Schlaf-Fass Maienfeld

We wanted a “nature experience” near the Heidi-Dorf, but the stay didn’t turn out to be quite what we had in mind. The place is clean and nicely decorated, about a 20-minute walk from the Heidi-dorf. The regional products are good quality and there’s enough to eat. Cows are nearby, which is lovely if you want to greet and hug them. The cost felt very high for the experience. You’re paying for things we wouldn’t normally buy, like liquor and a bottle of wine, so it seems especially poor value if you don’t drink alcohol. There isn’t much privacy either: the barrel is right in front of a large farmhouse, with cars coming and going and everyday work happening nearby. A man sometimes comes right up to the barrel, probably to check the electricity or something. It didn’t feel like the right place for a romantic stay. The toilets are about 100 meters from the barrel. We thought the distance wouldn’t matter, but after drinking tea in the evening we had to get up a couple of times during the night and walk through the cold. Each time, going out also woke my partner. There’s no shower, so 270 frs feels like a lot for so little comfort, even in Switzerland. Fondue costs 50 frs per person, which is also very expensive given that there’s no service; again, if you don’t drink alcohol, you’re paying for it and wasting money. You have to pay when you arrive, with no way to pay in advance. We forgot, and they looked down on us until we paid. They interrupted breakfast to ask us to fetch the money. We felt they were suspicious and didn’t trust us, which was very unpleasant. In the end, we felt we’d paid too much and didn’t enjoy the experience much. It was neither really a nature experience nor a comfortable one, more like expensive camping in front of a farmhouse. If you’re after a nature experience, we’d suggest waiting until May or June and sleeping on straw somewhere in the region. It’s much cheaper and feels closer to nature. Maienfeld is overpriced for almost everything and isn’t very well connected by public transport. Bad Ragaz is better connected and only five minutes away by train, so it’s easy to visit Maienfeld for the day by train or bus and stay somewhere else, unless you’re sleeping on straw.

The whole family loved staying among the vineyards of the Bündner Herrschaft region. Sleeping in the lovingly furnished 8,000-liter wine barrels was a highlight, and the children were thrilled to have a barrel of their own. We enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and wonderful views, too. The warm hospitality, regional wine tasting and fondue among the vines made it a memorable mix of nature, food and unusual accommodation. We’d happily come back, and recommend a barrel stay to anyone looking for something special in Switzerland.

We had a lovely break, with a warm welcome and such friendly hospitality. The fondue was delicious, the wines refreshing, and the stories fascinating. We enjoyed the rural setting, views, young calves, goats and grapevines, then had breakfast with a stunning mountain view.

It’s a unique experience, and we’d still recommend it even though the price is a little high. Many thanks again to the hosts.