WellnessHostel4000

Amazing location in the Alps.

Saas Fee, along with Zermatt, Gstaad and St Moritz is probably one of the most expensive locations in Europe, so what counts as value needs to be recalibrated for this premium Swiss resort context. So if you are expecting a $50 youth hostel you will be disappointed to pay $120 per night. The WellnessHostel4000 is cheap by Saas Fee and Zermatt standards, not by international hostel standards, and maybe not by normal Swiss village hotel standards. However... in summer all gondolas are free if you stay overnight, so what you pay more on the hostel you save on the Saas Fee gondola fees. Note that the 4 franc coffee and croissant offering in the hostel cafe will not be beat elsewhere, though, as well and the 19 franc dinner buffet is similarly cheaper than any restaurant in town. It is expensive but cheaper than all other alternatives! However, Saas Fee is a stunning setting - a small village nestled under mighty mountains with towering peaks and glaciers around and excellent winter sports and summer hiking. And the hostel has prime real estate - the closest ho(s)tel to the bus station and the car parking house in the car free village. The staff are excellent - really, really friendly, helpful and positive. There are free lockers for luggage storage. We stayed twice and on both occasions the staff were superb. The 4 bed room was fine, very clean. The room for the first stay had two bunk beds, the second one bunk bed and two singles for a slightly higher cost. You are supposed to take the linen off the bed yourself and deposit it in the wooden box, this takes a minute and was not a hassle. The wifi is reliable, the room comfortable, with each bed having a USB charging point. The big benefit is the spa, which is up there with the best five star hotels, featuring two huge saunas with full size glass windows looking out over a forested gorge, a big steam room, chill out room, jacuzzi, which are all textile free, no kids allowed, but you are given a large cotton hammam towel to cover your modesty. There are ice showers, freezing fog sprays and gentle rain shower, and a full indoor swimming pool. All this only costs 13 francs per day to enter if you are staying - superb value and a great facility. The room key works for spa and pool access, locker use and the room. There is also a gym, which we did not use as the outdoor activities were strenuous enough. Breakfast is simple, but included in the price, the buffet dinner more a value experience than a gourmet experience. Not luxury, but if you hike or ski all day, who cares?

Very disappointed by the way I was treated! The hostel's webpage states that customers will be informed about the contract terms when booking over the phone. However, this did not happen in my case. I received a booking confirmation with the terms and conditions attached, revealing that cancellation is not possible at all. Upon my inquiry and pointing out that I should have been informed about the cancellation policy over the phone, the hostel casually responded that they do not inform callers about it, as otherwise, "we would be on the phone all the time." So that's the level of adherence to self-set rules in Saas Fee... No surprise, I guess, since that way of handling customers conveniently saves the hostel's time AND hurts the customer through the collection of hefty cancellation fees. Even after extensive back and forth with staff, there was neither accommodation nor flexibility. At all. Don't book if you expect any sort of comprehension from the staff.

We had an amazing trip in this private hostel room. The moonlight was reflected countless times in the multiple layered window pane. It was a deep, multi-layered experience. Even the sauna was very nice, save and relaxing for tripping. And the people were so tolerant and open. Best recommendation!