Tag Archives: Switzerland

Chalet Zermatt Peak. Zermatt, Switzerland

January 23, 2015Hotel of the Weekbest chalet in Zermatt, best chalets in switzerland, Chalet Zermatt Peak, luxury chalets in Europe, Luxury chalets in Switzerland, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, ZermattStefanie

Imagine being wrapped up in the most luxurious of furs and stepping out onto your own private balcony over-looking one of the most famous mountain peaks in the world, The Matterhorn. Zermatt is the perfect place for beginners and advanced skiier’s and snowboarder’s alike. If you’re truly a thrill-seeker, you can try paragliding over the snowy mountains and down into the valley or heli-skiing from the top of le piste.

Chalet Zermatt Peak is a winner of a chalet for a number of reasons. The number one reason actually being that it won Best Ski Chalet 2013 in Switzerland at the World Ski Awards. Staying at Zermatt Peak is like staying in your own town, you have your own private Michelin-starred chef at your disposal, gym, wellness spa, library, and personal ski equipment rental. The chalet also comes with 24-hour chauffeur service so don’t worry about having to move those poor legs of yours anywhere.

The Chalet is very modern, yet in a warm and cozy way. The house is completely full of neutrals, both in the fur and nature aesthetics. Alpaca furs drape the couches and beds with the floor is lined with sheepskin and chandeliers drip down from every ceiling. Each of the rooms look out into the town of Zermatt, so you’ll never miss a thing. The Chalet also comes with an event planner/social chair so this is the perfect place to host large glamorous parties. Your 24-hour butler service will attend to you and your family’s every need.

I think my favorite room in the house would be the spa, where your private infinity Jacuzzi looks over the shiny bright town of Zermatt, although the kitchen would be a close second. How many people can say they have had a menu catered to their every whim and desire?

Photographs courtesy of the property.

City Guide: 72 Hours in Verbier

January 21, 2015City Guide72 hours in Verbier, best hotels in Switzerland, best hotels in Verbier, Switzerland, The Lodge Verbier, The W Verbier, verbier, Verbier City GuideStefanie

If you want to have a cozy yet posh getaway, Verbier is right up your alley. Known for it’s abundance of superstar vacationers, Verbier is more of a quaint town that happens to be located in the top of the mountain. There is no other place quite like Verbier, it is an exclusive town that combines grade-A skiing with some of the highest hospitality standards you’ve ever seen in a ski-town. Scroll down to the bottom to see some of our must-have items in Verbier.

Thursday:

9:00 am- Check into The W Verbier. The W Hotel is only 2 years old, and from the looks if it, the service seems like it has been established for decades, and the design like it was open yesterday. The typical Swiss chalet with modern yet cozy interiors is perfectly executed. Everything is built with light reclaimed wood and earth tones with a few pops of color.

If the W is not your style, The Lodge‘s architecture is as typical as it gets; Wooden chalet, wooden shutters, flowers in every balcony and a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog guarding the entrance. However, once you step in, the large fire place, gigantic sofas, fur throws and candles adorn the lodge in a casual yet chic way.

11:00 am- Grab your ski gear and head to the slopes! Remember you’re only here for 72 hours, you can’t miss one minute of that new fluffy powdered snow.

3:00 pm- Head to Chez Dany from some mid-day grub at one of the most picturesque spots on the mountain. The perfect place to have a drink while watching the sunset before skiing straight down to your chalet.

7:00 pm- Rub shoulders with fashionistas and Swiss elite at Carve, the perfect place for a little dancing and pre-dinner drinks.

8:30 pm- Get your party outfit on and dine at one of the trendiest restaurants in Verbier, Le Nevai.

11:00 pm- Head to the Crock Bar, one of the only lounges in Verbier, to listen to some tunes while wrapped up in the warmest of furs on the terrace.

Friday:

10:00 am- Breakfast at W Cafe, be sure to order the omelet and almond croissant, their coffee is also fabulous.

11:00 am- Hit the slopes! To see what Posh Voyage’s favorite ski trends are, check out our Travel Tip.

4:30 pm- Apres-ski drinks at Le Montfort. This place is an institution, with it’s exlcusive location, you’ll have to know someone who knows it whereabouts to get to it. It’s known for having sold the largest volume of beer in all of Switzerland!

9:30 pm- Dinner at La table d’Adrien for an expensive night out. It is also the only currently rated Michelin-starred restaurant in Verbier.

Or, for something a little livelier, eat at Eat-Hola Tapas Bar, located in the W Verbier. Fun tapas plates and wine pairings from all over the world will make this an unforgettable meal.

11:30 pm- Le Farinet is the place to be on a Friday night. Voted the best apres-ski IN THE WORLD, this is a must-stop location.

Saturday:

11:00 am- Cure that hangover at Le Rouge, at the base of the piste ‘Le Rouge’, grab brunch on their sunny terrace. Recommend: the mimosa, Bloody Mary, and the crepes.

1:00 pm- Take a break from all that skiing and go shopping! Check out shops such as Hot Air, Place Blanche, or Place Centrale.

4:30pm- More apres-ski drinks (even if you didn’t ski) at Verbier’s first altitude champagne bar, Plus de Bulles. Pair it with some caviar and you have yourself a true luxury experience.

8:30pm- Dinner at Arola, located in the W Verbier, Arola is composed of local and organic produce that are presented in an array of sharing plates perfect for the global palette.

12:00am- Finally, you get to Le Farm, the premier club in all of the Swiss Alps. A mix of glamours and good-times, you can dance the night away Verbier-style.

Sunday:

12:00 pm- La Marlenaz is a beautiful swiss restaurant that sits 2,000 meters high above Verbier. The best place to have brunch after a crazy night out at Le Farm.

3:00pm- Time to say good-bye to Verbier, but you’ll have loved it so much you’ll be sure to come back. In the end you might think you partied more thank you skiied!

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W Hotel. Verbier, Switzerland

November 18, 2014Hotel of the Weekbest hotels verbier, luxury swiss hotels, luxury verbier hotel, Starwood hotels, swiss voyage, Switzerland, top swiss lodge, verbier, w hotels, w verbierStefanie

Have you ever wondered what it feels to travel like a celeb? Well stop wondering and just follow this month’s Hotels of the Week on Posh Voyage for a glimpse.

Half way through my Swiss Voyage this Summer, I never thought I was going to discover yet another gem in Switzerland. After visiting Gruyere, Montreux, Geneva, Lucern, Appenzell, Arosa and Gstaad, I thought the best had passed.

It was not easy to getting to Verbier, let me just start by saying that. I took the train from Gstaad to Lausanne, changed trains in Martigni and got off at Le Chable. I then took the amazing gondola ride from Le Chable to Verbier and a quick bus ride to what I consider the swankiest most fun lodge I have ever been to, the W Hotel. *(Keep in mind that this is the most economical way to get to Verbier, if money isn’t a concern, a private car from Geneva is the best way to get there, and it only takes 2 hours).

The W Hotel is only 11 months old, and from the looks if it, the service seems like it has been established for decades, yet the design like it opened just yesterday. The typical Swiss chalet with modern yet cozy interiors is perfectly executed. Everything is built with light reclaimed wood and earth tones with a few pops of color.

The hotel is divided in 4 buildings: Energy, Infuse, Recharge and Escape. The Recharge building is home to the lobby and main living room which is adorned with fur blankets, fur pillows and fur chairs. So warm yet modern!

After a long day traveling, I ordered the crispy shrimp for a quick bite before I started my meetings at the hotel. Oh my God! My quick bite turned into the most delicious meal of the trip. The ginger and soy infused crispy shrimp were so good that I ordered it twice. Hey, I was alone, no one to judge!

Next to it was the monumental staircase with seating incorporated to soak up the views of the Valais region.

After, I made my way down to the spa. It is a gigantic 8,000sqf setup, the largest in Verbier. The style is sleek and modern unlike the rest of the hotel, which is warm, cozy and charming.

The main restaurant is the creation of Chef Sergio Arola, a Michelin awarded Chef from Spain. My favorite part of the whole restaurant was the back part. A hidden tapas bar with 10 chairs overlooking the kitchen. The Chef just keeps sending plates over until to you until you wave your arm due to the food coma you are experiencing.

The last part of my tour, and my personal favorite, were the rooms. They all have a Swiss theme with the flag decorating the room, and exposed wooden beams to give it a rustic feel. The Wow Suite was my personal favorite if traveling with your better half. However, if you want to make this a family or friend vacay, they have fabulous residences ranging from 2-4 bedrooms (I think I just decided where my next ski trip with my husband and friends will be).

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Hotel Villa Honegg. Lucerne, Switzerland.

November 7, 2014Hotel of the Weekbest hotel in Lucerne, best hotel Villa Honegg, Hotel Villa Honegg, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, SwitzerlandStefanie

Remember the scene from The Sound of Music, where Julie Andrews is skipping through bright green fields, buttercup flowers, and a backdrop of snow-capped mountains? Well, that is exactly the scene you will find at Hotel Villa Honegg, located in the outskirts of Lucerne, Switzerland. This long-established hotel, built in 1905 and reopened in May 2011, is a haven for those seeking peace and privacy. Their service is impeccable and the staff is ever friendly. This is what I would call a ‘yes’ hotel, in that you ask the staff for something and they do their best to make it happen.

The rooms are designed with modern and cozy décor, think neutrals with playful designs, and each bathroom comes equipped with hand-picked Hermès amenities. The best rooms in the house however, are those with a balcony over-looking the spectacular Lake Lucerne. Every afternoon I would go out to my terrace with a glass of wine and enjoy the view. If you’re traveling with a big party or feel like splurging, opt for the Garden House. Located directly next to the main building you will find the hotel’s charming Garden House. Though it does not maintain the five star superior standard as the main building, it is tastefully designed to fulfill all of your needs with two modern double rooms, a suite, an apartment as well as a children’s playroom and a meeting room complete with bar and lounge.

The Restaurant ranges from regional dishes, international classics, to Lebanese specialties. All the products come from their garden, local suppliers as well as suppliers from central Switzerland except for the wines, which come hand-selected from Lebanon. I recommend not the Raclette nor the Fondue, but the Honegg Meatloaf with a wine reduction, mashed potatoes and baby carrots; it gets my mouth watering just thinking about it! Weather-permitting, opt to dine on the Winter Terrace, it overlooks the tranquil Lake Lucerne. If the weather is a bit chilly, they provide you with fur coats to enhance your meal experience, how cozy is that?

My favorite view in the whole hotel came from the heated outdoor infinity pool. I could sit here all day looking at the panoramic views while the day went by and I began to form into a human prune. I was there in the Summer, however, one of the best times of the year to go would be the fall, where you can see the colors on the leaves changing and while the weather is brisk, but not cold.

Everything about this hotel is just perfection, so if you are looking to go skiing to Switzerland this winter, do not forget to make a pit stop at Villa Honegg on your way in.

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Gstaad Palace Hotel. Gstaad, Switzerland

January 8, 2013Hotel of the Weekbest hotel in Gstaad, Gstaad, Gstaad Palace Hotel, luxury hotels in Gstaad, SwitzerlandStefanie

So far, the ultimate alpine retreat has proven hard to find. Yes, I have encountered numerous striking mountain hotels, but had not fallen head-over-heels for one in particular…until last week.

In order to be on the top of the list, the hotel needs to offer a mix of unparalleled skiing, superb cuisine, jaw-dropping bedrooms and a cozy yet striking style. Upon visiting Gstaad Palace Hotel, the research of my top resort has come to an end.

Gstaad is best known as the most beautiful winter paradise in Switzerland. They have hundreds of perfectly snowy slopes, various sledge runs, hot-air balloons, snow parks, spectacular hiking routes, and my personal favorite: the most picturesque rustic chalets out there… No wonder this is a favorite ski spot for the European elite.

The hotel is located in a 1913 castle perched over the village, offering staggering views outside and royal-like décor on the inside. Despite the age of the castle, the hotel’s modern amenities make it a hideaway you will never want to leave. I also realized that they undergo renovations twice a year when the hotel closes due to low season.

The spa is located around an open fire, which instantly made it my preferred part of the hotel. The Hammam ritual is a must.

My favorite room has to be the Deluxe Suite, Swiss chalet characterizes the style with a touch of modern details.

Photographs courtesy of the property.