Gstaad (dog) palace prepares for the holidays

If you’re planning on booking your hound in at Gstaad’s “Dog Palace” this holiday season, you better do it soon…places at the Hundepension are likely to be scarce this yuletide. Since opening back in the summer, Walfred Conci and his partner Sonja Schmidt have been doing some bang-up business, often running weekends at or close to capacity. Not that that’s a problem, mind you, due to the superb facilities they have for our canine partners. As the GstaadLife print edition reported on July 7, the facility can accommodate up to 20 “guests”, with five star accommodation located in a barn renovated by Conci to cater to your dogs’ every comfort. Dogs are welcome for extended stays (2 months is the record so far) or even just an afternoon play-date while you go skiing.

Above: After a successful first summer, Sonja Schmidt and Walfred Conci are ready for the winter.

Like good hotel directors, Schmidt and Conci spend significant amounts of time with their guests, taking a cue from the likes of Günter Weilguni of the Steigenberger and Thomas Frey of the Bernerhof by accompanying their guests on alpine excursions (no joke). They even live in the adjoining farmhouse and are on-call as needed. Oh, and like any discerning Gstaad area hotelier, they’ve doubled their prices for December 24, 25, and 31. But not to worry; it’s an unparalleled service in our region, attracting guests from as far afield as Montreux and Wallis…and your dogs will thank you for it. Call +41 33 765 35 51 or +41 79 415 77 29 for reservations.