinner, and many others …) match the lofty location as properly the resort’s stellar fame.

Gstaad Palace oozes old school grandeur, though many rooms have a extra modern really feel. In the event you’re extra into an intimate boutique resort with trendy design, the Gstaad Palace may not be the only option for you.

What makes Gstaad Palace really feel doubly uncommon and distinctive is the truth that it’s solely open for choose months of the 12 months, by way of the guts of winter’s ski season (mid-December to Mid-March) and within the blooming top of summer time (mid-June to Mid-September). This feels about proper for a spot whose clientele of well-heeled and discerning vacationers don’t journey throughout the low season.

MY VERDICT

Location: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Meals: 9/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 10/10
Service: 9/10
Worth for cash: 9/10
Total expertise: distinctive 9/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Lower your expenses: get complimentary VIP perks at Gstaad Palace when reserving by way of Virtuoso (e.g. improve, each day breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and $100 USD meals & beverage credit score).

Lower your expenses: learn right here my ideas for getting the very best deal at a luxurious resort like Gstaad Palace (and/or obtain many free perks).

Room tip: south-facing rooms have the very best views and a few of these rooms include a balcony, that are price their premium worth.

Learn my ideas for making ready your journey in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Gstaad Palace is a seasonal resort: it’s solely open throughout the winter ski season (mid-December to mid-March) and summer time (mid-June to mid-September).

HOW TO GET THERE

The journey to the resort by automotive takes two hours from each Geneva and Basel, you want roughly 2 and a half hours from Zurich. The practice station in Gstaad is simply 1 km (0.6 mi) away from the resort. Gstaad additionally has an airport that caters to non-public jets.