Never bereft of things to offer the discerning traveler, Switzerland offers the ultimate bliss with the reopening of two premium wellness sanctuaries.
Gstaad’s snowy slopes and chalets have long catered to the who’s who of the global jet set. The village, which used to play host to the late Roger Moore, now has an added dash of sophistication thanks to the new-look Le Grand Spa.
Found within Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad’s oldest palace-style hotel, the spa has 11 therapy rooms, two relaxation areas, and an Alpine Spa Suite in an area that covers more than 2,700 square meters.
Potential fan favorites from its menu include Bio Sauna, a disco-like area where different colored lights treat the body—red stimulates, yellow brings relaxation, green balances the body, and blue calms the mind. Another one is the Turkish steam bath, which promises to rid the body of allergies and pain while improving metabolism and blood circulation.
Worries are a world away inside this chalet-inspired haven. With 17 hot and cold therapy rooms, organic botanicals, a swimming pool, and Jacuzzi, Le Grand Spa is one of the Alps’ most eagerly anticipated wellness openings. It may just live up to the hype.
Waldhaus Spa
Architect Peter Silling has had his name stamped on major properties in all continents, yet this project—and its home, the Waldhaus Flims Hotel—may prove to be one of the most significant. The storied 140-year-old-property has been saved from bankruptcy after getting a few nips and tucks bankrolled by its new owners, American equity firm Z Capital Partners.
Take a 90-minute picturesque drive from Zurich to visit the 3,000-square-meter spa in its hometown of Flims. Says hello to wellness with its wraparound heated pool, a wood-heated grotto, and several treatment rooms. Come winter, take a dip in the icy pond for intense sensations. Or plonk yourself in its Swarovski Physiotherm cabins and bathe yourself in infrared light to cleanse the body. Whichever treatment you prefer, it’s five-star wellness at its best.