Saturday 6th September 2025 • Promotional Content


Worldwide Travel T e Travel Guide


Surprising Switzerland: authentic stays with lush lakesides and mountain marvels


19


From chic chalet hideaways to luxury lakefront boltholes, these tradition- al hotels off er something to suit every need. T e unique hotel cooperations al- low guests to choose between high-al- titude grand dames to lush lakeside hideaways, and these six stays in par- ticular refl ect Switzerland’s unique fondness for nature, heritage and home comforts. So, whether you’re soaking in a cedar hot tub or breakfasting on me- dieval cobbles, each hotels off ers some- thing distinctively Swiss — warmth without fuss, scenery without crowds and craftsmanship in its many forms.


HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR & SPA-CHAMPÉRY


HOTEL BEAU-SÉJOUR & SPA, CHAMPÉRY BEST FOR: COMFORT AND CRAFTMANSHIP It’s the little details that set this dreamy spot apart, like handmade cushions, hand-painted signs and ornately carved wooden balconies looking out over the Dents du Midi. Owned by the same family for more than half a cen- tury, Beau-Séjour blends mountain tradition with warm, unfussy service. Rooms feel like a cross between an old-school chalet and a stylish mag- azine spread — think Alpine woods, lace curtains and tasteful throws in soft local wool. Breakfast includes cheeses and yoghurts from nearby dairies, and the outdoor cedarwood hot tubs off er knockout mountain views. T ere’s no restaurant per se, but the village’s fondue spots and bars are a brief, snow-crunching stroll away. beausejour.ch


HOSTELLERIE DU PAS DE L’OURS, CRANS-MONTANA BEST FOR: FINE DINING Don’t let the timber facade and cosy chocolate-box vibe fool you. T is cha- let packs serious culinary clout, with a full-on Michelin-starred restaurant led by Pierre Crepaud. Expect dishes such as saddle of venison with wild myrtle or a deconstructed tarte tatin laced with fi r-tree ice cream. T e atmosphere is indulgent, but not overdone — aro- matic woodsmoke, mountain sunlight and a private spa suite with a stone tub and fl ickering fi re. Rooms are large and luxuriously Alpine, many with carved ceilings and generous bay windows. In winter, skiers drift in from the slopes. In summer, guests linger on the terrace over glasses of Valais wine and peerless glacier views. pasdelours.ch


POSTHOTEL RÖSSLI, GSTAAD BEST FOR: HERITAGE CHARM In a resort renowned for designer bou- tiques and fur-trimmed ski jackets, this 19th-century coaching inn off ers some- thing more exclusive still — authentic- ity. Built in 1845, it’s the oldest hotel in Gstaad, but still family-run and chock full of heart, with reassuringly creaky fl oorboards, pine-panelled passageways and geraniums overfl owing from the window boxes. A restaurant serves Swiss classics like rösti, fondue and mush- room-stuff ed veal. Upstairs, rooms are simple, spotless and packed with Alpine charm. T ere’s a sauna and steam room, promising warmth on frigid mountain days. posthotelroessli.ch


HOTEL PILATUS-KULM, MOUNT PILATUS BEST FOR: HIGH-ALTITUDE DRAMA Just getting to this 6,995ft mountain- top hotel — via the world’s steepest cogwheel railway or a panoramic gon- dola ride from Lucerne — is a thrill. Built in 1890, Pilatus-Kulm is a true Swiss grand dame, with sky-high views over Lake Lucerne and the Central Alps. Interiors blend period detail with graceful Alpine restraint: polished wood, neutral fabrics and not a chan- delier in sight. T ere’s no spa, but the setting more than makes up for that with hiking trails, wildlife sightings and cloud-level sunrises right on your doorstep. At night, after the last ca- ble-car has gone, the scene falls silent, and it feels as if you have the mountain all to yourself. pilatus.ch


HOTEL SARAIN ACTIVE MOUNTAIN RESORT, LENZ BEST FOR: ECO ESCAPES Sublimely situated in the Ro- mansh-speaking heart of the Grisons, this


low-key mountain resort pairs


clean-lined architecture with deep re- spect for its surroundings. Built almost entirely from local larch and stone, the hotel runs on renewable energy and puts environmental responsibility at the heart of its operations, from organ- ic breakfast spreads to its impressive in-house fl eet of e-bikes. T e styling? Minimalist but warm, with tactile ma- terials and big windows that frame the Lenzerheide landscape. T ere’s a small wellness area, but the main draw is the outdoors: hiking, biking and skiing, depending on the season, with each pursuit off ering crisp Alpine air and near-total peace. huettenzauber.ch


PAS DE L’OURS SUITE


PLAN YOUR TRIP Swiss off ers direct fl ights to Zurich and Geneva from London, Manches- ter and Birmingham, with onward rail connections across the country. T e Swiss Travel Pass from Switzerland Travel Centre provides unlimited ac- cess to the country’s effi cient public transport network. Also, the unique hotel cooperations across the country allow travellers to fi nd the stay that best suits their wishes and needs.


POSTHOTEL_ROESSLI-GSTAAD


HOTEL-PILATUS-KULM


HOTEL SARAIN ACTIVE MOUNTAIN RESORT,


For more information, visit switzerland.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48