Just before we set out on our blogger trip to Gstaad, the “Sonntags Zeitung” (a Swiss sunday paper) in its list of best winter hotels ranked the Spitzhorn as tops in the three-star category. Reason enough for us to scope out the hotel ourselves.
Already on entering the lobby of the 3* superior chalet hotel Spitzhorn, newly opened in 2013, a little “wow” hushes across our lips. The lobby is bright, and comfortable sofas and the fireplace instantly create a feeling of cozy hospitality.
We also like the tasteful furnishings, clearly chosen with much attention to detail – and a wink. Or else how did that little ibex get on up there on the wooden beam?
We are a 3*** Superior Hotel with 4**** infrastructure in a 5***** setting: that makes a grand total of 12 stars!
With a broad grin, that is how congenial Dutch host Michel Wichman describes “his” hotel, as he proudly shows us around the house and lets us check out his realm.
Throughout the hotel there is a great deal of wood, stone, and warm color hues, letting the sense of homey wellbeing run like a golden thread through our visit. Management wants its guests to experience “the lightness of being” and has made it the hotel’s credo. And we indeed felt very much en light ened as we stepped through our brief, delightful walkabout.
This hotel truly is a little pearl. Not showy, not overloaded – instead it presents itself to guests with style, authenticity and understated luxury.
Hotel rooms and features
The 50 rooms are also very cozy, with much wood throughout and decorated in warm color hues.
The house sits on the sun terrace of Saanen. No wonder then that practically all the rooms and the restaurant, too, are flooded with sunlight. During the summer, guests naturally enjoy the sun on their room’s balcony or on the hotel’s terrace with its splendid views of Gstaad and mountains with the Spitzhorn.
We could easily see that children are very welcome here and not just because of the playroom furnished especially for them or the garden play area…
The host thinks of returning guests as his “regulars” after just one year, and that is why each room comes with an individual, bound journal that the guest can update with every new visit.
The hotel has a small but fine wellness world, with indoor pool, sun terrace, sauna, steam bath, Kneipp pool, tropical shower, rest area and gym offering the full range of wellness amenities. What more could you want? In any event, whether it’s a winter of skiing or a summer spent hiking, this is the ideal place for a perfect vacation.
We can easily see why the Wichmans keep turning their guests into “regulars.” They accomplish it in highly personalized fashion with their presence and with so much sincerity and a light touch that you gladly become a “repeat offender.” ;-)
Really, the three stars are a colossal understatement. It shouldn’t be hard at all for them to FAR exceed the expectations of their guests. :-)
Whatever will be, will be, and so we wish the host couple Ilse and Michel Wichmann continued great success!
And many thanks to Kerstin Sonnekalb and Antje Buchs of Gstaad Saaneland Tourism for organizing this travel blogger event so rich in impressions!
Prices and availability can be found here.
