New Swiss hostel offers backpackers a real taste of luxury

A hostel offering many of the creature comforts travellers might normally associate with a luxury hotel has opened its doors to backpackers in Switzerland.

While in the past, hostels may have been better known for bunk beds, shared kitchens and, at a push, a communal TV room, the newly-opened WellnessHostel4000 boasts its own spa facilities.

This means visitors are able to make use of not only a steam room, but also of two saunas and a whirlpool spa after a long day exploring the picturesque glacier village of Saas Fee and the surrounding Alpine countryside.

To keep costs down, budget-conscious backpackers are able to share dorm rooms, though travellers with a bit more to spend are able to splash out on private singles and doubles, complete with spectacular views of the Swiss mountains.

Additionally, families are also welcome to spend the night in what travel experts are calling the world's most luxurious hostel, with a child-friendly swimming pool on site, as well as plenty of activities to enjoy in the region.

However, when it comes to reasons for visiting the Swiss mountains, luxurious accommodation is usually long dpown the list of priorities for the majority of backpackers.

Instead, most tourists head to the Canton of Valais region of the country to enjoy skiing and snowboarding during the winter months, and mountain biking, hiking and climbing once the snows have disappeared, while the area also boasts a vibrant nightlife scene right through the year.

Posted by Anne Jones