Newsletter Names Top Hotels
Publication Lists Best Hotels in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
Feb 2, 2007
The 20th anniversary issue of Gemütlichkeit: The Travel Letter for Germany, Austria, Switzerland includes the editors’ and writers’ picks of the top 100 hotels and 65 restaurants in the three-country region of Western Europe.
The newsletter found 10 hotels to be the most “gemutlich,” which roughly means friendly, cozy and welcoming. In alphabetical order:
• Hotel Abtei - Hamburg, Germany. Also chosen as an “insider pick” by Concierge.com, the Hotel Abtei is a refurbished Grunderzeit 19th-century villa in the Harvestehude section of town. The hotel only has 11 rooms and suites and is priced at between $200 and $300 per night.
• Hotel Altstadt - Vienna, Austria. Located in a converted house in Spittelberg, one of Vienna’s best neighborhoods famous for it’s cultural activities, art, shops and restaurants, the Hotel Altstadt features individually designed rooms.
• Hotel Anker - Marktheidenfeld, Germany. With a motto like “Wine and guests - our calling! And we love our calling!”it’s easy to guess the focus of this hotel. With a wine cave, vineyard and wine cellar restaurant on the grounds, the Anker brings together their love of both great wines and incredible hospitality.
• Hotel Art Nouveau - Berlin, Germany. According to an independent review, the Hotel Art Nouveau is one of Berlin’s best kept secrets. “It takes a trip up an antique iron-gated lift to the fourth floor to even find the front door, which itself looks like the entrance to an apartment. Once inside, though, it’s a different story — however unassuming the exterior may be, the interiors are some of Berlin’s most stylish hotel spaces,” according to the review.
• Gasthof Fraundorfer - Garmisch-Partenkirchen,Germany. If you’re heading to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, this is the place to stay. According to a number of TripAdvisor.com comments, this hotel offers a genuine German experience.
• Hotel Neu Meran - Bad Reichenhall,Germany. Offering amazing views of a mountainous landscape, the Hotel Neu Meran comes highly recommended for this spa town (the word “Bad” in Germany indicates it’s a spa town) in Bavaria.
• Hotel Petrisberg - Trier, Germany. With the average price for a night in this hotel being around $117, simplicity is somewhat expected. TripAdvisor reviewers called it a “jewel” and a “gem” near Trier.
• Schloss Haunsperg - Oberalm bei Salzburg, Austria. Located about 10 miles from Salzburg, this 14th century manor house features eight double rooms and suites and welcomes children and pets. The grounds are highlighted by a Baroque chapel, secluded gardens and a clay tennis court. Many TripAdvisor comments center on the knowledge and hospitality of the staff.
• Waldhotel Doldenhorn - Kandersteg, Switzerland. Set near a cross-country ski run, the Waldhotel Doldenhorn is known as a hot spot for skiers and other winter enthusiasts, but it also features outdoor dining and other summer-time attractions. “The lounge was a lovely place to sit and drink tea, play chess and relax after a day on the slopes,” according to one reviewer.
• Hotel Zum Löwen - Worb, Switzerland. A wifi hot spot, the Hotel Zum Lowen offers smoke-free rooms and a focus on the restaurant. Their motto “Joie de vivre and a sense of well-being,” along with combining French and English, can be seen in their seasonal “gastronomic delights.” This hotel/restaurant has been in the Bernhard family for 300 years.
“These special European hotels have stood the test of time, providing charming accommodations and exceptional value,” said publisher Robert Bestor. “And they are not just the most expensive; our goal has always been to not only find the best, but also the best deals, and these are the cream of the crop from the last 20 years. Another plus is that many are well off the beaten path.”
