Huus Gstaad

Huus Gstaad, a Michelin Key Selected property, is widely regarded as an impressive and highly recommended destination in the Swiss Alps, offering a blend of stylish design, relaxed atmosphere, and an abundance of activities.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Huus Gstaad is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing it as a "truly impressive hotel" and a "Guest Best" with an overall score of 19.1/20 based on verified stays. It's praised for being stylish, relaxed, and homely, creating a cozy and easy-to-navigate environment. Many guests express a strong desire to return.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently highlight several aspects that make Huus Gstaad stand out:

• Design & Atmosphere: The hotel boasts a rustic, homespun design philosophy that blurs the line between indoors and out, creating a snug and welcoming aesthetic. The lobby and bar area are particularly noted for their "amazing ambience" and being like "one big living room" with panoramic views, art books, games, and fireplaces.
• Amenities & Activities: Huus Gstaad is an adventurer's paradise, offering a plethora of complimentary outdoor activities. These include on-site ski school with equipment, Gstaad ski guides, guided winter walking tours, snowshoe hikes, sleds, and a ski shuttle service. In summer, guests can enjoy mountain biking, rock-climbing, dogsledding, hot-air ballooning, rafting, canyoning, and abseiling. The hotel also features a large indoor pool, an impressive spa with two saunas, a steam room, and treatment rooms. Complimentary childcare in a kindergarten and a children's dining area and spa make it an ideal family hotel.
• Location & Views: Perched on a hillside just above Saanen, the hotel offers spectacular, ever-changing mountain views from rooms, the bar, restaurant, pool, and sauna. The peaceful village of Saanen itself is delightful, with historic buildings and local shops.
• Service: The staff are consistently described as incredible, friendly, knowledgeable, and very kind.

3. Room Quality

The 136 rooms and 4 suites at Huus Gstaad are described as "super nice" and "superb," featuring a modern interpretation of an authentic Swiss home with exposed wood and mountain views. They are designed to be warm, welcoming, and comfortable, with a contemporary flair.

Key features include:

• Comfort: Rooms are equipped with "super comfy" Hästens beds, renowned for their optimal quality, ensuring a restful sleep.
• Design Elements: Contemporary accents such as transparent globe pendant lamps, rain showers with luxurious bath amenities, sizeable flatscreens, and Samsung tablets are present. Plush textiles and handsome custom furnishings add to the cozy aesthetic.
• Amenities: Rooms often include a sitting area, high-end backpacks and binoculars for guests to use during their stay, water bottles, and a minibar. Some rooms feature balconies with stunning views. A unique touch mentioned by one guest was having two toilets in a standard room.

4. Dining Experience

Huus Gstaad offers a diverse and highly-praised dining experience:

• Variety: The hotel has multiple eateries, many with panoramic views or terrace seating. These include La Vue for seasonal fine dining, La Cave for tapas, and the Fondue Chalet for traditional Swiss fondue. There's also a sushi bar which is a popular apres-ski spot.
• Breakfast: The breakfast buffet is extensive and considered "the best hotel breakfast" by some guests, featuring a wide spread and a fresh orange juice station where guests can squeeze their own juice. Breakfast is generally self-service and included for all guests.
• Overall Quality: Guests praise the "great food and drink" and the well-conceived, creatively interpreted menus consistent with a Swiss mountain hotel atmosphere. Some have noted chefs being willing to prepare off-menu items. Coffee in the room and the extensive breakfast and dinner menus are frequently cited as highlights.

5. Service & Staff

The service at Huus Gstaad receives consistently high marks. Guests describe the staff as "incredible," "friendly," "knowledgeable," and "very kind." Specific mentions include welcoming front desk agents who explain complimentary services like breakfast and offer welcome drinks, and hospitable bar staff. The staff are noted for being professional, organized, and attentive to guests' needs, even accommodating late check-outs and providing food after breakfast hours for those on excursions.

6. Location & Accessibility

Huus Gstaad is located in Saanen, a few minutes along the valley from Gstaad. It's situated on a hillside, offering splendid mountain views.

• Proximity to Gstaad: Gstaad village is a short drive away and easily accessible.
• Transport: While not directly in Gstaad town, the hotel provides a complimentary shuttle service to the ski slopes and the Saanen train station, which is 1.5 km away. However, some guests note that public bus service to Gstaad can be infrequent and not operate late at night, making taxi fares potentially expensive for evening outings. The hotel offers complimentary Range Rovers for guests.
• Activities: The location offers direct access to 250 kilometers of ski runs and trails.

7. Value & Pricing

Guests generally find the prices at Huus Gstaad to be reasonable, especially considering the extensive array of included adventure, child, and spa extras, which make the rates "truly remarkable." One reviewer in 2018 mentioned a nightly rate of approximately 280 CHF (around 300 USD) and the ability to redeem points for a good value. The inclusion of many outdoor activities free of cost adds significant value to the stay.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor criticisms or points to be aware of include:

• Distance from Gstaad Town: The hotel is not located directly in Gstaad, which can make evening trips to the town expensive by taxi if the infrequent bus service isn't convenient.
• Spa Pool Temperature: One guest noted that the pool in the spa was "not really nice," implying a potential issue with temperature or overall experience, though this was a singular comment amidst many praises for the spa facilities.
• Room View Discrepancies: One guest complained that the view from their booked "north facing" room differed from what was shown on Expedia.
• Flower Quality/Billing: A complaint was lodged regarding old and not fresh flowers that were expensive and included in the checkout bill in an unclear manner.
• Crib/Extra Bed Policy: The hotel explicitly states that rooms cannot accommodate cribs or extra beds.
• Accessibility: The hotel is noted as not being accessible for disabled guests.

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