Schloss Elmau — Hotel in Krün

I have been coming to Schloss Elmau since 2008. On the first visit I was sure I had experienced perfection. And yet, with each visit it gets more perfect as they expand, maintain and change with the times. The staff are ideal, all speak English very well. They are very professional and unobtrusive at the same time. They ensure the best experience possible. Having just come back from another perfect weekend there I wanted to share how wonderful it was.

There are two separate places, the Hideaway and the Retreat. Each are amazing in their own way, you cannot go wrong. Both have beautiful infinity pools, at least seven large ones, maybe more. They are at different temperatures, hot to warm to cold. Even when the hotel is full the spa and pools, saunas and Turkish hamam are never crowded. Same with the relaxation rooms which are so comfortable, every kind of chair imaginable. There are so many places to sit and observe the insanely beautiful nature it is kind of hard to chose where to sit for a couple of hours. By the stream or the spa, poolside or open relaxation room. Or go out and enjoy the nature on an organized walk, a hike to the Alm, or an electric bike on mostly deserted roads into the neighboring towns. I have enjoyed some of my favorite massages of all time in the treatment rooms. For active people, there is yoga, a state of the art gym, tennis courts under the mountain views and so much more.

In the evenings there are speakers, concerts, bars and libraries, several spaces to chose to spend time in. You are not alone, but it is not crowded as the design is spacious and organized for small groups or couples to sit and talk by candlelight.

The rooms are incredible, the design and the comfort and style. Japanese toilets in the Retreat. Robes, soft towels, high pressure showers and modern bathtubs. I finally thought to look at the label on the pillows so I could buy the same ones they use. The rooms are so peaceful and zen like. Perfect lighting, tons of closet space, mini fridges with waters and juice and little treats. And clean without that "someone was here before me" feel.

And last, the cuisine. The breakfast (which is included) has more choices than you could every try over several days. A buffet and made to order are available. Fresh baked bread and rolls, local butter and cheeses, fresh juice, local Bavarian specialties. For dinner they have a variety of options, sitting on the beautiful terraces or in the gorgeous dining rooms. One can decide to dress up in their best clothes or just go casual, anything goes. One night we had the Michelin rated cuisine, the next night the outside barbecue. The quality of the food is the highest. Some places are all presentation on the plate, not at Elmau, it is both beautifully plated and equally delicious. The wine list is extensive and the expert sommeliers help you to try new things.

This is a romantic couples get away, but also a family place and child's dream to run in the meadows, play in the playgrounds and jump on the trampoline. For those who do not want to be around kids, they separate the spas and pools into family spaces and over age 16 spaces. The dinners are seated at 6 and at 8:00PM to accommodate all needs.

I rarely see other Americans there, but on this visit there were quite a few more. People are catching on, there is no place I have ever been in the USA that is anything like or close to this. The nature itself is magical, but with this spa hotel alongside it, it is truly unreal. All you have to do is arrive and from there you just wish you had more time to enjoy all the is available on and near the property. Skiing in winter and hiking in spring, summer and fall. This is not just a hotel, it is a destination with access to nature and relaxation like no other. The very best of...

Visiting Schloss Elmau was a bucket list stay that did not disappoint. The accommodations, location, and staff exceeded my expectations. We stayed in the main hotel, The Hideaway, the second building, The Retreat is designed for families. Our room was fairly large, with a comfortable bed and a bathroom that met the size challenge; I am 6’5’. I was impressed by the staff; English, in addition to German and other languages, was spoken by the staff, and we felt at ease as guests interacting with the hotel. The check-in process was flawless; we were met at the front of the hotel by a crew who took our bags and whisked our rental car off to the underground garage. We had a mountain view from our room, which was simply spectacular. I read some comments previously about the lack of in-room air conditioning, but with the windows opened for a cross breeze, it was more than sufficient. I do wish there were more electrical outlets to host our various gadgets that need to be recharged. Luckily, we brought our travel extension charger.

There are three restaurants on the property, and we only dined at one: the main dining hall, where breakfast and dinner are served. Breakfast has a variety of choices to accommodate a global palate. Dinner has a buffet-style selection of salads, desserts, and a daily changing menu of main course options; most were fine, though I thought one meal missed the mark—the duck, which was disappointing; the confit duck leg should be sent back to the drawing board. The kids' meals? Well, a toddler won’t care if the French Fries were soggy and the chicken tenders were cardboard; I went for it after the crappy duck—hence, how I know. The dinner buffet was 85 euros; I’m not sure about breakfast, perhaps it was included, I have not audited the bill.

The spa facilities are, well, it's why one comes—top-notch! The heated pool, activity accessories such as bikes, golf, tennis, and archery are all available. I loved that there were family pools and then adult-only accommodations, along with some optional clothing if that is your interest. The Krun area, where the hotel is located and the direct property, requires you to bring your walking shoes; don’t miss the biggest opportunity of all - getting close to what nature has to offer.

The most impressive feature of Schloss Elmau is the fusion of cultures in the decor. I think we witnessed a combination of German, Italian, and Eastern Indian influences. I was particularly impressed with the lighting, especially in the library. The walnut ceiling in the library was to die for, coupled with interesting bespoke lighting choices among the variety of books; I took pictures of more than a few to find in the US 110-volt versions. The use of Indian reds to bring comfort and ease was thoughtful and reflects a strong infusion of Hindu decorating.

I wish to conclude my comments by touching upon the cultural and intellectual elements we were fortunate enough to experience. Despite struggling with jet lag and fatigue, we witnessed a spectacular performance by an award-winning pianist. Schloss Elmau is structured around performances and intellectual engagements. On our last full day, we met an Upper West Side New York resident who was herself a pianist and had, by her account, played for the Kennedy family—yes, that Kennedy family. She remarked that this was her sixth time visiting, and it was her favorite place for all that I mentioned. I hope we can allocate time for another visit to not only explore off the property more but also to enjoy all Schloss Elmau...

I have stayed at Schloss Elmau a number of times since 2020, most often with a very dear friend and sometimes by myself, and each time it has been a wonderful, magical experience. After a recent five night stay in early July I can reaffirm what I wrote in 2020 and what numerous other guests have noted, that Schloss Elmau is a magnificent luxury hotel, spa, nature and yoga retreat, and multifaceted cultural center, with a program every month that includes numerous concerts of outstanding classical and jazz musicians, and talks by well-known writers and thinkers--during my first stay Nobel Economics Laureate Joseph Stiglitz was a guest. Schloss Elmau is located in a magnificent semi-protected natural area with breathtaking mountain scenery, and wonderful hiking, skiing and biking opportunities at its doorstep. It’s all of that but it is much more. At least from my experience it is unique in the world for how it combines all these attributes. ||I’d like to mention in this review just one of the numerous unique world class aspects of Schloss Elmau in its role as a ‘cultural hideaway’-- its program that attracts some of Germany’s and the world’s best authors to stay and give talks, including Nobel literature prize winners such as 2018 Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk and Booker prize winners Julian Barnes, Zadie Smith, and Ian McEwan. On some occasions on short notice a famous historian or political figure may arrive for an unexpected stay and give a talk—an experience I had in autumn 2022 when on very short notice the renowned British historian Timothy Gordan Ash arrived for a stay and discussion on the fate of Europe and the Ukraine war. One of the highlights of my various stays has always been a chat with the erudite and friendly Dr. Martin Lau, a specialist in German literature and theater who helps coordinate Elmau’s program for literature and arrangements for visiting authors. Martin, who can often be found at the book store, has given me and my partner wonderful recommendations for reads of contemporary German literature, and introduced us both to some of best works of contemporary German authors which we have both...