Zurich - Paragonya sauna and nearby hotel Scheuble

[coriolis888]

Although I usually visit Brazil, I occasionally (once or twice each year) visit Zurich and its fun sauna known as Paragonya.   Paragonya has been favorably discussed many times in this forum.  

For convenience purposes, there is a hotel only one block from Paragonya named Hotel Scheuble. I have stayed at that hotel many times over the years.  I stayed there mainly for convenience purposes being so close to Paragonya.  The daily hotel rate has been around two hundred dollars daily, on average. 

It is a decent hotel but not anything luxurious.  As I wrote, I stay there because it is so close to Paragonya. 

I am planning a return to Zurich in a couple of weeks to visit relatives who live near the border of Germany and Zurich.  Of course, I also plan to visit Paragonya which I have done countless times in the past.  

When I called Hotel Scheuble to make a reservation, I was surprised at hearing their new daily rate which, when converted from francs and taxes to USDollars equals around $500.00 each day. 

I will reluctantly pay that rate but I am wondering why that hotel, which is not a luxurious hotel, can get that high daily rate.  

Could it be that the hotel owners realize that Paragonya is a draw to Zurich and so near the sauna that people will pay that rate?

Others who plan a trip to Europe and also plan a visit to Paragonya will get a bit of a surprise.  

If anyone has any idea why that nice (but ordinary) hotel doubled its usual rate, please give a comment.  Thanks - 

 

 

 

[+ JamesB]

Hotel rates in Zurich have risen noticeably over the past few years. I usually stay at the Glockenhof Hotel, which is about a 10 minute walk from Paragonya. You might want to check their rates to see if they fit your budget.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

Likewise, I am visiting Zurich next month and have booked a room 2 blocks south of Paragonya Spa.  (By comparison, Hotel Scheuble is one block east of Paragonya Spa.  I stayed there last year).

The hotel I found for next month's visit has a larger bed, higher ratings, and for less $ than Hotel Scheuble.

[coriolis888]

2 hours ago, Vegas_Millennial said:

Likewise, I am visiting Zurich next month and have booked a room 2 blocks south of Paragonya Spa.  (By comparison, Hotel Scheuble is one block east of Paragonya Spa.  I stayed there last year).

The hotel I found for next month's visit has a larger bed, higher ratings, and for less $ than Hotel Scheuble.

Can you let me know the name of the hotel?

[coriolis888]

23 hours ago, JamesB said:

Hotel rates in Zurich have risen noticeably over the past few years. I usually stay at the Glockenhof Hotel, which is about a 10 minute walk from Paragonya. You might want to check their rates to see if they fit your budget.

On the dates of my upcoming planned visit, this hotel asks for more than one thousand dollars each night.

I can see that I was very lucky on my prior recent trips to Zurich to have been able to get Hotel Scheuble at a little over two hundred dollars nightly.  

Even though I have the money to pay the higher rates asked by Hotel Scheuble and other hotels in the area, I find it bizarre to have the rates increased as they have.  

Inflation has been fairly high in many parts of the world since the Covid pandemic but the overall inflation rate was not 300% as is reflected in some of the hotel rates in Zurich and other parts of Europe.  

What is stranger than the high nightly hotel rates is the fact that most of the hotels are fairly full, despite the increased nightly rates for rooms.  

Edited September 13, 2024 by coriolis888
spelling

[MikeBiDude]

1 hour ago, coriolis888 said:

On the dates of my upcoming planned visit, this hotel asks for more than one thousand dollars each night.

I can see that I was very lucky on my prior recent trips to Zurich to have been able to get Hotel Scheuble at a little over two hundred dollars nightly.  

Even though I have the money to pay the higher rates asked by Hotel Scheuble and other hotels in the area, I find it bizarre to have the rates increased as they have.  

Inflation has been fairly high in many parts of the world since the Covid pandemic but the overall inflation rate was not 300% as is relected in some of the hotel rates in Zurich and other parts of Europe.  

What is stranger than the high nightly hotel rates is the fact that most of the hotels are fairly full, despite the increased nightly rates for rooms.  

Possibly a special event, convention or such in town? I have a regular place in San Diego that triples for certain events.

[+ nycman]

I was in Zurich recently and indeed the prices for everything there have skyrocketed. I had dinner for two in a "ok" bistro that ended up costing almost $300 USD. Zurich was never cheap, but now it’s insane. Zurich, like its men, is beautiful but boring. And at the current prices, I’m inclined to shop elsewhere. 

[coriolis888]

4 hours ago, nycman said:

I was in Zurich recently and indeed the prices for everything there have skyrocketed. I had dinner for two in a "ok" bistro that ended up costing almost $300 USD. Zurich was never cheap, but now it’s insane. Zurich, like its men, is beautiful but boring. And at the current prices, I’m inclined to shop elsewhere. 

 

Thanks for the information. 

Your dinner price is not encouraging for visiting Zurich.  With the hotels daily rates double and tripling prices and an "ok" restaurant charges nearly $300 dollars for dinner for two, I might be disappointed in my upcoming trip.  

I am wondering if the "escorts" at Paragonya have doubled or tripled their rates like many hotels (and restaurants) have done there.  One of the draws to Zurich was inexpensive guys available at Paragonya.  

I guess the only way to find out is to go there and see for my self. 

If escorts at Paragonya have also doubled or tripled their rates, I will report back here to let potential visitors to Zurich know.

    

[+ nycman]

5 hours ago, coriolis888 said:

If escorts at Paragonya have also doubled or tripled their rates, I will report back here to let potential visitors to Zurich know.

Please do. As much as I sound like a Debbie downer above, I really do love Zurich and Switzerland. I’ve never been to Paragonya, so unfortunately I can’t help you there, but I am interested to know. My experience with escorts in Zurich has been uniformly dismal, and as a result I stopped hiring in that market years ago. 

[coriolis888]

22 hours ago, nycman said:

Please do. As much as I sound like a Debbie downer above, I really do love Zurich and Switzerland. I’ve never been to Paragonya, so unfortunately I can’t help you there, but I am interested to know. My experience with escorts in Zurich has been uniformly dismal, and as a result I stopped hiring in that market years ago. 

I will, for sure, update the forum about Paragonya after I return. 

You said you have never been to Paragonya.  In my opinion, Paragonya is the most extraordinary sauna in the world that has rentboys. 

Although it is possible to meet and connect with rentmen without a sauna, only three countries in the world have rentmen saunas (Switzerland, Brazil and Spain/Barcelona). 

Of course, it is possible to meet rentmen in other places than in a sauna.  However, in a sauna it is much safer and easier to connect with a rentman because of the convenience of meeting in the sauna then renting a room in the sauna if you and the rentmen choose to get together.  It is a matter of convenience and safety (and fun).

The rentmen are a mix of guys from different parts of the world.  However, over the past few years, the mix of rentmen was largely Brazilian and other south American countries. 

As to cost of the rentman, last February, I found it difficult to believe how cheap it continues to be there.  The asking price from the average rentman was only 100 francs or euros.  With USDs, it would be $110 because the dollar has a lower exchange rate than the euro and franc.   The 100 cost is only for a short time in the small rooms that are free. 

There are nicer rooms in the sauna that can be rented for a cost.  If you rent one of the nicer rooms for a cost and hire a rentmen to join you, the initial cost of the rentman is still one hundred euros or francs but if you spend more time with the rentmen in the paid rooms, the rate for the rentman is higher based on your skill at negotiating.  You can also spend more time in the free rooms but you must pay the rentman more based on what you agree for spending the extra time together.  Regardless, the prices for a rentmen at Paragonya are not expensive, in my opinion.  

 

Edited September 14, 2024 by coriolis888
goofed about price

[+ tassojunior]

at first i also thought it must just be special events raising the rate to 300 but it seeems several people have gotten that rate (i often check random dates to avoid a hotel room shortage hike). I like the Scheuble a lot but 300 is too much. One thing about Zurich is the Ubers are very expensive so that negates any savings for further out hotels., although i have stayed at the Holiday Inn (139 now) up  by the secondary train station in Oerliken where numerous hotels are 100-200. It's closer to the airport but the huge commuter train station is easy to commute in with.

Edited September 16, 2024 by tassojunior

[coriolis888]

4 hours ago, tassojunior said:

at first i also thought it must just be special events raising the rate to 300 but it seeems several people have gotten that rate (i often check random dates to avoid a hotel room shortage hike). I like the Scheuble a lot but 300 is too much. 

I would happiliy accept the $300 rate.  However, as noted in my initial post to this thread, the rates for the days I want are $500 dollars daily, not $300 as noted in your post.  

[Dr.KNYC]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:48 PM, coriolis888 said:

Although I usually visit Brazil, I occasionally (once or twice each year) visit Zurich and its fun sauna known as Paragonya.   Paragonya has been favorably discussed many times in this forum.  

For convenience purposes, there is a hotel only one block from Paragonya named Hotel Scheuble. I have stayed at that hotel many times over the years.  I stayed there mainly for convenience purposes being so close to Paragonya.  The daily hotel rate has been around two hundred dollars daily, on average. 

It is a decent hotel but not anything luxurious.  As I wrote, I stay there because it is so close to Paragonya. 

I am planning a return to Zurich in a couple of weeks to visit relatives who live near the border of Germany and Zurich.  Of course, I also plan to visit Paragonya which I have done countless times in the past.  

When I called Hotel Scheuble to make a reservation, I was surprised at hearing their new daily rate which, when converted from francs and taxes to USDollars equals around $500.00 each day. 

I will reluctantly pay that rate but I am wondering why that hotel, which is not a luxurious hotel, can get that high daily rate.  

Could it be that the hotel owners realize that Paragonya is a draw to Zurich and so near the sauna that people will pay that rate?

Others who plan a trip to Europe and also plan a visit to Paragonya will get a bit of a surprise.  

If anyone has any idea why that nice (but ordinary) hotel doubled its usual rate, please give a comment.  Thanks - 

 

 

 

Hotel Adler is quite nearby, a nice hotel with excellent breakfast and generally the rate is not that high.  

[coriolis888]

17 hours ago, SirBillybob said:

Hmmmm, indeed the $315 Scheuble rate I saw yesterday is now $515 (both USD) for the exact same one-week mid-Oct dates (past Octoberfest) on the same booking site. Perhaps a long shot but if one’s heart is set on staying there it might be worthwhile to contact it directly, emphasize loyalty, and request the reduced rate unless there is a plausible and rational explanation for the 65% hike. The worst that can happen is ‘nein’.

Alternatively, it may be a brief event in which a few nights are inflated and the quieter nights within the span are simply arbitrarily set at a higher price when individually they may be cheaper. For example, I am seeing $700CAD per for a span of 7 nights but $500CAD per if merely selecting the 2 nights at the end of the same span. But get this: If booking 5 plus 2 in two separate reservations: $550 CAD average across the span in which the full week charge is $700 CAD per. Each of 7 nights in the search is in the $500CAD range. The much higher aggregate may be an artefact of acquiring the same room in the same class. If you needed to pack and switch once over the week it might not be too inconvenient. The games they play.

You presented a good analysis and suggestions. 

However, the rates for that hotel are still outrageious even if you save a little money by booking different reservations for your time period at the hotel, during the same time period you are there.   Thus, it pays to analyze each day for the price then make a reservation for the lesser priced room (day) rather than have all the days of your vacation in one reservation.  Goofy!

Edited September 18, 2024 by coriolis888

[+ tassojunior]

On 9/16/2024 at 3:48 PM, coriolis888 said:

I would happiliy accept the $300 rate.  However, as noted in my initial post to this thread, the rates for the days I want are $500 dollars daily, not $300 as noted in your post.  

oh wow. If they are moving to $500 territory i'm afraid they may find that clientele is not as forgiving of a few rough edges. (the desk clerks have aways been abrasive to me and unkind.)

Edited September 18, 2024 by tassojunior

[coriolis888]

2 minutes ago, tassojunior said:

oh wow. If they are moving to $500 territory i'm afraid they may find that clientele is not as forgiving of a few rough edges. (the desk clerks have aways been abrasive to me and unkind.)

The clerks know that a high number of single male guests to the hotel visit Paragonya, only one block away.  Based on my observation (and your comment), the clerks there seem to disrespect gays or any single male who checks into the hotel who "probably" is gay and will visit Paragonya.  Anti-gay is a polite way to describe those rude desk clerks.  

I have seen and heard and read about the front desk personnel at Hotel Scheuble and their consistent rudeness to single males who stay at the hotel.  

[+ tassojunior]

7 minutes ago, coriolis888 said:

The clerks know that a high number of single male guests to the hotel visit Paragonya, only one block away.  Based on my observation (and your comment), the clerks there seem to disrespect gays or any single male who checks into the hotel who "probably" is gay and will visit Paragonya.  Anti-gay is a polite way to describe those rude desk clerks.  

I have seen and heard and read about the front desk personnel at Hotel Scheuble and their consistent rudeness to single males who stay at the hotel.  

I once had a clerk keep me waiting in the lobby for 2 hours for a made up room before normal 4pm check in while she checked a dozen others in. There's a gay bar across the street as well as Paragonya.

Edited September 18, 2024 by tassojunior

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

9 hours ago, coriolis888 said:

The clerks know that a high number of single male guests to the hotel visit Paragonya, only one block away.  Based on my observation (and your comment), the clerks there seem to disrespect gays or any single male who checks into the hotel who "probably" is gay and will visit Paragonya.  Anti-gay is a polite way to describe those rude desk clerks.  

I have seen and heard and read about the front desk personnel at Hotel Scheuble and their consistent rudeness to single males who stay at the hotel.  

As a single gay man who stayed at Hotel Scheuble last year, I did not experience any rudeness from front desk or housekeeping.

[+ glutes]

I stay at the Marriott on Neumuehlequai , 390CHF/night. Walkable to Paragonya 15 minutes.

Locals suggest an alternative is Hotel Krone Unterstrass, 311CHF/night. Tram to Paragonya, then walk through Neiderdorf. 20 minutes.

Edited September 19, 2024 by glutes

[+ glutes]

Update, why hotels are so expensive:

 Between 21 and 29 september or 3 and 13 october.

In September are the world champion ship of cycling.  Half of Zürich is blocked.  Very important event!

In October Zürich Filmfestival with  a lot of famous people. 

[+ tassojunior]

5 hours ago, glutes said:

I stay at the Marriott on Neumuehlequai , $390/night.ble to Paragonya 15 minutes.

Locals suggest an alternative is Hotel Krone Unterstrass, $311/night. Tram to Paragonya, then walk through Neiderdorf. 20 minutes.

 

I've stayed in a mini suite angled room on the top floor of the annex there with an amazing view of the Old Town and Lake Zurich. A rare "senior" rate which I've never used at Marriott. Def my favorite in Zurich when high rooms with views available reasonably. But it's usually 5-star rates ($500). I always check it before the Scheuble. 

Edited September 19, 2024 by tassojunior

[+ glutes]

1 hour ago, tassojunior said:

 

I've stayed in a mini suite angled room on the top floor of the annex there with an amazing view of the Old Town and Lake Zurich. A rare "senior" rate which I've never used at Marriott. Def my favorite in Zurich when high rooms with views available reasonably. But it's usually 5-star rates ($500). I always check it before the Scheuble. 

And their Executive Lounge you can do a almost full dinner.

[CHIberia]

On 9/17/2024 at 10:20 PM, tassojunior said:

I once had a clerk keep me waiting in the lobby for 2 hours for a made up room before normal 4pm check in while she checked a dozen others in. There's a gay bar across the street as well as Paragonya.

Holy shit it's not just me! I've stayed there several times, and all-but one desk clerk seemed to go out of their way to be jackasses. And yes, I had the same check-in issues, despite paying for the premium suite that was unoccupied. When my room was unbearably hot, and the rest of the hotel was perfectly cool, I was told to open a window, even after explaining that I bought $200 in chocolate that was melting. The breakfast buffet attendant, who is always amazing, overheard the conversation and offered to store it for me. She said it's something they are supposed to offer, along with fans for the rooms.

Sidenote: Are you talking about Predigerhof Bistro Bar? That's the bar that is halfway between Paragonya and Scheuble, and I think used to be a hustler bar. In my experience, it's still very much a hustler bar.