USP Only spa in continental Europe that offers the Australian aborginal mud method Li’Tya, and the hotel was once Adolf Hitler's second home.

AMBIENCE A commanding view of the mountains. For those with a taste for the outdoors, the opportunities for clear air, climbing, hiking or merely walking are many and varied. All of the hotel rooms — from the comparatively humble “standard deluxe” to the vast “duplex suites” — stare out into the distance.

EXPERIENCE The serious spa enthusiast would be satisfied. In addition to the standard treatment rooms, there's a Bavarian sauna, alpine herbal sauna, steam room, ice fountain, “meditation room” to recover from everything afterwards and a year-round outdoor one heated to 34C.

FOOD Panoramic restaurant and an American whisky bar.

IN CROWD History buffs and outdoorsy types.

WALLET WATCH Double rooms start at £200. Two nights’ B&B, including one dinner and a spa treatment each, is from £586 for two people, Sundays to Thursdays until March 31.

NEED TO KNOW InterContinental Resort Berchtesgaden, Germany (00 49 8652 97550; www.berchtesgaden.com ; www.ichotelsgroup.com)

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