What Is ESCAPE Coliving?

ESCAPE Coliving is one of Europe's first and longest-running coliving communities, founded in 2016 by Haz Memon and Fanny Caloz. It combines accommodation, coworking, and intentional community into a lifestyle built for digital nomads, remote workers, and location-independent entrepreneurs who want more than a WeWork with bunk beds.

Unlike most colivings that have scaled fast and lost their character, ESCAPE has deliberately stayed small. It operates two flagship locations:

• 🇨🇭Swiss Escape — Grimentz, Swiss Alps (year-round) · Up to 15 guests

• 🇬🇷 Greek Escape — Gerani, Crete (seasonal, primarily autumn/winter) · Up to 30 guests

Eight years in, it's not just still running — it's still founder-operated, still generating five-star reviews, and still attracting people who come back year after year. That's rare. This review explains why.

ESCAPE Coliving is best for:

• ✓ Remote workers who want nature, focus, and genuine community

• ✓ Digital nomads staying 1+ month in Europe

• ✓ People who value real connection over nightlife or large-crowd networking

• ✓ Outdoor lovers — skiers, hikers, and Mediterranean coast enthusiasts

• ✓ Anyone tired of working alone in a beautiful-but-isolating Airbnb

View availability at Swiss Alps coliving → Explore Crete digital nomad coliving →

Who Founded ESCAPE and Why It Matters

Most coliving brands are created by property investors or hospitality groups who spotted a trend. ESCAPE is different.

Haz Memon grew up in Dubai, won a globally competitive business travel traineeship, and spent years working internationally — always frustrated that location-independent work was treated as a novelty capped at one-week trips. Fanny Caloz grew up near Grimentz itself, skiing the same mountains that would become Swiss Escape's backyard, and spent her early career mastering entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism.

They met during their Master's at USI Università della Svizzera italiana in Lugano. They fell in love — with each other and with a shared vision: a community where people could live, work, and connect in ways that modern apartment and office life had made nearly impossible.

After graduating in 2016, they briefly took the conventional path — corporate jobs in the Netherlands, a shared apartment, a predictable trajectory. It lasted months. They quit, packed their lives into suitcases, joined a business accelerator in Lisbon, and returned to Switzerland to build what they expected to be a temporary prototype.

The prototype became their life's work.

This origin matters when reviewing ESCAPE because it explains everything that makes it different: the founders live in and around the spaces, they've personally tested every bed and chair, they have deep roots in the local communities, and they're not optimising for occupancy rates. They're building the life they want — and inviting others into it.

Switzerland (Grimentz): The Alpine Original

The Location

Grimentz is a French-speaking village in the Valais region, sitting at 1,500 metres altitude in the Swiss Alps. This is not a polished ski resort manufactured for Instagram. It's an authentic Alpine village where traditional wooden chalets line narrow streets, locals outnumber tourists, and the pace of life is deliberately slow.

Getting there:

• Geneva Airport: 2 hours by car, 2.5 hours by public transport

• Zurich Airport: ~2.5–3 hours

• Milan Airport: under 3 hours

Within the village:

• Ski lift: 2-minute walk

• Gondola: 2-minute walk

• Hiking trails: 200 metres

• Restaurants: 140 metres

• Groceries (Coop + local market): under 200 metres

It's compact in the best possible way. You don't need a car to live well here.

The Property

Swiss Escape occupies two 4-star Minergie-certified chalets — Switzerland's energy-efficiency building standard — built in 2013 by a local architect. They sit on top of each other on the hillside and aren't internally connected, which gives the space a natural division between work and social life.

Capacity: Up to 15 guests

Room types:

• 2 double bedrooms

• 3 shared rooms (twin beds, max 2 per room)

• 3 single rooms

• 6 bathrooms (each shared by a maximum of 2–3 people)

• 250 sqm total across both chalets

The interiors are intentionally designed for people who spend real time indoors — something most hotels get catastrophically wrong. Haz has personally slept on every mattress and tested every chair. It shows.

The Seasons

Winter (peak season): Swiss Escape in winter is the main draw. Ski lifts are literally two minutes from the door. The Magic Pass — granting access to 30+ Swiss and French ski resorts — can be accessed from here, and Grimentz is among the Alps' most scenic and least crowded ski destinations. Après-ski happens around dinner tables with fondue and Valais wine, not in overcrowded bars.

Activities available:

• Skiing and snowboarding

• Snowshoeing and sledging

• Paragliding over snow-covered peaks

• Ice skating

• Swiss fondue and raclette evenings

• Valais wine tastings (most Valais wine is never exported — you won't find this elsewhere)

Summer (free pass included): June through October, guests receive a free summer pass covering the swimming pool, tennis, minigolf, guided tours, public transport discounts, cable car discounts, and museum access across the region. Average temperatures of 18–25°C make it genuinely pleasant working weather, and the hiking trails are among the most varied in the Alps.

Activities available:

• Hiking (all levels, from gentle valley walks to technical summit routes)

• Mountain biking and downhill

• Via Ferrata iron-path climbing

• Rock climbing

• Local wine harvest festivals (autumn)

• Open-air cinema and cultural markets

Spring and autumn: Quieter seasons with fewer guests, ideal for deep focus work and authentic local interaction without summer crowds. The shoulder season is underrated if productivity is your primary goal.

Ready to experience the Swiss Alps coliving lifestyle? Availability at Swiss Escape is limited to 15 guests — peak ski season books fast. View Swiss Escape availability →

Greece (Crete): The Mediterranean Expansion

The Origin Story

Greek Escape wasn't planned from day one. When COVID forced Swiss Escape to close temporarily in 2020, Haz focused on geographic expansion. Greece had been a personal favourite for years — after multiple holidays and extended stays in Crete, they brought together a test group of remote workers in Chania.

It worked immediately. Greek Escape launched in Gerani, near Rethymno, later that year.

The Location

Gerani is a quiet coastal village on Crete's north coast, close enough to Rethymno (10 minutes by car) for urban convenience, but far enough to feel genuinely local. Surrounded by olive groves and overlooking the Mediterranean, it has none of the manufactured resort energy that makes other parts of Crete feel hollow in the off-season.

Getting there:

• Chania Airport: just over 1 hour

• Heraklion Airport: just over 1 hour

Within the village:

• Restaurants: 300-metre walk

• Supermarket: 100-metre walk (approximately 5 minutes)

• Beach: walking distance

• Rethymno town centre: 10 minutes by car

A car is recommended (rental approximately €25/day or €350/month) for exploring the wider island, though daily life in Gerani doesn't require one.

The Properties

Greek Escape is significantly larger than its Swiss counterpart, spread across two villa complexes:

• Nevelo Complex:

  4 villas, 16 rooms total

• Aether Complex:

  3 luxury villas, 14 rooms total

• Total capacity:

  30 guests across 7 villas

Each villa features fully equipped self-catering kitchens, open lounge areas, spacious communal spaces, sea views from coworking areas, and Mediterranean garden settings surrounded by olive groves.

Why Winter in Crete Works

The strategic logic of Greek Escape is straightforward: it runs during the period when most of northern Europe becomes genuinely unpleasant. Crete in November, December, and January has a mild Mediterranean climate — warm enough to eat lunch outside, walk to the beach, and avoid the seasonal depression that makes northern winters so hard for remote workers without office structure.

Crete activities year-round:

• Beaches along the entire north and south coast

• Samaria Gorge and other dramatic hiking routes

• Ancient ruins and archaeological sites

• Cretan cuisine (one of the world's most studied Mediterranean diets)

• Wineries and olive oil tastings

• Traditional mountain villages

• Water sports and diving

The culture is also an underrated advantage. Greek hospitality is genuine and pervasive — "we haven't met anyone friendlier than Greek people," as the ESCAPE team puts it — and English is widely spoken throughout Crete.

Recent Price Reduction

In 2025, ESCAPE did something unusual: they lowered prices at Greek Escape. Not as a promotional tactic or a response to competitive pressure, but as a considered decision to make the experience accessible to more people. Specific new rates aren't publicly listed, but Greek Escape is positioned as meaningfully more affordable than Swiss Escape and priced below most comparable quality colivings in the Mediterranean.

Explore Crete digital nomad coliving at its finest — Mediterranean winters, genuine community, and recently reduced pricing. View Greek Escape availability →

Pricing: How Much Does ESCAPE Coliving Cost?

Swiss Escape (Grimentz)

Weekly rates run approximately 25–30% higher per night than the monthly equivalent.

Minimum stay: 7 days Recommended stay: 1 month (to fully experience community)

Greek Escape (Gerani, Crete)

Specific rates aren't publicly listed, but Greek Escape is positioned as more affordable than Switzerland — shared accommodations estimated significantly under €1,000/month, with recent price reductions making it even more accessible. Luxury villa rooms command a premium but remain competitive for Mediterranean coliving of this quality.

What's Included at Both Locations

• Accommodation (private, shared, or double room)

• 24/7 coworking space access

• High-speed fibre WiFi (100 Mbps in Switzerland; fast connections in Greece)

• Weekly cleaning

• All utilities (heating, electricity, water)

• Laundry facilities

• Weekly community events and activities

• On-site Community Manager

• Free seasonal activity pass (Switzerland: summer pass June–October)

What's Not Included

• Food and groceries

• Travel to/from the location

• Optional excursions and activities

• Car rental (Greece)

Amenities & What's Included

Switzerland

• Two Minergie-certified 4-star chalets

• 100 Mbps fibre WiFi with 3 routers (no dead zones)

• Ergonomic office chairs throughout

• Private desk and chair in every bedroom for calls

• Communal coworking area in each chalet

• Printer, scanner, whiteboard, and flipchart

• Fully equipped kitchens with Nespresso and ground coffee machines

• Balconies with panoramic Alpine views

• Ski and equipment storage

• Laundry room (washing machine, dryer, detergent)

• Garage parking (3 cars)

• Towel warmers in every bathroom

Greece

• 7 luxury villas across two complexes (Nevelo and Aether)

• Fully equipped self-catering kitchens in each villa

• Sea-view coworking spaces

• Large communal and social areas

• Mediterranean gardens and olive groves

• Walkable to restaurants, supermarket, and beach

Community: What Actually Sets ESCAPE Apart

If ESCAPE were just accommodation with fast WiFi, it would be a decent option in two beautiful locations. What actually sets it apart — and what fills the reviews with phrases like "real friends," "transformed my perspective," and "I keep coming back" — is the community architecture.

The Scale Is Intentional

Swiss Escape caps at 15 people. Greek Escape at 30. These aren't capacity constraints — they're design decisions. At 15 people, everyone knows everyone. Dinner isn't a networking event; it's dinner. Conversations go somewhere. Collaborations happen organically. The intimacy would be impossible at 80 or 150.

The Community Manager

Every ESCAPE location has a full-time, on-site Community Manager who lives in the space alongside guests. Their role is to:

• Welcome every new arrival personally

• Co-create the week's events and activities

• Facilitate introductions between guests

• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations

• Be available as a genuine point of contact

This isn't a concierge. It's someone who is as invested in the community's quality as the founders are.

Weekly Programming

Social events: Game nights, movie nights, communal dinners, Swiss fondue and raclette evenings (Switzerland), cultural nights

Business events: Workshops, open discussions, peer-to-peer sessions, industry masterminds

Outdoor events: Group ski days, hiking excursions, mountain biking, beach trips, exploring local regions

Organic events: Residents are actively encouraged to organise their own sessions — teaching skills, leading activities, sharing their work

The result is a programme that doesn't feel programmed. The structure exists to make spontaneity easier, not to replace it.

Who You'll Be Living With

ESCAPE guests are typically entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers from across the world, staying between two weeks and several months. The common thread isn't industry or nationality — it's an orientation toward learning, connection, and building something real with their work and their lives.

The vibe, as ESCAPE describes it directly: "brilliant stories, open to learning."

Pros & Cons

Pros

Founder-operated authenticity. Haz and Fanny aren't absentee owners. They have deep personal roots in both locations, have tested every amenity, and have built ESCAPE around a life they genuinely want to live. This is immediately evident in the quality of the spaces and the culture they've created.

Eight years of refinement. Most colivings are improvising. ESCAPE has been iterating the same model since 2016. The community systems, the space design, the seasonal programming — all of it has been refined through thousands of guest-nights of real-world feedback.

Two genuinely distinct locations. Swiss Alps in winter and Mediterranean Crete in the cooler months serve completely different needs and atmospheres. Guests can move between them and experience both within the same community.

Intentionally small. The cap on guest numbers isn't a limitation — it's what makes real community possible. You won't get lost here.

Deep local integration. Fanny's lifelong connection to Grimentz means Swiss Escape guests access authentic local experiences — wine producers, local guides, cultural events — that no hotel or large-scale coliving could replicate. Greek Escape benefits from years of relationship-building in Crete.

Clear positioning. ESCAPE knows exactly who it's for and says so plainly. This means the people who show up are the right people, which is the single most important factor in any coliving's community quality.

Cons

Not for short stays. The minimum is 7 days, but the real value only emerges over a month. If you need flexibility for 2–3 day stops, ESCAPE isn't the right fit.

Remote locations, limited nightlife. Grimentz especially — ESCAPE explicitly describes it as "a quiet and cute village" and notes directly: "If you're looking for a party destination, this is NOT the right experience for you." Greek Escape is livelier, with Rethymno nearby, but it's still not a city.

Self-direction required. There's no structured daily schedule. Work time is yours to manage. If you need external accountability or prefer a regimented environment, the flexibility here may feel like a void rather than a feature.

Switzerland costs. Swiss Escape's prices reflect the cost of operating in Switzerland. Shared rooms start around €750/month which is reasonable for the package, but the total cost of living in Switzerland (food, drink, activities) is higher than most European coliving destinations.

Small capacity means availability matters. With only 15 spots in Switzerland, the space can book out. Planning ahead — particularly for peak ski season — is essential.

Who Is ESCAPE For and Who Should Skip It

ESCAPE is a strong fit if you:

• Work remotely and value productivity without sacrificing real experiences

• Love mountains, hiking, skiing, the outdoors — or the Mediterranean coast

• Want genuine community rather than transactional networking

• Are comfortable staying at least a month

• Prefer a small, intimate group (10–15 people) to a large anonymous crowd

• Value authenticity over luxury amenities

• Are open to contributing to community — sharing skills, leading activities, connecting with others

ESCAPE is probably not the right fit if you:

• Need to be in or near a major city for networking or client meetings

• Want nightlife, constant social stimulus, or a party atmosphere

• Prefer a large space where you can stay anonymous

• Need a rigid, structured daily programme

• Are looking for ultra-luxury resort-style service and amenities

• Plan a short trip of only a few days

• Work in a sector where location proximity to business hubs is non-negotiable

The clearest test: if the idea of working focused during the day and then skiing, hiking, or swimming in the afternoon genuinely excites you — and doing that alongside a small group of similarly-minded people sounds like the ideal version of remote work — ESCAPE was built for you.

How ESCAPE Compares to Other European Colivings {#how-escape-compares}

The European coliving market has grown dramatically since 2016. Here's an honest side-by-side of where ESCAPE sits relative to the most common alternatives — including ESCAPE Coliving vs Selina, Outsite, and large urban brands.

Coliving Switzerland vs Greece: Which ESCAPE Location Wins?

This depends entirely on what you're optimising for. Switzerland wins on Alpine authenticity, ski access, and year-round operation. Greece wins on Mediterranean warmth during winter months, a slightly larger community, and lower all-in cost of living. Many guests do both — using the two locations as seasonal complements within the same community network.

ESCAPE's real competition is other founder-operated, community-first colivings in nature settings across Europe. In this category, ESCAPE's eight-year track record and dual-location model give it a genuine edge over newer entrants and over large chains like Selina that have scaled at the cost of community quality.

Real Guest Reviews

With that context, here's what actual guests say.

Swiss Escape

"Swiss Escape is one of the most beautiful colivings I've ever been to. Incredible views, path walks in the mountains, things to do outside. You have a beautiful coworking space, a community with like-minded people and fellow digital nomads — you work together, go on trips together, cook and play, connect and make a beautiful network of friends from all over the world. Come, it is totally worth it and you will plan to have it as part of your traveling from the moment you come onwards." — Andreea ★★★★★

"Swiss Escape is everything you could want in a coworking + coliving space: dedicated hosts, a vibrant community, and world-class outdoor adventure footsteps away. The space and amenities are among the best you will find in any coworking/coliving space. Towel warmers in the bathrooms — what?! Haz and Fanny are so passionate about their work and run an outstanding operation." — Verified guest ★★★★★

"This is the perfect place when you want to work focused in the Swiss Alps. You definitely get inspired by very interesting people from all over the world. If you never had a coliving experience before, that is the perfect spot to get in touch with the future of work." — Lorenz R. ★★★★★

Greek Escape

"The home itself is gorgeous — my favourite part was waking up every day and going on the balcony for the views. The beds are super comfortable, the WiFi is very fast, and the large central table is perfect for coworking. They do a great job at creating a community so we all would plan hiking, mountain biking, and exploring activities together. Very well-run coliving space — a fantastic experience and I'll definitely be back." — Verified guest ★★★★★

"I stayed for a month and had a great time. The villa was very comfortable, fully equipped, and perfect for work and leisure. The community vibe was incredible — the Happiness Officer did a great job bringing everyone together, organising events, and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you were working or relaxing, it always felt balanced."— Verified guest ★★★★★

Consistent themes across all reviews:

• Space quality exceeds expectations

• Haz and Fanny's genuine care and involvement is noticed and valued

• Community quality — "inspiring, like-minded people" — is the most-cited positive

• Guests return. Multiple reviewers mention planning to come back.

Final Verdict: Is ESCAPE Coliving Worth It?

ESCAPE Coliving is genuinely one of the best coliving options in Europe for a specific kind of remote worker — and it's decidedly not for everyone, which is actually the most honest thing you can say about any coliving worth recommending.

If you value nature, community, and authentic experience over urban convenience, large networks, and nightlife — and you can stay for at least a month — ESCAPE delivers at a level most colivings with newer branding and bigger marketing budgets simply can't match. Eight years of operation, consistent five-star reviews, and guests who come back year after year don't happen by accident.

Switzerland is the right choice if you want deep focus work combined with world-class skiing or hiking, maximum Alpine authenticity, and an intimate group of no more than 15 people. Greece is the right choice if you want Mediterranean warmth during the colder months, a slightly larger community, and more nearby infrastructure.

Neither location is cheap in absolute terms. But compared to what you'd spend on separate rent, coworking membership, social activities, and the general friction of building community from scratch as a remote worker — ESCAPE's all-in pricing becomes genuinely competitive.

The bottom line: for the right person, ESCAPE is transformative. For the wrong person, it would be a slow, quiet, socially-demanding mountain or island experience with no nightlife and mandatory self-direction. Know which you are before you book.

View availability at Swiss Alps coliving →

Explore Crete digital nomad coliving →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ESCAPE Coliving? ESCAPE Coliving is a founder-operated community coliving brand with locations in Grimentz, Switzerland and Gerani, Crete, Greece. Founded in 2016, it combines accommodation, coworking, and intentional community for remote workers and digital nomads.

Is ESCAPE Coliving good for digital nomads? Yes — it's one of Europe's longest-established coliving communities specifically designed for remote workers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. The infrastructure, community programming, and ethos are built around the digital nomad lifestyle.

How much does ESCAPE Coliving cost? Swiss Escape runs approximately €750–1,300/month depending on room type. Greek Escape is more affordable — specific rates aren't publicly listed but are positioned below €1,000/month for shared accommodation, with recent price reductions further improving value.

What is the minimum stay at ESCAPE Coliving? The minimum stay is 7 days at both locations. However, a minimum of one month is strongly recommended to get genuine value from the community and experience.

Is ESCAPE Coliving worth it? For remote workers who value nature, intimate community, and authentic local experience — yes, it's one of the best options in Europe. For those who prioritise city access, nightlife, or large-scale networking, other colivings will serve better.

Which ESCAPE location is better — Switzerland or Greece? They serve different purposes. Switzerland (year-round) suits outdoor enthusiasts who want Alpine experiences — skiing in winter, hiking in summer — in a deeply focused, quiet environment. Greece (primarily seasonal) suits those escaping cold European winters, with a Mediterranean climate, beach access, and a slightly larger community. Many guests do both across seasons.

Is ESCAPE Coliving social or quiet? Both. Days are typically productive and self-directed. Evenings and weekends bring organised and organic social events. It's community-driven without being forced — the structure makes connection easy, but doesn't mandate it.

Can I book ESCAPE Coliving for a corporate retreat? Yes. Both Swiss Escape (up to 15 guests) and Greek Escape (up to 30 guests) host corporate retreats, team builds, and strategy offsites. Full property bookings are available.

How does ESCAPE Coliving compare to Selina? Selina offers city locations, large networks, and hotel-style flexibility. ESCAPE offers nature, intimacy, and genuine community. Selina is better if you want to be in a city with 200 other people. ESCAPE is better if you want a small group, nature access, and relationships that last beyond your checkout date.

What is the Coliving Hub? Co-founded by Haz Memon in 2018, the Coliving Hub is a global NGO for coliving operators. It runs webinars, conferences, masterminds, and a certification programme (launched 2024) for professionals across the coliving industry.

Where can I book ESCAPE Coliving?

Swiss Escape (Grimentz, Switzerland) Greek Escape (Gerani, Crete, Greece)

Last updated: 2026 | Based on firsthand research, founder interviews, verified guest reviews, and public listing data.