If you’ve spent a little time on Instagram I’d wager that you’ve seen Villa Honegg’s heated outdoor infinity pool which overlooks majestic Lake Lucerne. Rain or shine (or since we’re in Switzerland, snow) this photogenic locale flanked by the Alps offers great views and infinite snapshot opportunities. In the last two years the hotel’s stunning vista has translated into millions of likes and views on social media. Clicking the hashtag #villahonegg results in 17,600 posts and has made the property so popular that it no longer needs to advertise to attract guests.
Villa Honegg Outdoor PoolCourtesy of Villa Honegg
“Social media is our advertising,” says general manager Sebastian Klink. “We haven’t had paid media since our renovation in 2011.” The property, which sits at 3,000 feet altitude and is only accessible by a small winding mountain road, is a testament to the fact that people will travel the globe to experience something they saw in a photo, and speaks to the power of platforms like Instagram and YouTube.
Originally opened in 1905, the hotel was completely rebuilt seven years ago to feature its famous spa, 23 suite-rooms and Gault-Millau-acclaimed restaurant. The property got its first huge social media “break” when Brazilian blogger Fabiana Gama posted a video of the pool at night to YouTube which quickly went viral. “When this video went live online we saw that emails were coming in from around the world,” says Klink, adding that while the spa was always popular, the video resulted in a lot more bookings from guests coming from countries such as Australia, the United States or Korea. Most visitors stay for two or three nights however a good number of visitors come just for one night as they “really just want to take a picture with the pool,” Klink says with a laugh.
Even though travelers flock to Villa Honegg from around the world, Swiss tourists from the German and French section of the country are by far the most frequent visitors. Visitors come in all ages, from the young couple that’s just made it official, to the family where the parents have been married 50 years.
Villa HoneggCourtesy of Villa Honegg
If you plan on visiting Villa Honegg, it’s important to know that there’s way more to the property than just the highly photogenic spa. The surrounding landscape is perfect for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, in particular the mountains Stanserhorn and Engelberg. The hotel is also really famous for its cuisine because it gives people a taste of the regional produce. “People love our cuisine because we create really local food,” says Klink. “We have our own beekeeping on property and make our own honey, as well as manage an expansive herb garden.” That means you will be sampling just-picked, fragrant herbs such as rosemary, lavender or chives with your meal for a truly garden-to-table experience.
The menu at Villa Honegg also frequently puts a Swiss spin on popular dishes. Take for example their Caesar Salad — instead of regular bacon it’s made with veal bacon, the anchovies are replaced by alpine sardines, and the salad is topped with Sbrinz instead of parmesan. Their dining room is opulent and warm, while lunch is best enjoyed outdoors overlooking the spa area if the weather permits.
While the property has been viewed and shared through thousands of posts worldwide once you arrive at Villa Honegg it’s a bastion of exclusive tranquility, luxury and relaxation. If the infinity pool tickles your fancy you can visit during any season — at 93 degrees Fahrenheit it’s warm and aesthetically pleasing year-round.