Edelweiss Lodge & Resort has hospitality jobs for US citizens to work and live in Garmisch, Germany. The resort hires staff year-round to work in entry-level hospitality roles for 15-months with free employee housing, transportation to and from Germany, and other benefits. This is a great way to live in Germany and explore Europe while making a paycheck and saving money on accommodation and utilities. Overall, past employees have positive things to say about their experience working at the resort. This post will explain how to find and apply for a job, understand what it’s like working at Edelweiss Lodge & Resort, and more.
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Edelweiss Lodge & Resort
About
Edelweiss is an Armed Forces Recreation Center that aims to create enjoyable experiences for US service members and their families. The resort offers their guests lodging with access to restaurants, a spa & wellness center, recreational actives, and other amenities. They also have vacation packages that include European travel/excursions.
Location
The resort is located in Garmisch, Germany. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is an alpine ski and resort town located in the Bavarian Apls in southern Germany. It’s about a 1-hour drive from the Innsbruck airport and a 1.5-hour drive from the Munich airport.
Job Opportunities
Jobs at the Resort
The resort offers entry-level and skilled jobs in various departments. Entry-level positions are hospitality jobs within Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Guest Services, Recreation, Custodial, and Massage Therapy. You can also find skilled jobs within these departments or apply to work in sectors such as; Management, Operations, Security, and more.
Requirements
To apply to work at Edelweiss you must be a US citizen currently living in the USA who is 18 years of age or older. All applicants must have graduated high school and have either completed one year of post high school education or have one year of experience working in the service industry. You must have a valid US passport and are able to pass a government background check.
Pay
Pay starts at $15/hr. Employees are paid in USD via direct deposit every 2-weeks. You are subject to US taxes and have opportunity to receive holiday pay and overtime.
Employee Benefits
All staff receive the following benefits; accrued paid time off, sick days, 401K plan, retirement/pension plan, and use of/discounts on resort amenities.
Health insurance is required for the job. If you wish to use the company provided health care a fee will be deducted from your paycheck. You can also opt out of the company provided insurance and use your own (if applicable).
Contract Length
Employees must commit to a 15-month contract.
Work Hours
You will be expected to work between 20-40/hrs per week. Employees usually average 32/hrs per week depending on their job. You will generally work 5 days on, 2 days off, but this is not always guaranteed. You should expect to work more hours during the peak seasons and holidays.
Applying to Edelweiss
When the Resort Hires
Edelweiss Lodge & Resort hires year-round, on an as needed basis. They advise perspective employees to consistently check for job openings as positions come and go all the time.
Where to Apply
You can view job openings and apply to Edelweiss Resort & Lodge on the USA JOBS website.
How to Apply to Edelweiss
You can directly apply to an open job via the USA Jobs website. You will fill out the application, attach your resume, and add any other required documentation. Then, submit the application to officially apply.
The Application Process
The application process is simple but it can take between 45-90 days.
The first step is to submit your application online. If accepted, the next step is a phone interview. After the interview, they will reach out to let you know if you have been offered the job.
Working at Edelweiss Lodge & Resort
Arriving at the Resort
The resort will pay to fly you to Germany at the start of your contract and send you home at the end of your contract. If you do not complete your contract, you will need to pay them back for the arrival flight and fund your own transportation home.
Housing
Employee housing is provided with utilities and wifi included. Accommodation is dorm-style with 2-people per room (in some cases 3-people per room). Each room has two queen size beds, a television, storage space, and a bathroom with a sink, toilet, shower, and bath. You will have access to a community kitchen and free laundry facilities.
Amenities
Employees have access to the US military facilities such as the post office and grocery store. You can also utilize the fitness gym on base, complete with basketball, racquetball, free weights, a sauna, and more.
Meals & Food
Meals are not provided for staff. You can shop at the commissary on base to find American goods or go to the German grocery stores in town. There is a communal kitchen where you can cook your own meals.
The Language
You do not need to speak German to work at the resort, and you wont need to use it at work since all the guests you will interact with are American families. It’s possible you will use it while in town or traveling through Germany, but most staff say they only learned a few words and had no need to speak German while working at the resort.
Employee Reviews of the Edelweiss Lodge & Resort
Pros
Below is a list of pros from past employees;
- Free housing.
- Free flights.
- A chance to save money.
- A great way to live in Germany.
- Spending tons of time traveling around Europe.
- It’s easy to request days off each month.
- Meeting and working with people from around the world.
- Amazing views of the mountains.
- Great location if you love to ski.
Cons
Below is a list of cons from past employees;
- The job(s) can be boring and monotonous.
- The pay is not great.
- Management can be frustrating and lacks communication.
- Sharing a room and lack of privacy.
- High employee expectations.
- You can end up working a lot during the peak seasons.
- A 15-month time commitment.
Overall Employee Experience
Overall, employees tend to have positive things to say about their experience. While the job can be a bit boring and employee expectations are high, the job enables you to live in Germany for free and provides lots of time to travel around the country and throughout Europe. Pay can be low but you save money on accommodation and flights to/from the job. The time commitment feels long but it’s a great way to live in Europe without having to apply and pay for extensive working visas.
Conclusion
If you want to work and live in Germany, working at Edelweiss Loge & Resort is a great opportunity. A job at the resort means getting to live in Germany for free while making a paycheck. Have you worked at Edelweiss? What do you think about this job opportunity? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
