HUUS Hotel in Winter, Switzerland

We travel extensively and have the privilege of staying at some of the most amazing hotels and resorts in the world. And without a doubt we enjoy every minute of it, but still the great thing of traveling is getting back to our home. Home will for ever be the base of everything we do. The treasured space we created as a family.

On this sunny winter day rays of sunlight follow us when we drive through Gstaad in Switzerland. We are heading for a huge chalet on one of the snow-covered hills in the Saanenland region: the HUUS Hotel, all with respect to its superb location. Clearly its name couldn’t have been chosen better: Huus means ‘house’ or ‘home’.

It is our fourth visit and third stay and upon entering the hotel, we are still blown away by the amazing design and atmosphere that has been created here. We are welcomed by the owner, Günter Weilguni, who as we also recall from our previous visits, undoubtedly lives up to the words that describe the style of HUUS Hotel: friendly, unpretentious, and down-to-earth. A truly committed and charming host who treats you to a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

This comfortable and luxurious retreat has 136 guest rooms and we nestle ourselves in two connecting rooms. The rooms are finished with cowhide which gives a natural feel and offer modern comfort with the most perfect beds. We are mostly impressed by the sweeping views of the surroundings. According to a legend, God took a short rest whilst creating the world. The imprint of his hand thus shaped the Saanenland region. His five fingers formed the valleys, with Gstaad nestling in their midst. You indeed do believe that supernatural forces were used when you let your eyes wander over the beauty around here.

In each room, there are Samsung tablets with complimentary newspapers, magazines and information about the history and possible activities, all updated daily. We find out that families make up 30 percent of visitors coming to the holiday region of Gstaad, many of whom have been coming here for generations. And HUUS Hotel sure is perfect for families; our girls feel right away at home with so many facilities for children in and around this Alpine retreat. We seldom experience such an amazing combination for both adults and children alike. For example, next to one of the restaurants, there is a playing room with a child minder on-hand during dinner time. Moreover, children can relax in the adjacent movie room and teens will have a blast in the enormous game room. No less than a dozen flat screens dominate this room with as many game consoles. PlayStation, Wii, you name it and they’ve got it. Hang out on one of the sofas while playing your favorite game. We enjoy trying them, including a football game, and creating our very own Dutch team. It’s almost too good to be true, because there is no way you get these teens outdoors now. And there is even more on offer at the game room: two pool tables, darts, football table, etc.

HUUS Hotel is in a great location and can best be reached by car. As the hotel is situated in Saanen with direct access to the motorway, it’s not very comfortable to go out for a stroll. Within easy reach of the hotel by car, however, there are tons of activities in the region. What makes it even more special, is that many activities are included in the room rate. This guarantees a relaxing holiday because you don’t need to have a care in the world and can entirely focus on your family. For example, the HUUS Ski school offers free ski lessons to children up to the age of nine, as well as free ski passes and ski equipment.

We hook up with our longtime friend Nils, a nice Dutch-speaking guide for skiing who’s taking us to the best slopes in the region. With his humor and kind guiding we have a few great days.

Besides skiing you can explore the Gstaad area with complimentary guided (snowshoe) walking tours, skiing trips, including equipment. And how nice is it that we find some ski jumps from HUUS Hotel on the slopes? The hotel can indeed be called the ultimate winter sports hotel. And with all the extras, even a week is not enough to experience it all. On day two, our daughters already ask us if we would promise them to come back next year: preferably with the whole extended family, including all their school friends if it where they had their way.

It is also the perfect destination for a summer holiday. The contrast between staying here in winter and summer couldn’t be bigger. It feels like staying in a completely different country. During spring, the Alpine meadows are full in bloom and the scent of blossom spreads throughout the valleys while the eternal snow on the mountain tops glints in the sunlight. Also then, HUUS Hotel bustles with activities. What do you think of some river rafting, mountain biking, special family canyoning, flying fox descents, climbing lessons or e-bike tours. Or check our review in Summer here on our website.

Of course, you don’t need to do any of this at all, no one will force you to do anything. You might just as well sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the sun with the most delicious cappuccino and a good book. As mentioned earlier, Huus Hotel offers plenty to keep children entertained, so parents can have their own moment of reflection. With all of this, we would almost forget to mention that the hotel has a large swimming pool with a special Kid’s Spa with ice cave and separate play area. The Spa for adults is one floor up from the Kid’s Spa, with a scenic view sauna that really has magical views of the surrounding mountains. The absolute pinnacle of relaxation.

HUUS Hotel is also the place to be for culinary delights. The La Vue restaurant delivers a true taste of the Alps with straightforward, honest, and contemporary cuisine. The chefs mainly work with local produce. The herbs, for example, are home-grown in the hotel’s herb garden. Everything is fresh and authentic. It is very accessible just like everything at HUUS Hotel. The cheery and friendly staff do everything possible to ensure a pleasant evening. At your request, they even make sure you get your dishes served quickly – especially nice when you dine with young children. As for the little ones, it is practically impossible to sit down for long when there is so much to do in and around the hotel.

The HUUS Gstaad Restaurant is the beating heart of the hotel. You don’t need to hurry for your breakfast in the morning. You can choose from over 200 breakfast dishes, all day long. There are no less than seven unique world breakfasts on the menu. You can also come here for an aperitif or dinner. And the cocktails are highly recommended too. As with everything else, much thought has been given to what works best for families. While the parents enjoy their dinner, the kids can watch a film in the children’s area. It doesn’t get any better than this.

As noted already, the cocktails at the HUUS Gstaad Restaurant are divine and they also serve savory cocktails at the HUUS Bar in the lobby. For the best in classic and modern home-inspired signature cocktails, pull up a stool at the bar. With its floor-to-ceiling display boasting some 450 spirits, it is the highest bottle wall in the region. Or simply sink into one of the comfy sofas in the living room, where you’ll find the HUUS library. It is stocked with more than 500 books. This is also the place where you can relax and listen to a DJ playing some chill-out lounge tunes now and then.

WOW

# We are having the ultimate vacation in winter here, however summer is just as great with an endless range of activities. The Gstaad region is not without reason a destination where families like to return year-on-year, as there is a great range of fun activities for younger guests as well. From playgrounds, petting zoos and river rafting in summer to fun parks in winter. And HUUS Hotel with all its activities fits in perfectly.

# We seldom experience such an amazing combination for both adults and children alike. Child minders can watch your children, there are several playing and game areas and a great pool. No need to go outside if you don’t feel like it.

# HUUS Hotel is really a home away from home. Not only for its amazing design: we hardly ever felt so welcome. It goes without saying that we owe this warm feeling to the staff. When it’s time for us to take our leave of these lovely people, we are waved off as if we are old friends bound to be back some time soon. We are and we will!

This property can also be booked through iescape-huushotel.