What we love:

• The wonderfully designed rooms and suites
• The personal guest care of the staff
• The excellent food of the half board restaurant

The perfect Song: Waste your Time, Arty

Best for:

Spa, Golf, Countryside and Family

Points:

8.5 out of 10

Rarely did I have the problem not to have enough time to spend with writing. However now - between a one hour treatment and a dinner at their michelin starred gourmet temple - I am lying in front of the indoor pool, enjoying music and thinking about the hotel in general. Was there something I did not like? Is this really the best golf resort I ever stayed at? Did I encounter one staff member who was not smiling and friendly? Well, these questions will be answered in our today's review of the amazing and famous Sonnenalp Resort - a simply wonderful hideaway in Southern Germany.

First of all I have to admit that within the last two weeks I had the pleasure to see two outstanding luxury resorts - not only famous in Europe but all over the world. While the other was a Lakeside resort this is a total Countryside Property with amazing golf courses. Of course both have their individual spa areas and amazingly wonderful rooms (otherwise I would not have chosen this places :) ). So again at this time the arrival was picture perfect and the weather excellent - of course the sun was not missing at the Sonnenalp (german for Mountain with lots of sun). Check-in was truly pleasant, being assisted by two staff members, while I missed a porter on site to welcome us at the car, and take care of the luggage. However we could leave our bags and car keys at the front desk and they organized everything. After a welcome drink, the obligatory hotel tour started. It is important to say that the whole resort is very big (for European standards) and you will need some time to get an overview and orientation.

Our rooms - two spacious Junior Suites - were filled with daylight plus furnished in wonderful yellow tones. A huge balcony was adding additional living space with an amazing view of the mountains. The bed was comfortable and there was the possibility to change the heights of feet and back. Turn-down service consisted of closing the curtains, turning down the bed blanket and changing the towels. This has been done properly on the second day. However the bathroom was very spacious with a separated tub and huge walk-in shower, double vanities and separated toilet. The toiletries were not branded ones, but the bathrobes were extremely comfortable and new! Wi-Fi worked well in the room, hallway and lobby. The spa is an internet-free zone which is perfect as you are here to relax and not to work (except us :( )

So, why should you be heading to the Sonnenalp? Over all there stands their vast wellness area with lots of beauty facilities, huge fitness centre, hairdresser, perfumery (with Penhaligons, Bulgari, La Prairie and Hermes) and of course their 8 pools. Even in November (!) they had opened their sport pool and outdoor relax area - which is very flexible and amazing. So we could enjoy the vast sport pool (only for the tough ones while temperature was about 22 degrees Celsius) and lying under the Allgäu sun and gathering the last sun rays of the year. On top of it the Sonnenalp boasts two hot springs jacuzzis in a wonderful garden, a heated indoor- and outdoor pool (connected), a huge inside jacuzzi, a brand new children pool, and a warm jacuzzi in the sauna - in addition to an ice cold diving pod next to the steam room. There were always plenty of towels (although stored at the dressing rooms) and there was always a staff member on site - again truly welcoming and friendly. While some pools looked a bit dated and would be in need of renovation, everything is well maintained and clean. Due to the fact that we were travelling during autumn school holidays in Germany, there were of course lots of families so it is not possible to avoid children inside the main pool. However the sauna area is a lovely place to hide away during peak hours - by the way we never had a problem to find an available lounge chair, there were plenty of them! Anyhow children were no big issue as they were all behaving in an excellent way - the clientele of the Sonnenalp are mostly wealthy German families who take good care of their children.

 What's better than enjoying a great dinner after a day on the golf course or in the spa? We did not wait long until we discovered the half board restaurant. Fully without any expectation we were welcomed by our last names and accompanied to probably the most wonderful dining room at the restaurant (there are nearly 8 different rooms inside the main restaurant and you need to reserve your table in the room of your choice). The head waiter greeted us with an handshake and again by our last names, soon before our Sonnenalp Signature Aperitifs arrived. Followed by wonderful scallops, amazing Lobster Bisque, best Truffle Spaghettini, perfectly prepared Entrecote and two excellent Crepes - of course with Nutella. It simply does not need more to make us happier. All in all we saw that their half board menus are very upscale and worth the high room prices! You are dining like at a real michelin starred restaurant with perfect service - we never had an empty glass of water or wine during that evening.

What do the La Terazza dell'Eden Rome, Eleven Lisbon and Silberdistel at the Sonennalp have in common? Well, they all are awarded with a star by michelin. This means that the food is extraordinary and the service attentive. For more information on the Silberdistel, read our separated review (which will be online within this week).

Anyhow if you are not familiar with lobster, Chateaubriand and Beluga Caviar, the best is to probably stay with the amazing half board - really the best half board we ever experienced.

If you are in love with playing golf (as I am) then the Sonnenalp is probably the best place in Central Europe, offering a top spa area, wonderful rooms and two amazing golf courses. Both of them are really cool to play at with a various landscape and breath-taking views. I enjoyed the driving range, putting green and a short 9-hole round before I got a tour with Marshall Christa, who took great care of a perfect organization! There is a wonderful restaurant in the club house which serves excellent dishes.

As mentioned on the top line, I was able to enjoy a 75-minute treatment at their Wave Balance Lounger with a perfect full body massage. This was quite comfortable and I soon fell asleep! Afterwards I was served a cup of tea on a sandy beach next to the relaxation room of the Spa.

Before we left the hotel, we enjoyed another great breakfast. In general it is fair to say that it was one of the best I saw in a holiday resort before. The selection was vast and everything was of highest quality, while bread was still warm and the live cooking station was serving best scrambled eggs. As there is no reservation plan for breakfast we decided to have breakfast in the Sonnenstube, where we were served by a friendly female server who was always happy and smiling in such a nice way that our day couldn't get bad in any way! She was simply outstanding and knew our complete breakfast preferences on the second day.

All in all the Sonnenalp is a perfect holiday resort in Southern Germany and after the Terre Blanche Resort (Provence) the best golf hotel I have ever been. From my point of view, this is absolutely worth the splurge of 200+ euros per person and night including half board.

We were generously invited by the Fässler Family of the Sonnenalp Resort. However all extra expenses have been covered by ourselves. As usual our review experesses our own opinion.

Disclaimer: I lost my bath shorts at the hotel, so I called them. Within a half day they managed to find them and started to send me the package. 6/11/2015