Hi susant100,

What's your budget?

You need to get this done asap, as many schools in Europe let out in February and most ski resorts are very crowded. Most of the best hotels will be sold out for months.

s

Hi again,

Well, until I hear from you, here are my recommendations:

Hotel Gstaaderhof, 4 star; I've stayed here two times. It sits just around the corner, about 5 minutes, from the pedestrian zone. The owner/managers are always on hand, from the moment you check in in the morning to the evening meals. In fact, it was the owner who drove the courtesy van to carry passengers to concerts during the August music fest and to/from the train station. The staff is great, and the food is wonderful. This is the cheapest 4-star I found in Gstaad, but it looks and feels top of the line.

Hotel Le Grand Chalet, 4 star; I stayed there one time. It sits on a hill overlooking the town so may not be very convenient for early morning starts. The decor is absolutely fabulous, as is the staff. This is a true high-end hotel, with prices to match.

The 4-star Hotel Arc-en-Ciel is right next to the Eggli cable car, so you may want to consider staying there.

The Post Hotel Rössli would be my pick for a 3-star. It sits right in the middle of town, and the rates are reasonable (for Gstaad).

You may want to widen your search to include Schönreid (which has its own skiing area) and Saanen. You can see all the available hotels at one site,

www.gstaad.ch

btw, I think you've made a good choice in Gstaad. Though I've never skied there, I love the town and love the excursions you can make from there: Gruyeres, Rougemont, Saanen, Thun, Spiez, Zweisimmen, and even Montreux.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Thank you for the input! Yes, I am running into a problem with hotel accomodations. I do have a room tentatively booked at the Arc-en-Ciel. There are no rooms at the Hotel Le Grand Chalet or the Palace. This is a once in a lifetime ski trip for my husband and I. We are advanced skiiers (by US standards), however, I have been told that we should consider ourselves intermediate in Europe. I am looking for a 50% ski trip and the other 50% Swiss charm.

Hi again,

If you can't find anything, think about staying in Saanen and in Schönreid also, as I said above. I've stayed at the Steigenberger in Saanen and adored it.

s

We tentatively had a room booked at the Ermitage Hotel outside of Gstaad. We changed our travel dates and no longer can stay at the Arc-en-Ciel. Any input on this hotel would be appreciated.

Once again trying to decide between the Arc-en-Ciel and the Ermitage Hotel. Still leaning towards Arc-en-Ciel due to location closer to Gstaad city center. Ermitage is 2 miles away and we are uncertain of transportation in and around the area. Location is most important for us at this point as we will have to pay an extra night at Arc-en-Ciel as they have a min. night policy in February. Is it worth paying an extra night to be closer to town or is there adequate transportation to get about. We will not have a car.