Here’s how to do Europe’s infamously gilded Gstaad for $2K

Prada jackets and Louis Vuitton bags are as commonplace as snow shoes in the Swiss resort of Gstaad. Celebrities like Madonna, Salma Hayek and Justin Timberlake, are an equally common sighting — along with a healthy dose of New York socialites.

In a previous generation, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Brigitte Bardot were the highlights. In 2018, brokerage Engel & Völkers recorded the sale of a roughly $100 million home here.

It’s easy to see why multi-millionaires (and billionaires) love this idyllic Alpine village. The chalets are grand. The scenery is stunning. The service is impeccable.

But in spite of its shi-shi reputation, Gstaad — one of the most expensive villages in one of the most expensive countries in the world — isn’t all that exclusive. In fact, it’s possible to visit on a budget.

At the moment, there are still direct, round-trip flights for less than $500 from NYC to Zurich via Delta, or roughly $600 from NYC to Geneva on United, in December.

Once you’ve landed, take a scenic train ride into the countryside just like the locals do. That will cost between just $33 and $50.

Rooms at the iconic Gstaad Palace start at $1,150 a night during high season and go way up from there. It’s a must visit and a Hollywood favorite — Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Roger Moore all stayed here — but it’s far from the only place to sleep in town. Less-splashy travelers can bed down at the four-star HUUS Gstaad Hotel for $297 per night or the pet-friendly Bernerhof Gstaad for roughly $450 per night for an economy double.

And travelers sticking to an even stricter budget can book a single with a private bathroom ($187) or a bed in a shared dorm room ($60) at Gstaad Saanenland Hostel. Add a hearty Swiss dinner ($22) when booking, or opt for a self-service meal by picking up provisions at Pernet Comestibles, which peddles both caviar and canned fish. The shop sells wine, beer and spirits at prices much friendlier than the local establishments.

Pro tip: The Gstaad Palace’s swanky nightclub GreenGo is accessible for a mere $56 (and there’s no cover in the summer) even if booking a table with bottle service starts in the high four digits.

A veritable winter wonderland, Gstaad is only 10 miles from one of the country’s top attractions, Glacier 3000, and travelers can hop on the PostAuto, the yellow public transportation bus, for about $25 (it’s complimentary in the summer), though it’s included in the Swiss Rail Pass if you happen to be bouncing around the country.

You don’t need a Louis Vuitton snowsuit for access to the glacier, but you do need about a hundred bucks for a round-trip ride on the cable car. This standard ticket price includes a slew of activities: a glacier walk; the Peak Walk, an adrenaline rush on a suspension bridge; Fun Park; and a chairlift ride over the glacier. Skiing, snowboarding and the Alpine toboggan coaster cost extra but are arguably worth the rush.

Grab a bowl of beef stew and a hot chocolate at Le Carnotzet before heading back down, or wait to eat back in Gstaad at Italian hot spot Rialto or Mango, an Indian restaurant that also offers a tour of Bollywood filming locations in the region.

The 90-minute tour (roughly $90) includes breakfast and operates 365 days a year. Another breakfast option in the heart of the car-free promenade is the European bakery and cafe, Early Beck. Fuel up on pastries like the pastéis de nata before hitting the slopes for a fraction of the cost of skiing the Rockies.

The recent implementation of a dynamic pricing system could result in a 25% discount on a day ski pass, which averages less than $75.

Tobogganing ($20 to $40), hiking or cheese tasting are other classic Gstaad activities. And the Gstaad New Year Music Festival has both ticketed events and concert packages as well as a free concert each year. For more arts and culture, Gstaad’s art galleries should do the trick. There’s even an outpost of the world-famous Maddox gallery.

Following a day of gallery hopping, sporting or cheese consumption, hit up the spa at the aforementioned Gstaad Palace. The price of entry, which includes use of the steam room, sauna, indoor/outdoor pools, hot tub, relaxation room and typical spa refreshments, plus a gym with new fitness equipment, can be used toward any 50-minute treatment like the Shiva Ananda Pain Free Back ($145). Add it all up and a cheapskate weekend with all the bells and whistles (accommodation, dining, slope passes, tours and activities — even a trip to the spa) in the land of playboys and billionaires can be yours for less than $2,000.

If you can’t beat ‘em, why not join ‘em?