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SWITZERLAND SPAS & WELLNESS TRAVEL
by Julie Ryland
Switzerland boasts some of the most impressive mountains and ski resorts in Europe – including snow-covered peaks mid-summer and sun-warmed patios at 3,000 meters above sea level mid-winter. But the country made famous for watches and chocolates also offers plenty for the spa and wellness-minded traveler, the Swiss don’t usually associate being fit and healthy with a certain regime or location. Wellness is a lifestyle dating back hundreds of years.
Here are three favourite Swiss wellness destinations:
Leukerbad, close to the Valais alps and Europe’s largest Alpine medical wellness centre.
Lucerne, one of the oldest and most opulent cities in Switzerland and surrounded by both mountains and rivers.
Zurich, a cosmopolitan city that hides one of the Europe’s most tranquil and exclusive escapes - The Dolder Grand.
Lindner Hotel and Alpentherme, Leukerbad
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At Lindner, health and wellness can be traced back to 1497 when the Romans started using the hot thermal springs the resort is still famous for. Visitors can choose between indoor and outdoor thermal baths, a sauna village, 200 different spa treatments, and a private Roman Irish bath.
An extra 70 Suisse Francs (about $65 U.S.) will give you access to the Irish-Roman cross cultural haven located on the top floor, based on a technique introduced by Dr. Richard Bader that combines the Irish dry bath with Roman elements (think sauna combined with a steam bath and a swim).
The two hours you’ll spend making your way through eleven different steps and ”stations” is worth both the time and the money. By moving through different rooms and pools with varying temperatures, the body is slowly heated up and cooled down again. The only interruption is an invigorating self administered bodyscrub with coarsely ground coffee beans and a soap-brush massage.
Following an icy-cold dip at the end, there are warm towels to wrap yourself in as you lie on a lounge chair in a comfortable relaxation room.
Include a glass of wine with dinner and you’ll complete an ancient tradition plus sleep like a baby.
Getting outside to explore the surrounding area is also a good idea. Go for a mountain hike or take the cable car up to Gemmi Pass, a mountain pass connecting Leukerbad on the south side with Kandersteg on the north.
On foot it takes about three hours to get to there along a well-marked and beautiful hike. And, the view from 2,350 meters above sea level is spectacular. I was there in October, and although knee deep in snow towards the end of the trail, it was warm enough to feel comfortable in just a T-shirt and tights. I was completely wowed by both scenery and what turned out to be a great work out. Don’t forget to bring snacks and lots of water.
For more information on http://www.lindner.de/en/MB Lindner Hotel & Alpentherme
Grand Hotel National, Luzern
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There is a historic European allure that comes with a five-star hotel dating back to the 1870s. At the Grand Hotel National in Luzern, it’s the plush blue Cartier carpet as you take your first step into the lobby, the original rosewood furniture, the gold-plated decor and the authentic feel of nostalgia and royal flair.
Once settled, a sense of calm and culture can also be found in the hotel pool and sauna, maybe followed by a glass of wine in the hotel bar, which has kept its original style along with each of the forty individually-decorated guest rooms. The rooms all feature Chopard amenities, thick robes, and if you’d like to have your own private spa session, request a room with an extra large bathroom and a sunken tub (some rooms have showers only).
The boutique-style hotel offers a service and atmosphere that feels more personal than at most larger resorts. For instance, thanks to jet lag, I slept in the next day and woke up at noon, starving. No problem. They fixed me up a custom-made healthy breakfast even though the kitchen had closed. The night before, when I couldn’t sleep and was wandering the halls in my robe at 4 a.m., the night guard made me a cup of tea. Would that happen at a Hilton or Westin? I think not.
The hotel has a small fitness room. But unless you’re a fan of spending three consecutive days on a stationary bike, I recommend venturing across the street to Fitness Park for a bit more variation. Guests of the Grand Hotel National pay just 25 Francs (about $24 U.S.) , and can spend the entire day at the spa and fitness centre. It is modern, clean (like the rest of Switzerland) and offer a wide range of treatments, fitness classes and equipment.
Although a December-visit might fulfill all your childhood expectations of a romantic European Christmas celebration, Michael Hoferer, the general manager, recommends visiting Luzern in the summer. That’s when you can make full use of the nature therapy of the area including mountains and rivers.
More on Grand Hotel National
The Dolder Grand & Spa
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Re-opened in April 2008 following four-years of renovation, The Dolder Grand has a long history of wellness. People in Zurich used to come to the ”Curhaus” when it first opened in 1899 to get some fresh air and rejuvenate before heading back to the ”big city.”
Still situated on the top of Zurichberg, a wooded hill a fifteen-minute drive from downtown Zurich, The Dolder Grand has maintained its status as an escape, but also offer luxury accommodation, a Michelin-star awarded restaurant and wellness offerings - everything from Botox to mountain biking.
In the 4,000 square meter Japanese-themed spa, everything is designed with precision and thought, much thanks to American spa designer Sylvia Sepielli in cooperation with London-based architects Foster and Partners and United.
They’ve thought of everything from locker room tea-bars to a spa library.
Dine in your robe in the spa cafe, cool down in the snow room, enjoy pebble lounges (Sunaburos), relaxation rooms, whirlpools (inside and outside), steambaths or saunas. Fresh fruits, tea, magazines and all you need of Kirstin Florian amenities are always available.
Beyond the spa there is a meditation path, fitness studios, tennis courts and an ice rink. And, the gym is the most impressive I have ever seen in a hotel. There are several treadmills, ellipticals, stationery bikes plus all kinds of strength training machines and equipment, stacks of soft towels and complimentary water bottles.
A personal trainer is available to help with the equipment and answer questions regarding your work out.
The Dolder Grand has re-built a fairytale. Except that this time, it comes with remote-controlled curtains and a Bang & Olufsen designed media system. Brace yourself, Cinderella - tradition meets style.
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Julie Ryland is a freelance writer and editorial intern with Travel to Wellness
