If luxury travel is your style, then Switzerland will tick all the boxes because the country is full of ultra-luxe hotels & resorts. You will be spoiled for choice (#firstworldproblems).
It doesn’t come as a surprise then, that many luxury hotels here are also frequented by Hollywood royalty. And of course, actual royalty.
One such resort was the home of Audrey Hepburn for 14 years! Her neighbour for a few years was Sophia Loren, and even Sean Connery called it home while filming Goldfinger.
Where is this, you ask? The Bürgenstock Resort – perched on the Bürgenstock mountain overlooking the shimmery waters of Lake Lucerne, that’s where.
Image by: www.myswitzerland.com of Bürgenstock Resort Switzerland
Sprawling across 60 hectares of land, this was where Hepburn wedded her first husband, Mel Ferrer in 1954. The charming little bijou chapel where they exchanged vows still stands and is an attraction on the resort. Some of the other original buildings however, like Hepburn’s house is no longer, unfortunately.
Today, the extravagantly refurbished Bürgenstock Resort is a complex of 30 buildings including four hotels (Bürgenstock Hotel, Waldhotel, Palace Hotel and Taverne 1879) offering more than 380 beautifully appointed suites, almost 70 residence suites, 10 bars and restaurants, a world-class health and medical centre, two spas and a host of conference facilities.
The resort also has indoor and outdoor tennis courts with the latter transforming into an ice rink during winter, a nine-hole golf course, hiking and biking trails, a private lido on the lake for a variety of water sports, and access to the highest outdoor elevator in Europe, the Hammetschwand Lift. Getting bored here isn’t an option!
Bürgenstock Alpine Golf Driving Range
A major highlight of the new Resort is the Matteo Thun designed Waldhotel, which punctuates the scenery with its three-dimensional exterior inspired by the surrounds. Offering health and medical excellence, guests come here to consult the hotel’s in-house, skin, medical and fitness experts where after a thorough assessment, programs are put in place to help them achieve their desired health goals.
Getting to the Waldhotel, one must first go on a scenic boat ride on board the Bürgenstock ferry from Lucerne. Upon arriving in style to the Bürgenstock mountain, a short funicular ride up to the resort will take you to the new Bürgenstock Hotel, where you will need to make your way through to the reception, out the front door and down the road. The walk through the Bürgenstock hotel lobby will no doubt leave you wondering if the Waldhotel will be as polished, glitzy and oh-so-glamorous.
The walk to the Waldhotel is only a few minutes, but ladies, you might want to swap your heels for flats as the road ain’t no tiled pavement. And no, the Waldhotel is not at all glitzy nor is it glamorous. Rather, it’s smart and sleek, with a setting that will make you want to adopt a clean and healthy lifestyle. Yes, it has that effect.
Waldhotel Guestroom
Check-in is swift, and you will be briefed on the hotel’s facilities and health programs (that’s if you signed up for any). Once in your room, you will no doubt be glued to the soothing views of the rolling greenery that is perfectly framed by the floor to ceiling rolling glass doors. The constant sound of cowbells will remind you of where you are.
The décor is modern, elegant with a functional flow from space to space. The earthy colour theme speaks of nature, offering a calming effect, yet in no way competes with it. You will enjoy a deep tub, a firm but comfy bed with fluffy pillows, Giorgio Armani toiletries, daily fruit plates and artisan chocolate, but most of all, tranquillity.
Waldhotel Spa and Indoor Pool
And with any wellness hotel, there is a wellness spa. Of course. The Waldhotel Spa is where you will experience water in a number of ways – hot, cold, soft sprinkles, powerful jets, waterfalls or just the good ol’ soak. Fancy a treatment? No problems, there is an entire menu of them. Perhaps you’d like to just lie down to read or sip on some herbal tea? Well, there are waterbeds for that, darling. This is where you can forget the world exists…
Spices Kitchen Terrace
Come mealtimes, the hotel’s Verbena restaurant specialises in healthy food. Breakfast is a sumptuous buffet of everything you will want (and more) for a healthy start to the day – freshly squeezed juices, seasonal fruits, good quality yoghurt, nuts and grains, lean cold cuts, freshly baked bread, you name it! For lunch and dinner, expect light, but delicious Mediterranean flavours so artfully and immaculately presented, you may want to frame them up!
Other flavours are also on offer on the resort. Spices features an open kitchen concept and panoramic views of Lake Lucerne. Their menu offers Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indian cuisine. Sharq, which offers equally breathtaking views, serves up authentic Lebanese flavours. For some steak and seafood from the grill, the Oak Grill & Pool Patio is where you will have your meaty cravings satisfied. For some traditional Swiss cuisine, the Taverne 1879 offers local favourites including potato rosti and fondue, which don’t disappoint. And the three Michelin star Ritzcoiffeur is where you can indulge in some fine French.
Image by: www.myswitzerland.com of Sharq Oriental Restaurant
TIP: When you visit, be sure you know your checkout date as it’s easy to overstay at the Bürgenstock!
Prices at the Waldhotel start from CHF425 (approx. AUD614) per night for two people and includes a daily breakfast buffet, shuttle transfers on the Bürgenstock boat and funicular, as well as Wi-Fi access. Rates do not include tariffs and taxes.
Click here for more information on the Bürgenstock Resort.
- READ: Travel Agents get a free ‘pass’ around Switzerland
- READ: Removing the mask off Switzerland’s largest event in town