Tag Archives: Alps

The Grand Hotel Zermatterhof

  

A Suite With A View

By Night & Day

I like hotels with a history, the palaces that can reinvent themselves, while maintaining a charm of yesteryear. What a great pleasure to discover my Junior suite at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (1879), with wood panels in the entrance and separate dressing room! Photo-montage below: photos 1 and 2, well equipped entrance with coffee maker and mini bar. 

The hotel is located in the center of the village of Zermatt, a stone’s throw from the Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis and shopping streets. The first two photos of the article (above): the magnificent views (from my bed and living room) of the village and ubiquitous mountain. Another big crush: the chic contemporary bathroom! The rooms have been recently renovated. 

The lovely detail: the Pillow Menu to test my natural laziness (lol)! Unfortunately with my busy program, I will not have time to stop at the spa!

  

The Restaurants

Dinner At The Say Cheese!

A fondue with champagne and truffles at the Say Cheese! One of the three restaurants of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, specially dedicated to cheese. The dishes are delicious (photo above and photo montage below). The hot bread (which we cut by square) to dip in the fondue, is amazing!

The minimalist interior design made with stone and wood is warm. The service is perfect and the atmosphere is young. Definetly, THE address where to dine in Zermatt. 

La Brasserie Lusi

In the photo-montage below: 1, my favorite restaurant, the Say Cheese! 2 & 5. Another restaurant of the hotel, the Brasserie Lusi. After the cheese orgy of the day before, I had a tasty light dinner in a classic setting! 3 & 4. Light breakfasts (too) under the glass roof of the Brasserie Lusi. 6. The coat of arms of Zermatt: Prato Borni (is also the name of the gourmet restaurant of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof).

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

Grand Hotel ZermatterhofZermatt TourismValais, www.MySwitzerland.comSWISSSwiss Travel System (STS)

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to Zermatt Tourisme, Valais/Wallis promotion, Switzerland Tourism, SWISS et Swiss Travel System (STS) for this beautiful invitation. Thank you to the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof. As always, these are my opinions.

France, Arcs 2000: Hotel Taj-I Mah

A Room With A View

The Pleasure of Mountain

Long live the skiing season! Few years ago, I’d never imagined I could like the mountain and ski as much! I am back in the French Alps, for the inauguration of the Taj-I Mah, the first 5-star hotel of Les Arcs 2000 at the foot of the slopes.     

Blue sky, snowy peaks bathed in bright light. It’s pretty difficult to leave my terrace. The air is invigorating with hypnotic view. The comfortable room is well soundproofed, a cocoon with impeccable bedding. The interior design reminds me the rooms of the Koh-I Nor in more intimate version (the same owners).  

The bathroom with its deep large bath, opens onto the bedroom and mountain view (a large sliding glass door allows to separate the two spaces, picture left above). I like the separate toilet in the entrance of the room.

  

Lunch at L’Atelier d’Eric

Between Activities,

I sit down at one of the hotel’s outside terraces (great!). Picture above: the long terrace of the lounge, where I am rocked by the warm rays of the sun. It quickly becomes really complicated to leave (LOL)! Except for discovering the menu of L’Atelier d’Eric, one of the two restaurants of the Taj-I Mah, under the leadership of the Chef Eric Samson.

I had lunch there a few times (pictures below): tasty simple inventive cuisine nicely presented. Excellent tuna prepared with scallops. I love  the Valrhona chocolate with pear dessert (picture below), a treat!

A Massage at The Spa

The Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi

have a panoramic view to the slopes and the peaks! The last two days, I made a long stop at the Cinq Mondes and Carita spa: 400 m2 including a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, salt wall, showers, relaxation area and treatment rooms. The icing on the cake is the Cinq Mondes facial massage (inspired by Shiatsu) that relaxed my tensions in the neck and shoulders.

Dinner at The Diamant Noir

Voluptuous Dessert

The second evening, I have a dinner with a journalist friend at the Diamant Noir, the gourmet restaurant of the twice starred Chef Eric Samson. We start with an apetizer of raw tuna with egg yolk and cream. 

I don’t take any first meal. While reading the menu, I recognize one of the Koh-I Nor’s first meal I really recommend you: Grilled foie gras acidulated with the passion fruits and Savoy wine, Mango and Litchi. A surprising extremely fine dish! So delicious!

I choose the Supreme of Farm Poultry filled with foie gras, Périgueux sauce and potatoes. Really good and not greasy. When the dessert The Chocolate Caraïbe at 66% in Different Textures arrives, I capsize! It looks like a haute couture piece and tastes fantastic! Gorgeous!

  

The Ski

Finally!

Energic wake-up to the aurora and meditation on the empty icy main terrace of the hotel. I am happy, I will ski from 9 am to 11. I haven’t had the opportunity to discover the Paradiski ski area (which includes Les Arcs) yet. The previous days, I visited as a pedestrian a bit of the Arcs 2000 (altitude 2100 meters) and 1800

I couldn’t leave without making at least a morning of skiing! After being equipped at the ski shop of the hotel (picture below), I follow the ski instructor on slopes. First, we head to Les Arcs 1950 and cross the village in ski. Then we take the chairlift to the Col de la Chal (altitude 2600 meters). From where we ski to the Arc 2000 surrounded in a beautiful panorama. To be continued…

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations   

Taj-I-Mah, Les Arcs

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTY

Many thanks to the team of the Taj-I Mah and the Tourist Office of Les Arcs for this beautiful invitation! As always are my opinions.

Weekend in Val Thorens: Activities

Val-Thorens-France-Snowmobile-Ski-Slopes-Motoneige-Pistes-de-Ski-2GF1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Snowmobile

Going up the ski slopes by snowmobile, making our way among the skiers and snowboarders: awesome! Too bad the way to the famous mountain bar La Folie Douce, was pretty short!

I really like this first snowmobile experience! I even thought I was on the set of Ms Jamie Bond (LOL)! As in skiing, the downhill is better. 

Val-Thorens-France-Snowmobile-Ski-Slopes-Motoneige-Pistes-de-Ski-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Val-Thorens-France-Snowmobile-Ski-Slopes-Motoneige-Pistes-de-Ski-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KVal-Thorens-France-Snowmobile-Ski-Slopes-Motoneige-Pistes-de-Ski-5-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Segway 

Val-Thorens-France-Segway-Cross-View-To-Val-Thorens-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Visit of The Ski Resort

in segway : very nice with friends! Gabriel Delenclos that monitors the activity, convinced me to join the outing. First the prospect of an on iced snow ballad didn’t excite me!

I started tense, but very quickly I mastered better my segway and I had fun! I discovered the ski resort from a new angle. Very nice stroll at the end of day! 

Val-Thorens-France-Segway-Cross-View-To-Val-Thorens-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Snowshoeing Without Yoga

Val-Thorens-France-Snowshoeing-Outdoor-Activties-Ski-Resort-Mountain-1AA-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Zen

Since last spring, I like hiking – again (LOL!). That why I really wanted to try snowshoeing. And guess what, it’s physical (cardio training) mostly when you leave the tracks to walk in the powder snow (great sensation). 

I follow Brigitte Ruff, the passionate zen founder of Nature Raquette. We go down, then go up in the endless white panorama … From time to time she explains me how to recognize some animal tracks. I have a feeling of being one with the scenery! Invigorating! 

Val-Thorens-France-Snowshoeing-Landscape-Detail-Frozen-River-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Ski Therapy

Val-Thorens-France-Ski-Lesson-Ski-Carpet-Lift-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Me & Skiing

A love-hate relationship! Let me explain, when I ski properly, happiness! But at the top of a blue slope, surrounded by some crazy ski racers, I’m in panic mode. And as I don’t ski enough, my beginner level is not improving!

I took a ski lesson tailored to women, provided by Marion Levasseur (super cheerful and patient). She’s a great instructor of the Sky-cool ski & swonboard school. We took over the bases with work on breathing and concentration, to regain the pleasure of skiing. Photos above and below: ski carpet and my skis. 

Val-Thorens-France-Ski-Lesson-Equipement-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Val-Thorens-France-Ski-Lesson-Ski-Carpet-Lift-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Apres Ski @ La Folie Douce

Val-Thorens-France-La-Folie-Douce-Après-Ski-Spot-Party-Clubbing-Bar-Restaurant-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Ready for clubbing?

Have you ever tried an “apres ski” on the slopes? Under a blinding sun, I arrive with a friend by snowmobile (sorry not sorry), to La Folie Douce that fills slowly but surely.

4 p.m.: the party really starts with a good House music and Electro, Piper champagne and the view, the view, the view … the sound! People dance, good vibes!

Val-Thorens-France-La-Folie-Douce-Après-Ski-Spot-Party-Clubbing-Bar-Restaurant-1A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations  

www.valthorens.com

I wear :  a Wed’ze First Heat ski jacket and Wed’ze First Heat ski trousers with Quechua Forclaz 500 hiking shoes (Decathlon). Plus an Yeti under jacket and a Sun Valley bunny. 

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to Val Thorens Tourist Office to have organized these awesome activities, and to the providers for these lovely experiences! As always these opinions are my own.