Palace Hotel Gstaad

Glamorous, fairytale fantasy, family-friendly, historic, all-inclusive

Palacestrasse 28, 3780 Saanen, Switzerland

(41) 33 748 50 00

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At a Glance

The historic, all-inclusive Palace Hotel is palatial in every sense of the word—from the rich velvets and sumptuous hides decorating the lobby lounge to the seven in-house restaurants.

Indagare Loves

  • The Penthouse Suite’s private rooftop sauna and hot tub
  • Après Ski in the hotel’s lobby lounge—it’s the place to see and be seen in Gstaad.
  • The fondue served at La Fromagerie, in the hotel’s basement (it was used as a bunker during WWII to hide gold belonging to the Swiss National Bank)

Review

Nearly twice as large as the Alpina Gstaad (104 rooms vs. 56), the Palace Hotel is palatial in every sense of the word—from the fairytale turrets on the top floor (the penthouse has a sauna in one of the towers), to the rich velvets and sumptuous hides decorating the lobby lounge, to the seven in-house restaurants. Further buttressing the hotel’s regal character is its illustrious list of guests, which ranges from Hollywood royalty (Joan Crawford, Audrey Hepburn, Peter Sellers) to actual royalty (King Hussein of Jordan, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.) The Palace, which will celebrate its centennial in 2013, has dominated the Gstaad social scene for the past century, but, at heart, it remains a family hotel—a place where guests who first visited as children now bring their own kids. (The hotel is, rather surprisingly, very kid-friendly.)

The room décor ranges from “Swiss glam” (brocade wallpaper, fluffy carpets, fur throws) to a more traditional Alpine aesthetic (exposed wood ceilings, hide rugs, cuckoo clocks) and all of the accommodations are comfortable and quite spacious. Many rooms have a balcony with a view onto the hotel’s pool (the first outdoor pool in Switzerland) and Gstaad town. The overall vibe evokes a fairytale fantasy—where classic Swiss luxury meets old Hollywood glamour in an extravagant all-inclusive five-star experience.

The Tower Suites, which are nestled into the hotel’s towers, each have two bedrooms and two bathrooms (one of which has a large tub perched right in the tower for an enviable bath-time view) as well as a spacious living room/dining area, made cozy thanks to the working fireplace, an excess of furry cushions, and a smattering of beautifully upholstered armchairs. Ten years ago, the top floor of The Palace was transformed into a penthouse—a colossal three-bedroom suite, accessible only by a private elevator. In addition to plush accommodations, those living the high life enjoy nearly 360-degree panoramic views from the balcony, which also houses a hot tub and sauna.

Redone in 2007, The Palace Spa pays tribute to its mountain location with a large wall made from rocks hewn from nearby quarries. In addition to eight treatment rooms, the spa also features saunas and steam baths, an indoor pool, a Pilates studio, and a state-of-the-art gym. One of the spa’s best features is the fact that it is bathed in glorious natural light owing to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The cardio room in the gym boasts a particularly impressive view of the mountain landscape.

Who Should Stay

Those looking to entertain a fairytale fantasy of staying in a palace while indulging in the real-life glitz and glamour that is Gstaad. The ½ board or full board options, pool, and tennis courts also make this an ideal spot for families.

Written by Mara Hoberman

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