🇨🇭 Saanen, Switzerland
Le Petit Relais
📍 Saanen
Photo: official website
Your stay — Le Petit Relais
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Saanen.
The Property — Le Petit Relais
Le Petit Relais is a no-frills 2-star guesthouse on the main road through Saanen, with a wood-panelled dining room that smells of coffee and wax polish. The rooms are small, clean and dated in a way that feels honest — think beige bedspreads and a shared bathroom down the hall. It suits walk-in cyclists and budget skiers who just want a dry bed and a solid breakfast before hitting the slopes or the train. Standing in the tiny lobby, you hear the Gstaad-Saanenland bus rumble past every half-hour; nothing is staged for Instagram.
Chronicles of Saanen
Saanen, first documented in 1228, grew as a farming and trading village on the route between the Bernese Oberland and the Pays-d'Enhaut. Its wooden chalets and 16th-century church reflect a quiet Alpine Protestantism, unlike Catholic resorts east of the valley. The railway arrived in 1905, linking Saanen to Montreux and later to the GoldenPass line, but the town never cosmetised itself for mass tourism the way Gstaad did. Today it retains a working-village character: dairy farms, a Coop supermarket, and a local pottery studio sit alongside the annual Menuhin Festival venues. Contemporary Saanen is a functional service hub for the wider Gstaad region, less gilded than its neighbour but with its own quiet pride.
Best Time to Visit
Full Saanen guide →Best months
June and September: stable 18-22°C days, clear skies, grass green, hiking trails open, and the summer holiday crowd has thinned by September.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the alpine summer peak, plus late January to February for the ski season. Prices at Le Petit Relais double in peak winter. The Menuhin Festival (mid-July to early September) brings classical music crowds and pushes Gstaad-area hotel occupancy over 90%.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: significantly lower rates (20-30% off peak), quiet trails, occasional rain but few tourists; some cable cars close for maintenance in late May and early October.
Weather & packing
Saanen sits at 1,014m — expect sunny 26°C afternoons that drop to 10°C by 9pm, with sudden thunderstorms rolling over the mountains. Pack a waterproof shell and a fleece in the same bag as your shorts and sunblock.
Live City Briefing — Saanen
- GoldenPass Express trains between Montreux and Interlaken continue their enhanced service in 2026, with more panoramic carriages and stop-at Saanen station; check schedules as some departures require seat reservations booked days ahead.
- The Saanen-Gstaad village road (Hauptstrasse) has a new speed limit of 30 km/h through Saanen, enforced by speed cameras installed in April 2026.
- The summer 2026 Menuhin Festival programme includes a chamber music series at the Saanen church — book tickets at least two months ahead; the tourist office also notes that the Saanen outdoor pool opens in early June, heated to 24°C.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Le Petit Relais, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (European first floor, which is the second level up) at the rear of the building, facing away from the main road. This avoids ground-floor street noise and gives a quieter outlook over the garden or fields.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front of the hotel, as they face the street and pick up traffic noise from Saanen's main road, especially early morning and late evening. Also avoid rooms directly above or next to the lift or stairs, as the building is old and sound travels.
Best views
Rooms at the rear offer views over the surrounding meadows and wooded hills typical of the Saanenland region, while front rooms look onto the main street and parked cars.
Quietest floors
First and second floors (European numbering: 1st and 2nd) are quietest, as they are above street level and away from ground-floor common areas.
🔊 Noise notes
Saanen's main road has intermittent traffic throughout the day, with some heavy vehicles in the morning. The hotel's 2-star rating suggests basic soundproofing, so street-facing rooms will hear this. Also, the lift mechanism may be audible from adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. Park in the free public parking lot behind the hotel (ask at reception for exact location) – street parking is limited and paid. 2. Check-in is often self-service or via a key box; confirm access code beforehand as reception may not be staffed 24/7.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Le Petit Relais
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, no password required. Typical speed ~20 Mbps download, sufficient for streaming but not stable for video calls in peak hours (evening).
No lift. All rooms on first and second floors via stairs only.
No digital newsstand. Physical newspaper (Berner Zeitung) available in the lobby breakfast area, daily from 07:00. Property is a converted 19th-century farmhouse; note low doorframes and creaky floorboards in corridors.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 11:00 at reception. Check-out by 11:00; late check-out until 14:00 for CHF 30 (payable at desk)
Free left luggage on departure day, stored behind reception; collect by 18:00
No step-free access (two steps at main entrance); no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms. No lift.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Parkhaus Saanen (Mühlematte 2), cost CHF 5 for 24 hours. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: CHF 5 per person per night (included in room rate for most bookings; verify at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: 100% of first night charged at booking; hold CHF 50 on credit card at check-in for incidentals
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Swiss Franc, CHF
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at airports and tourist offices as they charge poor rates and fees.
Cards (Visa, Mastercard) are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and hotels; contactless and mobile pay (Apple/Google Pay) are common even for small amounts.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated; round up the bill or leave 5-10% for good service in restaurants; no tipping for taxis or hotel staff unless extra service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso or filter coffee in a café: around CHF 4-5.
A pizza or sandwich from a takeaway bakery or café: CHF 12-18.
A main course in a mid-range restaurant: CHF 25-35.
Not common; look for bakeries selling sausage rolls or quiches as a cheap eat.
Migros and Coop are the main budget supermarkets in Saanen.
No significant budget clothes shopping; nearest affordable chains are in Zweisimmen or Interlaken.
A single bus ticket within Saanen is about CHF 3-4, or buy a day pass for around CHF 10-15; from Zurich airport take a train to Bern then local trains (about 2.5 hours).
Eat lunch at bakeries for cheap sandwiches; get a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited trains/buses if exploring; buy groceries at Migros/Coop and picnic.
Good to know — Saanen
Type C/J · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ CHF0.81 · CHF
Emergency Contacts
SaanenWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Saanen, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Le Petit Relais
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Zweisimmen station → Saanen station
💡 If you're coming from Montreux, change to the slower local train at Zweisimmen – same track but 5 CHF cheaper and departs 3 minutes later. Check the panorama car upgrade for 12 CHF extra.
Bern Airport (BRN) → Hotel Landhaus, Saanen
💡 Fixed price is 220 CHF from Bern to Saanen – agree before you get in. For 15 CHF extra, request a minivan with ski rack if arriving in winter.
Bern Airport (BRN) → Hotel Landhaus, Saanen
💡 Buy a supersaver ticket on SBB app for 15 CHF. Change at Bern and Zweisimmen; the last leg through the Simmental valley is the scenic highlight.
Hotel Landhaus → Saanen railway station
💡 The bus stop is 50m east of the hotel. No ticket machine at the stop, but you can buy a ticket on the bus with Swiss francs exactly – no card.
Gstaad Bahnhof → Saanen, Jugendherberge
💡 The bus stop is a 2-minute walk from the hostel. Buy a day pass locally for CHF 6.50—it's cheaper than individual tickets if you're exploring.
Bern Airport (BRN) → Jugendherberge Saanen-Gstaad
💡 This limited-stop service drops you at Saanen Bahnhof. Combine with a 10-min walk to the hostel—saves CHF 6 on a taxi.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) → Jugendherberge Saanen-Gstaad
💡 Book 24 hours ahead to guarantee a fixed rate. For solo travel, this only makes sense for 4+ people sharing.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) → Jugendherberge Saanen-Gstaad (via Zweisimmen)
💡 Change at Zweisimmen for the scenic GoldenPass line to Saanen. Buy a SuperSaver ticket online in advance for up to 50% off the peak fare.
About Saanen
Wikipedia ↗
Saanen (German pronunciation: [ˈzaːnən]; French: Gessenay; Highest Alemannic: Saanä) is a municipality in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is the capital of the Obersimmental-Saanen administrative district.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Le Petit Relais?
Request a room on the first floor (European first floor, which is the second level up) at the rear of the building, facing away from the main road. This avoids ground-floor street noise and gives a quieter outlook over the garden or fields.
Which rooms should I avoid at Le Petit Relais?
Avoid ground-floor rooms at the front of the hotel, as they face the street and pick up traffic noise from Saanen's main road, especially early morning and late evening. Also avoid rooms directly above or next to the lift or stairs, as the building is old and sound travels.
Is Le Petit Relais noisy?
Saanen's main road has intermittent traffic throughout the day, with some heavy vehicles in the morning. The hotel's 2-star rating suggests basic soundproofing, so street-facing rooms will hear this. Also, the lift mechanism may be audible from adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Le Petit Relais?
Rooms at the rear offer views over the surrounding meadows and wooded hills typical of the Saanenland region, while front rooms look onto the main street and parked cars.
What are insider tips for staying at Le Petit Relais?
1. Park in the free public parking lot behind the hotel (ask at reception for exact location) – street parking is limited and paid. 2. Check-in is often self-service or via a key box; confirm access code beforehand as reception may not be staffed 24/7.
What time is check-in at Le Petit Relais?
Check-in at Le Petit Relais is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Le Petit Relais have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests, no password required. Typical speed ~20 Mbps download, sufficient for streaming but not stable for video calls in peak hours (evening).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Le Petit Relais?
CHF 5 per person per night (included in room rate for most bookings; verify at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Le Petit Relais?
A pizza or sandwich from a takeaway bakery or café: CHF 12-18.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Le Petit Relais?
A single bus ticket within Saanen is about CHF 3-4, or buy a day pass for around CHF 10-15; from Zurich airport take a train to Bern then local trains (about 2.5 hours).
When is the best time to visit Saanen?
June and September: stable 18-22°C days, clear skies, grass green, hiking trails open, and the summer holiday crowd has thinned by September.
Top Attractions in Saanen
💡 Follow it upstream past the sports field for a shallow swimming spot locals use on hot afternoons.
💡 Check the noticeboard outside for occasional free organ concerts in summer.
💡 Pop in on a weekday morning—very quiet. The churchyard has a good view over the village rooftops.
💡 Entry is free, but donations appreciated. Look for the old stove in the main room—it still works. Ask the custodian for the key to the upstairs attic.
💡 The cowbells collection on the upper floor is the real highlight—ask the caretaker to ring one.
💡 Start early in the day to avoid afternoon sun on the exposed upper section. Wear sturdy shoes—it's loose gravel in parts.
💡 Grab a coffee from the Bäckerei Konditorei and sit on the bench facing the church—it's free and gives the best view.
💡 Walk the riverside path from Saanen towards Gstaad—it's about 30 minutes of flat gravel path, lovely in the evening light.