Hotel Chiemgauhof

The Hotel has been newly built and opened its doors only recently in early 2025. It is conveniently located only a few minutes away from the motorway A8 and directly adjacent to lake Chiemsee. There is a small jetty in front of the property with direct access to a private shore and the waters of the lake. It is a rather small and cosy property built with lots of wood and steel, where every room has a view onto the lake and the mountains beyond. The German owners are the masterminds behind the rather inexpensive Motel One hotel chain. This is their second foray into the upmarket realm, the first being Das Achental, a golf resort not far from the Chiemgauhof. One has to bear in mind that the Chiemgauhof is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, which naturally creates a certain level of expectations. The setting is certainly picturesque and the property visually appealing. Designed by Matteo Thun, it combines modernity with rustic elements, featuring high quality materials. Only occasionally appears the straightforward design a bit too simplistic and basic, reminiscent of an IKEA showroom. The location and the property itself is not without problems though. Surrounded by public beaches and various tawdry tourist attractions, it might become quite noisy in summertime. The close motorway is extremely busy and can be clearly seen and heard across the bay. The restaurant, the bar, and, most irritating, the outdoor pool are open to day guests and the general public. There is a constant flow of external guest coming and going throughout the day, which robs the property of any serenity and privacy. The layout of the hotel also seems rather peculiar. The Spa is located far away from the outdoor pool at the opposite side of the property. One has to cross the entire length of the building through the lobby and the bar area in order to walk from the spa to the pool and vice versa. What’s worse, there is no secluded access from the rooms to either the spa or the pool and one has to cross the lobby in order to reach either. For a newly built property, this is inexcusable. It should also be noted that there is no indoor pool available. The outdoor pool is nicely heated even in wintertime, but it is strictly outdoors with no connection to the indoor relaxation area. Another strange architectural decision that is, especially on a freezing and rainy winter day. The rooms are all labelled Suites, but they are just generously sized double rooms really. That means one single room, with a secluded dressing room and a decently sized bathroom. The wooden tub is a nice touch, as is the nicely furnished balcony. The room itself is bright and airy in neutral colours, with wood panelling and the distinctive scent of freshly cut wood. Not overly luxurious in design, but clean, natural and soothing. The restaurant has impressive lake views and a vast terrace for outdoor seating directly at the shore. Indoor seating is also delightful with huge windows opening u