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The Best Luxury Hotels

As somebody who is happy to stay in Switzerland’s excellent Youth Hostels and budget accommodation, I do get to stay once in a while in somewhere a little bit up-market. Unfortunately I don’t get to go often or to many, so it was interesting to see what the Swiss newspapers (or at least Zurich’s Tages-Anzeiger, 9/12/2010) reckon as the best hotels for winter breaks. Here is their list with ranking and previous year ranking in brackets, firstly for 5-star hotels:

1 (1) Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz,
Dbl from 895 Fr, Tel. 081 837 10 00, www.badruttspalace.com
2 (2) Tschuggen, Arosa,
Dbl from 665 Fr, Tel. 081 378 99 99, www.tschuggen.ch
3 (4) Gstaad Palace, Gstaad,
Dbl from 1020 Fr, Tel. 033 748 50 00, www.palace.ch
4 (3) Kulm, St. Moritz,
Dbl from 935 Fr, Tel. 081 836 80 00, www.kulmhotel-stmoritz.ch
5 (7) The Carlton, St. Moritz,
Suite from 1400 Fr, Tel. 081 836 70 00, www.carlton-stmoritz.ch
6 (6) Riffelalp Resort, Zermatt,
Dbl from 1060 Fr, Tel. 027 966 05 55, www.riffelalp.com
7 (10) Kronenhof, Pontresina,
Dbl from 590 Fr, Tel. 081 830 30 30, www.kronenhof.com
8 (8) Grand Hotel Bellevue, Gstaad,
Dbl from 650 Fr, Tel. 033 748 00 00, www.bellevue-gstaad.ch
9 (9) Suvretta House, St. Moritz,
Dbl from 835 Fr, Tel. 081 836 36 36, www.suvrettahouse.ch
10 (5) Waldhaus Flims, Flims Waldhaus,
Dbl from 715 Fr, Tel. 081 928 48 48, www.parkhotel-waldhaus.ch
11 (12) Le Crans Hotel & Spa, Crans-Montana,
Dbl from 800 Fr, Tel. 027 486 60 60, www.lecrans.com
12 (11) Lenkerhof Alpine Resort, Lenk,
Dbl from 710 Fr, Tel. 033 736 36 36, www.lenkerhofch
13 (14) Kempinski Grand Hotel, St. Moritz,
Dbl from 710 Fr, Tel. 081 838 38 38, www.kempinski-stmoritz.com
14 (13) Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt,
Dbl from 870 Fr, Tel. 027 966 88 88, www.seilerhotels.ch
15 (neu) Ferienart Resort & Spa, Saas-Fee,
Dbl from 626 Fr, Tel. 027 958 19 00, wwa.rferrienart.ch

The best rated 4-star hotels were:

1 (4) Wellnesshotel, Pirmin Zurbriggen, Saas-Almagell
Dbl from 290 Fr., Tel. 027 957 23 01. www.zurbriggen.ch
2 (3) Guarda Val, Lenzerheide-Sporz
Dbl from 470 Fr., Tel. 081 385 85 85, www.guardaval.ch
3 (1) Le Grand Chalet, Gstaad
Dbl from 450 Fr., Tel. 033 748 76 76. www.grandchalet.ch
4 (2) Castell, Zuoz
Dbl from 310 Fr., Tel. 081 851 52 53, www.hotelcastell.ch
5 (5) Waldhotel National, Arosa
Dbl from 520 Fr., Tel. 081 378 55 55, www.waldhotel.ch
6 (8) Romantik-Hotel Schweizerhof, Grindelwald
Dbl from 460 Fr., Tel. 033 854 58 58, www.hotel-schweizerhof.com
7. (new) Guardaval, Scuol,
Dbl from 310 Fr., Tel. 081 861 09 09, www.guardaval-scuol.ch
8 (9) Alex, Zermatt
Dbl from 500 Fr., Tel. 027 966 70 70, www.hotelalexzermatt.com
9 (new) Wellnesshotel, Chasa Montana, Samnaun
Dbl from 260 Fr., Tel. 081 861 90 00, www.hotelchasamontana.ch
10 (10) Parkhotel Bellevue & Spa, Adelboden
Dbl from 460 Fr., Tel. 033 673 80 00, www.parkhotel-bellevue.ch
11 (11) Mirabeau Alpine Residence, Zermatt
Dbl from 574 Fr., Tel. 027 966 26 60, www.hotel-mirabeau.ch
12 (12) Vereina, Klosters
Dbl from 470 Fr., Tel. 081 410 27 27, www.vereinahotel.ch
13 (14) Alpenhof, Zermatt
Dbl from 596 Fr., Tel. 027 966 55 55, www.alpenhofhotel.com
14. (new) Cervo, Zermatt
Dbl from 390 Fr., Tel. 027 968 12 12, www.cervo.ch
15 (15) Walther, Pontresina
Dbl from 510 Fr., Tel. 081 839 36 36, www.hotelwalther.ch

Best of the 3-star Hotels:

1 (1) Waldhaus am See, St. Moritz
Dbl from 310 Fr., Tel. 081 836 60 00, www.waldhaus-am-see.ch
2 (5) Romantik Hotel Schönegg, Wengen
Dbl from 360 Fr, Tel. 033 855 34 22, www.hotel-schoenegg.ch
3 (4) Krone, La Punt
Dbl from 260 Fr., Tel. 081 854 12 69, www.krone-la-punt.ch
4 (2) Jungfrau, Wengernalp
Dbl from 420 Fr., Tel. 033 855 16 22, wwwwengernalp.ch
5 (3) Misani, Celerina
Dbl from 230 Fr., Tel. 081 839 89 89, www.hotelmisani.ch
6 (6) Hotel Kernen, Schönried-Gstaad
Dbl from 300 Fr., Tel. 033 748 40 20, www.bruno-kernen.ch
7 (7) Sporthotel, Pontresina
Dbl from 260 Fr, Tel. 081 838 94 00, wwwsporthotel.ch
8 (9) Chesa Grischuna, Klosters
Dbl from 430 Fr., Tel. 081 422 22 22, www.chesagrischuna.ch
9. (new) Hohnegg Alpine Resort, Saas Fee
Dbl from 340 Fr., Tel. 027 958 10 70, www.hohnegg.ch
10 (8) Bodmi, Grindelwald
Dbl from 294 Fr., Tel. 033 853 12 20, www.bodmi.ch
11 (10) Parkhotel Schönegg, Grindelwald
Dbl from 340 Fr., Tel. 033 854 18 18, www.parkhotelschoenegg.ch
12 (12) Elenwäldli, Engelberg
Dbl from 280 Fr., Tel. 041 637 19 49, www.eienwaeldli.ch
13. (new) Bella Vista, Zermatt
Dbl from 235 Fr., Tel. 027 966 28 10, www.bellavista-zermatt.ch
14 (14) Des Alpes, Samnaun Dorf
Dbl from 330 Fr., Tel. 081 868 52 73, www.hotel-desalpes-samnaun.ch
15. (new) Alpine Lodge, Saanen-Gstaad
Dbl from 380 Fr., Tel. 033 748 41 51, www.alpinelodge.ch

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Gstaad Upgrades Facilities

Gstaad is one of these ski resorts where you can ask yourself “But where do you ski?”. In fact Gstaad Mountain Rides is a collection of different ski areas grouped into “sektors” broadly centred on Gstaad but with the main slopes actually some way outside Gstaad itself, a pretty little town in what is a very rural setting for all its jet set status (and adjacent private airport). The most appealing areas have previously been the glacier on Les Diablerets (Sektor 4) and the largest area in Sektor 1 linking Zweisimmen with Saanenmösser and Schönried. Here a new piste for 2010/11 with snow cannon between Rinderberg and Ronda will make this area easier to get around for less experienced skiers. However, a number of other enhancements have been introduced or are planned to significantly upgrade what was already a pretty decent resort.

Also in Sektor 1 is the area linking Schweizerdeutsch-speaking Gstaad and Saanen with French-speaking Rougemont, and for 2011 this area has seen some significant improvements.

A new Rougemont-La Videmanette 8-seat gondola has been operating since Christmas, barely 5 months since construction began. From the valley station at 968m it takes 10 minutes to get to the 2152m top station, and can shift 1400 people an hour.

Meanwhile, above Saanen a new four-seat chairlift Chalberhöni-Vorderes Eggli leaves from the same point of departure as the chairlift Les Gouilles and provides access to the highest point on the Vorderes Eggli. This makes the whole area much esier to get around and makes a welcome addition.

The two projects represent an investment of over CHF 25 million, and further investment is planned through until 2018.

For the first time, public transport is now covered by all ski passes this winter. The passes are valid for free travel on the train between Rossinière and St. Stephan as well as on the PostBus between Saanenmöser, Col du Pillon, Turbach and Lauenen during normal operating hours of public transport. The Swiss Railways Snow&Rail deal is particularly attractive for getting to Zweisimmen where the station is directly adjacent to the Rinderberg valley station. Château-d’Œx also has the cable car not far from the station and Rougemont is about 10 minutes walk from the station to the new gondola.

Children aged 9 and under can travel for free on all mountain lifts.

One of the great things about Gstaad and Saanenland is the weath of things to do. The area has been nominated by the ADAC ski guide as one of the three best cross country resorts in the Alps, and there is a range of other winter sports and diversions on offer. Château-d’Œx in the Sektor 3 ski area, once home to David Niven and M.C.Escher, features one of the most spectacular events in the Alps – the world famous “Balloon Week” in the last week of January, where up to 100 balloonists gather each year. For foodies there are plenty of excellent mountain restaurants, and in Gstaad the Michelin-starred Chesey features many Saanenland delicacies. Other highly-rated restaurants in the latest Gault & Millau restaurant guide include the ‘Prado’ of the Grand Hotel Bellevue and ‘Restaurant Golfclub’ in Saanenmöser.

The Grand Hotel Park reopened following a major renovation on 17 December 2010 and will have special mid-week deals in January and March, from Sundays to Thursdays. Ermitage Golf Hotel in Schönried is being renovated throughout 2011. For a bit of off-beat romance Igloo Village Hotels offer new igloo suites on the Saanerslochgrat above Saanenmöser.

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Belalp & Blatten b. Naters

View across to the Dom and MatterhornBelalp (2047-3112m) is the nearest significant winter sports area to Brig, reached by cable car from the pretty village of Blatten b. Naters.  Buses from Brig station run every half hour and cover the breathtaking 8km journey to the ticket office for the cable railway in less than half an hour.

Belalp has 9 lifts and a reasonable 60km of piste with enough variety for all standards of skier. There is a fun park and a kid’s village, half a dozen hiking trails, a couple of toboggan runs, a cross-country ski circuit (although the best cross-country in Valais is found in nearby Goms) and a range of other winter sports diversions in both Blatten and Brig. From the main (covered) Sparrhorn six-seat chairlift there is a range of delightful red and blue runs back down to Belalp, and from the Hohbiel at the top of the Sparrhorn there are lifts to access more challenging runs. However, what makes Belalp special are the acres of accessible off-piste in both the main Sparrhorn area and underneath the Hohstock (via a tunnel off the Hostock draglift).  The Hohstock area is not open if there is avalanche risk (check at the resort site here), but when open there are few areas so easy to get to that provide such relatively safe off-piste (although a guide is recommended to access the more challenging runs).  Everywhere is pretty well linked, with no real flat sections provided you keep your speed up.

Apart from the resort run to Blatten, all the slopes are above 2000m, and face south across to the Dom and the Matterhorn to provide breathtaking views and a delightful sun trap. The longest run, from the Hostock (3112m) down to Blatten (1322m) along black 1, red 4 and 21, and blue 24 and 25, has an impressive vertical drop of  1790m.  The glacier run from Sparrhorngrat and the Aletschbord run also provide a glimpse of the Aletsch glacier, the longest in the Alps (although the best views are from the nearby Aletsch Arena).

Weekend queues are short to non-existent, making this a fabulous destination for a weekend break or a day trip. Discounts are available for a combined rail ticket and area pass with the Swiss Railways Snow’n’Rail scheme.

So what are the downsides? Well, being south facing some narrow or busy parts of the runs can get a little bare over the course of the day, even with the excellent grooming and snow cannons. The very highest slopes (above 2680m) are also only accessible by surface lifts and the resort run to Blatten is basically a narrow snow-covered road, which skiers, snowboarders, tobogganists and walkers have to share – the better option is to take the cable car back down.  Minor gripes, however, for this is a little known jewel of a resort.

Belalp is a wonderful ski-in/ski-out car-free hamlet, mostly comprised of chalets but hotel luxury is available at the excellent Hamilton Lodge or the historic Hotel Belalp, a short distance outside the main resort on the Aletschbord. With a smattering of bars and restaurants, Belalp makes a delightful location for a family holiday or a romantic break. Blatten b. Naters (not to be confused with another Blatten in Valais, at the head of the Lötschental) also offers a range of accommodation, dining and entertainment, whilst Brig itself is a busy town with a range of diversions and amenities.

Celebrating a famous local tale, when one of the witches who lived in the area was executed for murdering her husband, every year around 1500 participants set off in the 12km Belalp Hexe race down to Blatten, many of them dressed as witches. This year the race takes place on 15th January 2011. Pre-registration is required to participate, but it makes for a spectacular spectator event.

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Villars is free!

Well, for one day at least – on the 18th December 2010. Apparently it is to celebrate the inauguration of 85 new environment-friendly snowmakers. Electronic keycards are not needed on this day.