Sep 22

Sep 22 Spa getaway at The Ermitage Hotel Gstaad

When you are in need of recharging and taking care of your mental and physical state, spa gateaway in the nature is the best idea.

It was my first time in Gstaad area. I’ve came to photograph a super cars event in September 2020. It was very intense few days and I really needed a good chill after the event.

Luckily, I’ve discovered The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel in Schönried which is located just above Gstaad. Let me share with you my experience of staying in this charming chalet-resort with character.

Practical information

Location: Bernese Oberland

Coordinates: G73Q+84 Saanen

Bookings and more information: Hotel Website

Stars: 5-star hotel

How to get there

The hotel

Located at the breathtaking mountain view of the Bernese Oberland The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel is a real gem of the area. The hotel was originally constructed as a "golf hotel" in 1955. Nowadays guests have at their disposal: 3,700 m² Wellness Oasis, indoor-outdoor SOLBAD salt-water pool, cosy Cheminée Lounge, Thai-style quiet & relaxation room, new smoothie bar and a modern fitness centre, as well as a magical view of the mountains.

This place is highly luxurious, but still down to earth. The magic of the Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel is that you feel there like at home, yet friendly and highly professional hosts take good care of you from your first minutes there until the very last. During your stay, you start naturally to know everyone, like all these people are your neighbours. This was the first time when I’ve spend so much time casually interacting with hotel staff and I really felt how much they care and know-how to make your stay pleasant. The level of hospitality is top and I wish every business would operate with the same dedication and professionalism.

The focus of the hotel is to immerse you with the calm and power of nature and the very latest wellness and spa offerings. It is a perfect place to relax your mind and body, yet stay active and healthy while on vacation. The hotel is offering Bike Trips, Hiking with local guides, Fitness classes, as well as there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor sports in the area.

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The rooms at The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel in Schönried

The rooms are very spacious, elegant and cosy. All are recently renovated, but kept all the charm of the chalet design. There are plenty of loving details ensuring 5-star comfort. My favourite moments were having my morning cappuccino on the balcony while enjoying the views and nature sounds and in the evening it was magical to read a book in front of the cosy fireplace. If 3,700 m² of Wellness area in the hotel is not enough, in the room I had my private steam bath and jacuzzi.

Dining at The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel in Schönried

The dining experience was beyond my expectations. As I am exposed a lot to Italian cuisine and hospitality I am very hard and picky here in Switzerland. I have to admit that The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel surprised me with the quality, originality and variety of food. As I’ve mentioned before, there is a lot of focus on wellness and the menu is no exception. But eating healthy doesn’t mean eating plain food.

There is a great variety of gastronomic offerings to choose from. If you have special wishes, allergies or a nutrition plan, the menu can be even adapted for you. The breakfast buffet offers you an outstanding selection of cold, hot, local and international dishes. Lunch in the “Orangerie” or on the sun deck awaits with a daily pasta dish, a fresh salad, soup of the day and tasty meat and fish dishes. Later on, you can enjoy the afternoon tea and cake in the “Bärgblick” hotel lobby, while listening to a live piano performance. And in the evening you can look forward to the homely lounge atmosphere of the “ERMITAGE Stube”, Swiss cuisine with a Mediterranean touch.

The pleasant fact is that the food is already included in your room rate. During dinner, you can enjoy several course meals and you can ask as many dishes as you want. The menu is different every day, so you will never get bored, only surprised by the chef and team. The restaurant area is divided in smaller rooms and all are with a different design. It’s the first time I saw something like this, such a cosy and warm atmosphere.

After enjoying your meal you can move to the wine cellar or «Davidoff» Smoker's Salon. The wine selection is one of the very best in all of Saanenland and offers not just classics, but something rare. And of course, the real gem of the hotel is a One Million Stars Bar by Swarvoski. I never saw so much glitter! Enjoying a cocktail with piano chords, was the best finish for the evening.

Spa & Wellness

I’ve spent so much time in the spa every day. For me, the spa is almost the only way to recharge and relax. There I can switch off my mind completely and don’t think about work. We all need to treat ourselves from time to time. The wellness facility had a major reconstruction in 2019 and as of today, the 3,700 m2 chalet resort is the largest and most modern wellness park in the region. It has everything you need to relax and recharge. It is also open to external guests and cost CHF30 for 2h from 7 pm-9 pm, Monday to Friday. The spa offers numerous massages and beauty treatments. Brands like Babor, Alpienne and Cellap Laboratory SA Switzerland are used for treatments. There is also a very well equipped gym.

Conclusion

The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel is a real gem. Usually, I prefer to explore new places, but I will definitely come back there again and again. I am impressed that every single aspect of my stay was great there and this kind of experience is very rare. As I’ve mentioned before, it is also about people. From the first seconds, you have the feeling that all hosts are your friends and you know each other for ages. So, if you’re looking for a spa weekend or holiday I can highly recommend The Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel.

How To Get There

We are travelling always by car, so it took us 2,5h from Zurich. If you travel by train the journey will take 3h, you will need to change in Bern, Spiez and Zweisimmen to reach Schönried.