Tried & Tested by Mummy in the Mountains
Parents looking for a good value, designer, boutique style hotel, in the Swiss Alps with AMAZING service and facilities for kids HUUS is for you.
UBER COOL, WITH COSY – ALPINE CHIC
This newly renovated hotel (2017) has most definitely put clients at the heart of their development…EVERYTHING has been thought out so that everyone feels at home. Everyone is welcome! Whether you come as a family, as parents in need of a break (our case 😉 on this trip), as a couple or on business they have carefully created different communal areas that are adapted to everyone! My focus is families (& parents).
Pleasingly, everything is super stylish. The hotels’ focus is on taste, comfort and adventure, that reflect the surrounding environment. The outside of the building retains its traditional clad Swiss chalet whilst the interior is a haven of Alpine chic. The Swedish interior designer, Erik Nissen Johansen has done a fabulous job, his aim “We want guests to feel like they are staying with a friend, a friend with a gorgeous home who takes you on incredible outdoor experiences and then serves you a delicious firseide meal” has been achieved…This inviting, “home like” feel infuses everything.
Although modern – the use of beautiful wood, local fabrics, rocks and ropes (all locally sourced) constantly remind you of the Swiss Alps and the huge windows everywhere give you magnificient panoramic views of the mountains in every direction you turn…Although large (136 rooms) the communal areas have been carefully designed so it feels cosy and retains an inviting atmosphere…
INCLUSIVE ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
The HUUS philisophy is to “make the Alps accessible to everyone” so they have put in place a great programme of inclusive activities for the whole family.
There is a free kid’s clubs for little ones with a fully qualified staff, an array of FREE (yes FREE*) activities – ski lessons, ski pass & ski hire in the winter– canyoning, SUP, mountain biking, family white water rafting etc. in the summer for *kids under 9 years of age…
Daddy in the Mountains & myself indulged in the free activities too and went on a fabulous snow shoe hike with a local guide. Everything was included…snow shoe hire, a transfer to/from the departure point and the guide – who was great and adapted the outing to our level. We even used the “free to use” rucksack from our room for snacks, water and to pop or clothes in.
We also skied a day in Saanen – Gstaad which was fun. It’s a very pictureresque ski area dotted with lots of mountain style huts and traditional little Swiss mountain restaurants. You can access all the ski areas by train which seems like fun too. The cross country ski area looks really impressive too. Their baseline is COME UP – SLOW DOWN – which pretty much sums up their philisophy.
HUUS LOVE KIDS
Along with the included activities …HUUS put in the extra mile for kids, think special kids’ menus (that are seasonal, healthy, organic & balanced plus some sweets thrown in for good measure, you are on holiday after all ;-)), a special kids breakfast buffet & a dedicated HUUSkids eating areas that is open all day, a kids only spa, kids play rooms adapted to their age…a games/cinema room for younger ones and a huge games area (consoles, TV’s, pool tables etc.) for the older ones,.
Need I continue…I must…it gets better. The hotel also provides lovely, original welcome gifts (cute monster slippers & jungle themed toiletries – they even gave us some to take home for our girls – my youngest LOVES her monster slippers) and you can borrow different board games too.
RELAX, REFRESH, RECHARGE – THE SPA, POOL & GYM
The Spa is WONDERFUL and we fully utilised it – with two different saunas – a unique Finnish sauna (90°…super HOTTTT) with panoramic views of the mountains beyond, an aromatic sauna – very relaxing, a herbal steam bath, a full array of different showers and an ice fountain… (One thing to know. In Switzerland lots of people go naked in the spa…it’s not compulsory, but good to know. I found myself in the sauna with 7 naked men at one point – I’ll let you decide if that is a good or bad thing 😉 personally I was glad Daddy in the Mountains was sat next to me) The 135m2 panoramic swimming pool is the perfect size to be able to do a few lengths. We didn’t make it to the, state of the art gym but it did look fully equipped 😉.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Not only are the rooms beautiful, with stunning iews of the mountains, fully equipped with everything you could need but they have interconnecting family rooms and/or mezzanines (Hooray – you can have a notion of privacy whilst your children feel nearby) that can accommodate up to 5 people. (Double Hooray) This is fabulous news for families of five…who often struggle to find rooms adapted to their needs.
FOOD
HUUS has a variety of different restaurants and eating options. Whether you are looking for a half board option, à la carte, snacks in the living area at the bar…they have something for everyone, at pretty much any time of the day. All the food is fresh, organic and locally sourced where possible. The menus are varied and change seasonally…We opted for a mixture of à la carte in the restaurant “la Vue” which was delicious and bar snacks by the bar, lounge area which were great too…although a few cheeky jalepeno peppers hidden in my salad almost knocked me head off 😉!!!
HOSPITALITY & SERVICE
The staff are unfailingly helpful and go above and beyond to make sure you have everything you need. Even the directors are super hands on, accessible and helpful…we made friends with the DJ, the hotel director, Mirka took the time to show us round herself and the PDG even brought us coffees one day! Did I mention they have their own hotel dog too a gorgeous pug called Charlie – who the kids LOVE!
I have to say the tone is already set upon arrival, the reception staff, even have their own fridges full of prosecco and fruit juices to offer you a welcome drink as soon as you arrive. They had me under their charm from the word go!
THE VERDICT
We enjoyed ourselves so much that we plan on coming back again this summer but this time definitely with our kids as they would LOVE it. Thank you for looking after us so well!
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