Haus am Berg

This was our sixth trip to Berchtesgaden but we'd always stayed in hotels until now. We were going for two weeks, so we thought we'd give self-catering a try and picked Haus am Berg for value, good reviews and location. We were so glad we did! We received the warmest of welcomes from Brigitte, who was patient with our halting German, and the check in process was really easy - as was checking out at the end of our stay. We had apartment 3, which has a fold down double bed in the living area and a bed-settee in the next room. We were a little bit worried about the sleeping arrangements but the bed was incredibly comfortable. With only two of us, we didn't fold the bed away every day and there was still plenty of room in the living area. We had a lovely big couch, coffee table and dining table, as well as plenty of storage and a TV cabinet. It was a really pleasant room to be in - we were there in a really snowy two weeks in early January and we really appreciated how cosy the place was. The kitchenette is very well equipped, with everything we needed. It is perhaps a little lacking in counter space but this is not really a problem in a studio apartment. The kitchen was immaculately clean, as was the rest of the apartment, including the bathroom. This was a good size, including a nice full size bath, and the shower was very decent. Toiletries were provided, as were coffee filter papers, sugar, salt, pepper etc. in the kitchen. You can order bread, which will be delivered to your door at about 7.30am. Brigitte is a wonderful host and couldn't have been more helpful. It was incredibly kind of Albert to take us to the station on our last day too. We really felt welcome and at home whilst we were there. Homemade cake with the fresh bread delivery on a Sunday was a very very nice touch - and delicious! The most outstanding feature of our apartment was the view. Stunning. Facing the Koenigssee valley, with an uninterrupted view over the town to the Jenner, Hohes Brett, Watzmann and Hochkalter mountains. On the clear days, the sun shining on the snowy mountains was like something I've only dreamed of. At night time, the lights of the town in the valley were really enchanting, surrounded by the darkness. Previously, we'd stayed in a hotel in town with a mountain view - which had been lovely - but Haus am Berg is just that bit higher up and it makes the view all the spectacular. The location is great in other ways too. Yes, it's all uphill from town - especially if you're coming from the station - but we climbed it every day in snow and ice and it's really not that bad. In addition, the Vier Jahrezeiten bus stop is just at the bottom of the hill - and the 841 bus goes up and down to the station from there, so you don't need to climb the whole distance! It's really close to Haus der Berge, a great museum with a lovely cafe - you don't have to buy a ticket to use the cafe - and there's a hotel with bar and restaurant at the end of the road if you really don't fancy the hill. Being up out of town makes it really peaceful at night - it's at the end of a quiet residential street, with forest on the other side. It's also, really conveniently, at the start of the raised walkway part of the Soleleitungsweg footpath - which is a really lovely way to get into town, or to take a stroll to the Lockstein viewpoint, and beyond. We truly loved this place - can't fault it at all. It wasn't just a place to stay, it felt like home for two weeks. We are regular visitors to Berchtesgaden and now can't imagine staying anywhere else. We will be back - and can't wait to see the view in summer sometime!