JLW_Travelling
Google
My husband and our 18-month-old daughter stayed at Engel Gourmet & Spa for the first week of our honeymoon in September 2024. Even before we arrived the customer service over email was brilliant - always fast to respond to my questions with informative and warm replies.||When we arrived after a long journey with some delays, we received a very friendly welcome. I especially appreciated the hotel staff making sure we got to eat before the restaurant closed for the night. Our room was welcoming, spacious, with a garden and fabulous mountain view. There was a separate small bedroom for our toddler daughter, that worked really well and meant we didn't have to sit in the dark when she went to bed. The room had everything we needed for an infant - including a cot and changing mat. We bought our own backpack and stroller for hiking but turned out we didn't need to as the hotel already provided these things.||The hotel was incredibly family friendly and the reception staff always had a smile and a wave for our shy daughter. There was always a high chair at our dinner table every meal and colouring pencils and paper to keep her occupied. There was a child's menu and the chef kindly took onboard our meal requests. There is a fantastic playroom/nursery upstairs. It has a Scandinavian design with lots of wooden play furniture, toys and craft activities. The nursery staff were lovely and although we felt our daughter that bit too young to be left there unattended, it was handy to have somewhere to take her to play during the day. The nursery also runs daily excursions/activities.||Although the hotel is family friendly, it doesn't feel like a hotel for children. The restaurant had adult only sections and there was a sophisticate bar and knowledgeable barman serving stronger drinks. I really enjoyed the incredible adult only spa, with several saunas of varying temperatures, steam rooms and pools. One evening the spa was open late at night and I enjoyed a moonlit swim in the fabulous heated outdoor pool. Beauty or relaxation treatments can be booked and I enjoyed a relaxing facial. The food was fantastic, five courses every evening that included hearty local dishes and always some vegetarian and vegan options. We also enjoyed the breakfasts, healthy lunches (including pasta cooked by a chef in front of you) and of course being British, we loved the tea and cake at 4pm every day :)||I was impressed with the daily timetable of activities at the hotel, which you can dip into as little or as much as you wish and also included activities for children. My husband and I took turns to do the morning yoga class in a beautiful studio in the next door building. The male teacher was fantastic and lead a class suitable for beginners and more experienced practitioners. We both felt much more relaxed after each class.||I would love to return to this hotel, especially when our daughter is older and we can leave her at the nursery for an hour or two. The staff were exception. Friendly, kind and nothing was never too much. We were particularly impressed by Marco and Sabrina who were outstanding.||As a final note, the local town is stunning. Nice cafes and outdoor playgrounds with the most spectacular views. The cable car up into the mountains is a must and we would have enjoyed more walks had our daughter been more willing!
