It is easy to see why one of the most famous hikes in Zermatt, Switzerland is the 5 Lakes trail. The views of the Matterhorn from the lakes are simply amazing. A few of the lakes you can get a clear reflection of the Matterhorn.
Read more
CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort in Zermatt
This past week I had the opportunity to have a girls’ get-away to Zermatt and really enjoyed our stay at CERVO Moutain Boutique Hotel. Posh, yet charming, this hotel combines luxury and comfort. The Matterhorn is Switzerland’s most iconic mountain and the backdrop to the hotel.
Cervo offers chalets with a variety of rooms: from cozy, yet luxurious, to Rooftop Suites. They even have an Owners lodge available. In total there are 36 suites making this resort feel quaint, but yet it also includes all the comforts that are expected at a 5-star Resort.
When we arrived at the train station in Zermatt (almost immediately next to the train platform) was a phone for hotel pick-up, making it convenient to contact the hotel.
The driver transported us only a few minutes up the road to the luxury CERVO Boutique Resort.
Upon arrival at the hotel a welcoming and attentive staff greeted us. Our bags were delivered to our room while we were accompanied to the hotel’s terrace for a champagne welcome drink. Cheers to that! The terrace overlooks the Matterhorn with jaw dropping views.
There was no formal check-in, which was quite refreshing. While sipping on our champagne, the staff provided us with a resort overview and a CERVO events calendar, a much appreciated touch. The calendar mapped out a variety of activities at the Resort, from outdoor movie night, yoga, raclette evenings and more.
After a refreshing glass of cold champagne we sat back and admired the views of the stunning Matterhorn in the distance. Simply breathtaking.
Calm, tasteful and beautifully designed the CERVO (meaning Deer in Italian) carries a rustic yet modern feel that felt very delightful.
The beauty of the hotel location is the proximity to the slopes. CERVO is the only ski-in / ski-out resort in Zermatt meaning you can ski right up to your room or terrace. Imagine that! The sprawling terrace with views of the Matterhorn creates an impression of excitement, especially with a drink in hand after a long day on the mountain.
The boutique resort boasts 2 Restaurants; CERVO Puro and Ferdinand, serving a delicious range of food.
Both the lunch and dinner menu provided us with a choice of dishes beautifully presented and appetizing. We enjoyed their CERVO board with fresh bread, butter infused with flavors, and a variety of cheeses and meats that complimented each other.
The rustic alpine touches throughout were enchanting and gave off a luxury cabin feeling. A place that must feel magical in the winter months with views of the snow covered mountains.
Our Chalet had a breathtaking view of the Matterhorn and all the touches you would expect from a 5 star hotel.
The room had the feel of a beautifully designed hunting lodge. We enjoyed the extra touches in the room from a “Welcome box” filled with goodies (including Swiss Chocolates), to a stocked fridge offered by the hotel.
Vaulted beamed ceilings and hardwood floors, designed with a chalet feel, made it both charming and delightful. A very comfortable king size bed provided us with a relaxing and a luxurious stay.
Views from our balcony were incredible. I mean, how can you ever tire of that view? Most of the suites feature a balcony with a view of the Matterhorn. The balcony was the perfect place for us to lounge and relax.
On the terrace the recliners, warm blankets, Hendricks Gin bottles with flowers all helped enhance the ambiance. All of this beauty at the foot of the Matterhorn was truly a majestic experience.
The scenery from the groud floor spa attached to our Chalet was fantastic. I imagine the snow falling while sitting in the hot tub must feel superb after a long day on the slopes. Each of the chalets (6 units) have their own spa and sauna.
Summertime heat proved to be too much for the spa time, but we look forward to returning in the winter months to experience a magical winter wonderland at CERVO.
You can’t get much closer to the mountain slopes than the base of Sunnegga. The elevator sits directly across the street from the hotel. We took the elevator and rode up in the early morning to hike around, the close proximity made it so we were able to beat the crowds.
A Champagne toast while admiring the Matterhorn was a memorable experience. Our little get away was truly a pleasurable experience, away from the hustle and bustle it felt like a haven of peace and relaxation. The hotel itself has the coziness and uniqueness of what truly makes an alpine hotel special. CERVO Boutique provided us with an air of grace and class.
Hotel Details:
CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort
Riedweg 156
CH-3920 Zermatt
Phone: +41 27 968 12 12
______
Hopefully you enjoyed my review for CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort . A big thank you to the CERVO Mountain Boutique Resort for hosting us. Opinions in the post are my own and based on my own personal experience at the hotel.
Share this:
Wengen, Switzerland
Have you ever been somewhere where you feel like you could be in a fairy-tale? Well, Switzerland can definitely do this to you. Imagine a valley, where every direction you look there are waterfalls cascading off the sides of mountains, cows grazing, and Swiss Cottages dotting the rolling hills. Really, it is straight out of painting and difficult to explain until you see if for yourself. We’ve lived in Switzerland for more than a decade and it still takes my breath away.
When arriving to the Lauterbrunnen valley you are greeted with jaw-dropping views. Even from the train platform you can see gorgeous waterfalls. The town of Lauterbrunnen is a beautiful Swiss village, lined with flower boxes and chalets. There are many options for lodging in the valley but on this trip we decided to stay in a small village just outside of Lauterbrunnen, called Wengen.
Wengen is just a short train ride from Lauterbrunnen up the mountain. As you slowly creep along the edge of the mountain the views will leave you breathless. The little train that brings you up is reasonable priced at 6.80 chf for a one-way ticket. (Tickets can be purchased on the platform or on the SBB app).
On arrival to Wengen we were greeted by our hotel pick-up service. Cars are not allowed in Wengen, with exception only given to the service industry. We choose to say in the oldest family run hotel in Wengen, Hotel Alpenrose. This 4 generation family-run hotel has been offering their guests with rooms for over 130 years. Not only is this the oldest hotel in the area, it is also one of the hotels with the best views. Hotel Alpenrose is perched on the side of the mountain over-looking the Lauterbrunnen Valley, really an impeccable location.
The welcoming staff and family make you feel right at home in their hotel. We enjoyed an afternoon aperitvo on their meticulously groomed terrace. The views were enough to entice one to sit all afternoon, even without a beer in hand.
When we opened the door to our room on the 3rd floor, we were greeted with spectacular views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. I loved little touches and crisp clean feeling of the room. Overall, the room was very clean and welcoming, we even had Swiss chocolates adorning our pillows.
Hotel Alpenrose offers Half-board to all their guests. This includes a very hearty Swiss Breakfast ( muesli, yogurts, cheeses, breads, fruits, etc). A multi-course dinner is served in the evening. Each room is assigned to a table in the Restaurant and waited on by friendly waiters/waitresses. Our evening dinner started with a delicious soup, followed by a salad, main course and dessert. (Half-board meal option is only 20 chf per person, it really seemed liked a great deal for the hearty meal we were served).
Even with all the lovely services included, the views alone were worth the stay in Hotel Alpenrose. I would highly recommend a stay at this beautiful family-run hotel. Our stay was very enjoyable and I would of course stay in Hotel Alpenrose on our next trip to Wengen, hopefully during ski-season!
Hotel Details:
Familie Ursula und Daniel Binder-von Allmen
CH-3823 Wengen Tel +41 33 855 32 16 info@alpenrose.ch
Share this:
Cervino – The Italian-side of the Matterhorn
When most people think of the Matterhorn they think of Switzerland, but the Matterhorn shares a border with both Switzerland and Italy. It is located between the Canton of Valais in Switzerland and the Aosta Valley in Italy.
The famous peak may look a little different from the back-side but the views will still leave you in awe. The Breuil-Cervinia-Valtournenche -Zermatt ski-area is one of the largest in the Alps. We have skied many resorts but Cervino tops the list of favorites.
By car Cervino Resort can easily be reached in less than 2.5 hours from Milan. The drive into the valley is absolutely breathtaking. When driving make sure you have winter tires and chains. This is obligatory during the winter-months in Italy and you can be fined if caught without.
Cervino is a popular destination and hotels fill up quickly. There are smaller villages if you are not able to secure a hotel within Cervino. Valtournenche is a popular nearby village and the ski slopes are still accessible from the town.
Although parking is centrally located, finding parking can be an issue. Cervino offers a reasonably priced (2 Euro) shuttle bus , which is a good alternative to the hassle of not finding parking. The bus shuttles to surrounding villages and runs into the evening (9.00- 23.00). Another alternative for parking is Valtournenche as you can access the mountain from the their lift.
There are 50 ski-lifts between Breuil-Cervinia-Valtournenche and Zermatt. Basically you can ski all day and never hit the same slope twice. Between the two resorts there are 150 ski runs which you have full access to. If 150 ski runs seems overwhelming, you can always settle for a day pass at either Cervino OR Zermatt. Both resorts have over 70+ runs each. In total, the ski-runs cover over 200 km (125 miles). Wow, that is a lot of ground to cover in one day!
Different ticket prices are available depending on which part of the mountain you want to ski. We skied only on the Breuil-Cervinia-Valtournenche side and did not have time to ski the whole mountain in one day.
Tickets for Breuil-Cervinia-Valtournenche:
Adult €43,00
Teen: €38,00
Child: €31,00
Tickets for Breuil-Cervinia-Valtournenche and Zermatt
Adult €62,00
Teen: €55,00
Child: €44,00
*During high-season (Christmas and February) the rates increase by a few Euros. You can also purchase multi-day tickets for a reduced rate.
The ski-mountain is littered with charming mountain huts and restaurants. Many of the restaurants are self-serve and have breathtaking views looking over the Cervino Resort and The Matterhorn.
- Pitstop
- Chalet Plantorrette
- Ristorante Bontadini
- Lino’s Ristorante Apres Ski
- Ristorante Bricole Bricolette
- Ristorante Pousset
One of our top picks for an Apero-ski is Chalet Plantorrette which is centrally located on the mountain. The relaxed atmosphere and lounge chairs in the snow, makes for the perfect break.
There are dozens of restaurants to choose from, so the crowds are not near as bad as some resorts. Most restaurants are in an easy ski-in/ski-out location, making for an easy pit-stop.
How can you go wrong with those views? The Matterhorn as a backdrop and views of the mountains and valley below. Chalet Plantorrette is the perfect place to take a ski-break on the Mountain.
Next time you think of the Matterhorn and Switzerland, consider giving the Italian-side of the Matterhorn a go. Both the Swiss and Italian-sides are breathtaking and worth a visit. The resort of Cervino makes it easy to enjoy both countires.
Share this:
Santa Caterina del Sasso
Perched on a rocky ledge above Lago Maggiore , is the beautiful Monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso. The Monastery is only a short distance from Milan, Italy (1.5 hr) and Lugano, Switzerland (1 hr). It is the perfect little place to visit if you are in the area.
During the winter months the Monastery is only open on weekends, but during the peak-season it opens daily.
There are about 300 steps leading down to the church. Be prepared with proper shoes, as the stairway leading down is quite rocky, but easily doable. Although, I would not recommend taking a stroller down the steps.
You can access the Monastery by a public/private boat, which run during the tourist season. (Spring/ Summer/early Fall months). It can also be accessed by car.
Almost directly across from the church is Isola Bella making a visit to this Monastery the perfect side-trip from Stresa. I like to think of Lake Maggiore as a secret gem. Not near as many tourist flock to Lake Maggiore, compared to Lake Como, which makes the area quite desirable. There are plenty of day hikes and gorgeous little villages to visit. During the tourist season there are car and people ferries running on the lake daily.
If you are not up for the hike down from the parking lot to the Monastery, an elevator has been recently installed for easy access. The ride down is very affordable at 1 euro, per person. The visit to the Monastery is free.
The surrounding area has plenty of open space to run around. There are hiking maps posted through-out the park which indicates hiking trails around the mountain. There is also a small cafe and plenty of picnic tables to enjoy an afternoon snack.
The frescos inside the church are well preserved, most do not date back until the 14th century but are still impressive.
A Short history behind the Monastery: A small church was built in the 13th century by a local merchant to give thanks for being saved during a rough storm, where he was clinging to the rocky cliffs. In the 14th century Augustinian monks came to live in the church and built the convent.
I would recommend to add this Monastery to your list of sites to visit around Lake Maggiore, the history and the views are well worth it.
