Pinzolo/Madonna di Campiglio has opened its first 5 stars luxury hotel- Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti

Pinzolo/Madonna di Campiglio has opened its first 5 stars luxury hotel- Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti

Pinzolo/Madonna di Campiglio has opened its first 5 stars luxury hotel- Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti

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Interior Pool at the Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti.
Interior Pool at the Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti.

Pinzolo, the area connected to Madonna di Campiglio and all the Skirama Dolomiti (the massive carousel of resorts to the West of the Brennero Road that goes from Verona to Innsbruck in the Trentino Province), has opened its first five stars luxury hotel, the Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti.

This ‘jewel of luxury’ is the second of the Lefay Resorts, after the Lefay Resort & Spa at Lake Garda in Gargagno opened in 2008. The resort is centered on the theme of wellness and sustainability in a luxury setting.  Even though the largest region of Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo and Val Rendena, with the Adamello Presanella group and the Brenta Dolomites has already four of the six 5-star hotels in the Trentino province, this hotel is the first one to earn the five-star luxury classification.

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Where to Stay in Méribel: Hotel Le Coucou – opening December 2019

Where to Stay in Méribel: Hotel Le Coucou - opening December 2019.

Where to Stay in Méribel: Hotel Le Coucou – opening December 2019

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The Pariente family are delighted to announce the launch of Maisons Pariente, a new luxury collection of boutique five-star hotels in Provence, Saint-Tropez and Méribel. Fashion and property entrepreneur Patrick Pariente and his two daughters, Leslie Kouhana and Kimberley Pariente, are the driving force behind this new venture, which offers guests exclusive escapes to beautiful properties in stunning French destinations.

Where to Stay in Méribel: Hotel Le Coucou - opening December 2019
Where to Stay in Méribel: Hotel Le Coucou – opening December 2019

Maisons Pariente will round off 2019 with the opening of Le Coucou in Méribel in December. Set on the ski slopes, the brand-new hotel will offer 55 guest bedrooms and suites as well as two private chalets, two restaurants and a spa with six treatment rooms and hairdresser, indoor and outdoor pools, hammam and sauna. With two kids’ clubs to suit both toddlers and teens, Le Coucou looks set to be an ideal choice for families looking to hit the slopes. Interior designer Pierre Yovanovitch is working with the Pariente family to bring this exciting new project to life.

Nightly rates at Le Coucou start from 610 Euros on a bed & breakfast basis. To reserve your room at Le Coucou click here.

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Spot on: Gran Baita Hotel – Courmayeur

Gran Baita Executive room with outside pool with jacuzzi. Photo: Gran Baita Hotel Courmayeur. Aiguille du Midi vs Punta Helbronner – which one you should do?

Spot on: Gran Baita Hotel – Courmayeur

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The Gran Baita Hotel is a four starts hotel, part of the Alpissima group of hotels in the Aosta Valley. It is located in Courmayeur, 15 minutes from the Armani funicular, 10 minutes from the Via Roma, the elegant pedestrianised shopping road in Courmayeur, and five minutes-drive with a free hotel transfer to the Dolonne gondola.

It is located in a quiet and elegant neighbourhood in Courmayeur, with amazing vistas of the Mont Blanc chain, and the characteristic Dent de Géant peak. I totally recommend it as a lovely hotel to go for your ski or summer holidays.

Restaurant of the Gran Baita. Spot on: Gran Baita Hotel – Courmayeur
Restaurant of the Gran Baita. Spot on: Gran Baita Hotel – Courmayeur

Decoration is all in the Valdostan style, with lots of wood and cosy interiors. The hotel has 54 well-appointed rooms, many of them with balconies offering magnificent views of the Alps, as Courmayeur is located just by the Mont Blanc and the views everywhere you look at, are amazing! From the regular rooms, many of which are being renovated for the next winter holiday, to the Executive Rooms, with a wooden rustic-chic feel and mini private outside pools with jacuzzi, you have a choice for your stay. Some of the rooms are connecting, to house families. I’ve recently stayed in Room 222, that does not look towards the pool, but has a lovely feeling, with two balconies, and you can see the Dent de Géant while in the balcony. Completely loved my room. Travelled with my mum and she said she wants to buy it!

The in-house restaurant is lovely decorated in wood with oozes cosiness and offers local and international dishes.  La Sapiniere, is their newest addition, a stübe, typical from the Alps, serving Valdostan cuisine in a super cozy ambiance. The American bar has a welcoming fireplace and a spacious terrace with amazing views of the Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains.

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Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

Photo: Hotel Petrus. Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

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The Hotel Petrus is located in Riscone, in one of the bases for Kronplatz ski resort, just outside of Brunico in Val Pusteria It is a lovely family hotel run by three sisters (Brigitte, Christina and Daniela Aichner) and their parents (Hans and Gerti). They are very much involved in making you feel welcome. From taking you hiking or playing golf, to skiing and making you feel at home away from home.

Photo: Hotel Petrus. Outside pool. Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.
Photo: Hotel Petrus. Outside pool. Review of Hotel Petrus in Kronplatz.

I had the chance to go and visit it last week and I was very impressed, definitely somewhere I’ll suggest people to go.

Kronplatz is a very interesting mountain, looks like a Panetone punched in the middle. It is famous for its good snow and long runs to the four resort villages. Also it is a great viewing point of all the Dolomites, you see what is Dolomites and what is Alps from the top. And is renown also for its two museums – the Messner Mountain Museum Corones, which design was created by the late Zaha Hadid, and the new LUMEN Museum of photography, created on a disused tram top station.

The Hotel Petrus is 5’ by transfer from the base of Riscone, and if you can ski down a black run, it is ski in as well. A transfer offers rides every 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon to go to the base area.

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The “FLYING NEST” pop-up mobile accommodation concept is this season in Avoriaz 1800.

Flying Nest Montage in Avoriaz 1800. The “FLYING NEST” pop-up mobile accommodation concept is this season in Avoriaz 1800.

The “FLYING NEST” pop-up mobile accommodation concept is this season in Avoriaz 1800.

The Flying Nest is a new concept of AccorHotels designed by ORA ITO

What is Flying Nest?

With accommodation at the foot of the slopes and offering a unique experience nestled in natural surroundings with breathtaking views, Flying Nest is the new pop-up concept designed by Ora Ito.

An ambitious idea and an inspired designer combine to make Flying Nest – offering mobile and offbeat accommodation in environmentally friendly containers fully decked out with all the comfort of a cozy hotel room and blending seamlessly into the natural landscape. Ora-Ïto, one of the most celebrated designers of his generation, was entrusted with the eco-design of these guestrooms using raw and natural materials.

Flying Nest Montage in Avoriaz 1800. The “FLYING NEST” pop-up mobile accommodation concept is this season in Avoriaz 1800.
Flying Nest Montage in Avoriaz 1800. The “FLYING NEST” pop-up mobile accommodation concept is this season in Avoriaz 1800.

Flying Nest is more than just offbeat accommodation

While the Flying Nest concept is completely unique in terms of its concept, design and architecture, it also offers an experience that combines comfort, well-being and closeness to nature. Guests will enjoy a bright living space, a bedroom with a comfortable bed, a modern bathroom and a private terrace. As well as access to a shared living area where guests can enjoy an indulgent breakfast surrounded by stunning views of the mountains, the ski room will look after their equipment until the next descent. All guests have to do is to put on their skis in the morning and head for the slopes!

Basically you can get  premium comfort and an unique and unforgettable experience right in the heart of the Avoriaz ski area. Flying Nest has opened at the foot of the slopes on December 22, 2018 and will remain opened until March 17, 2019.

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Wanting to Ski in Whistler but on a Budget? Why not stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel?

Pods from Pangea Pod Hotel. Wanting to Ski in Whistler but on a Budget? Why not stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel?

Wanting to Ski in Whistler but on a Budget? Why not stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel?

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So you always wanted to ski in Whistler, but when looking at rooms rates you’ve thought you are out of money as you are on a budget? Look again, now with the Pangea Pod Hotel you can afford to stay in Whistler in budget and in style.

The Pangea Pod Hotel has opened its doors in Whistler, BC, Canada, on August 2018. It has revolutionised the hospitality industry by bringing chic and price-conscious solo accommodation to one of North America’s top tourist destinations.

Exterior of the Pangea Pod Hotel. Wanting to Ski in Whistler but on a Budget? Why not stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel?
Exterior of the Pangea Pod Hotel. Wanting to Ski in Whistler but on a Budget? Why not stay at the Pangea Pod Hotel?

The first hotel of its kind in Canada, Pangea’s rooms will, at most, cost half the price of a conventional hotel room, and usually far less. This new style of accommodation will make the resort more accessible to solo and budget travellers wishing to experience all that Whistler has to offer.

Husband-and-wife team Russell and Jelena Kling spent several years traversing the globe, garnering first-hand experience about what makes for a comfortable and satisfying stay. Loosely inspired by Tokyo’s capsule hotels, Pangea, located in the heart of Whistler Village, is the result of three years of planning and prototype development.

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Snowpine Lodge Set to Open January 30, 2019

Snowpine Lodge Final Render. Credit: Snowpine Lodge. Snowpine Lodge Set to Open January 30, 2019.

Snowpine Lodge Set to Open January 30, 2019.

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A major overhaul comes to Alta with the opening of the Snowpine Lodge, the first ski-in/ski-out Luxury Resort in this famous ski area in Utah.

The long-awaited opening of Snowpine Lodge in Alta, Utah is slated for January 30, 2019. The new resort, timed with the simultaneous opening of the adjacent Snowpine ski lift, will up the ante as the first ski-in/ski-out luxury resort in the historic town, known for its laid-back style, rugged terrain and abundant supply of annual powder snow.

Swen's Rendering. Credit: Snowpine Lodge. Snowpine Lodge Set to Open January 30, 2019.
Swen’s Rendering. Credit: Snowpine Lodge. Snowpine Lodge Set to Open January 30, 2019.

Alta is set within the Wasatch Mountain Range, less than 40 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah. It is known for its backcountry landscape, two mountain resorts including Alta Ski Area and Snowbird, as well as a bountiful supply of annual powder snow. Although the city was incorporated in 1970, it has lured visitors since the Silver rush in the 1800’s. Alta become a ski destination in 1938 when its first lift opened. Today, Alta remains an important piece in the development of skiing in Utah. Come the summer months, Alta’s fields flourish with wildflowers and bright blue skies. Visitors can fly-fish, mountain bike, hike and more while enjoying the scenic and diverse terrain.

Snowpine Lodge will be resurrected at the site of the original 1941 Snowpine Lodge and the site of the oldest building in Little Cottonwood Canyon dating back to the Silver rush of the 1800’s. Completely restored from the ground up, the new resort will boast 77 total accommodations including 58 rooms and suites and 19 traditional dorm-style bunk rooms. Premium Rooms include balconies with breathtaking views of the surrounding canyon, while all rooms feature premium bedding, flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, slippers and robes, mini-bar, safe and more.

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L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix- a hotel’s review

Going back to L'Héliopic after a day out in the mountains. Review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix.

L’Heliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix- a hotel’s review

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L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa is a four stars hotel next to the Aiguille du Midi lift in Chamonix. Very well located in Chamonix; it is ideal if you are going up to the Aiguille du Midi and 10 minutes from Chamonix centre.

We have been twice at the hotel with my kids and husband in the summer in our way to Italy. My kids called it ‘the best hotel in the world’ – mostly because it has a dedicated kids’ area with free sweets, juices and a virtual reality machine and computer…. No brainer! The only thing is that while you are having breakfast suddenly your kids -maybe yours are very well educated and don’t do that, but I can say I educated mine, but they still disappear from the breakfast room and suddenly are – where? – obviously in the kids’ area having more sweets than their little bellies can bear!

The bar at L'Héliopic. Review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix.
The bar at L’Héliopic. Review of L’Héliopic Hotel Sweet & Spa in Chamonix.

My kids would also say that the spa area is really good, which it is indeed! With a nice large pool, a jacuzzi, an ice grotto, an ice dive standing pool, a sauna and hammam, plus a lovely relaxation area with hanging cocoons, it is a very nice place where to finish your day. It can get busy, so choose your time during the early afternoon or a bit late, just before it closes in the evening.

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A Day Visit to the Terminal Neige-Refuge in Montenvers, Chamonix.

The Terminal Neige-Refuge in Montenvers is a great day out, or a magnificent place where to sleep for a couple of nights up in the mountain. Credits : Villa Marie – Saint-Barth / L. Benoit, L. Di Orio

A Day Visit to the Terminal Neige-Refuge in Montenvers, Chamonix

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On our way to Courmayeur, this year we stayed for two nights in Chamonix. We had the luck to go this time up to the Gare du Montenvers and take the train up to the mountain to see the glacier of the Vallée Blanche. That in itself was a great day out! The train goes over a rack and pinion railway and through some nice forests and then climbs up giving travellers amazing views of Chamonix and the mountains surrounding the valley. Most people go up the station and then climb down the stairs to the ice cave, which needs to be carved each year in the glacier, as each year the glacier retreats many meters. It is impressive to see how high the glacier was not so many years ago. There is a small gondola that takes you to the top of the stairs, and then each year the stairs have to be extended down and down to reach the entrance of the ice grotto.

The train takes you from the station in Chamonix up to Montenvers, where the Mer de Glace awaits. Photo: The Ski Guru
The train takes you from the station in Chamonix up to Montenvers, where the Mer de Glace awaits. Photo: The Ski Guru

The day we choose was amazing, pretty warm in the sun, with some clouds menacing a storm that did not materialise, and we were happy to be up the mountain, as in the valley of Chamonix it was 31 C (this summer was way too hot all over Europe!). This considering that Chamonix is by Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe and even here it was hot!

The Mer de Glace as seen at the arrival station at Montenvers. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.
The Mer de Glace as seen at the arrival station at Montenvers. Photo: The-Ski-Guru.

Not too many people know, that 100 metres from the train station (gare), walking back to the valley, you find the Terminal Neige-Refuge. This hotel was built in 1880 to accommodate the first mountaineers and travellers who went to visit the Mer de Glace. From outside is a typical ‘rifugio’ of the Alps, with granite façades and small windows. The hotel is perched at 2049 meters over sea level (6725 feet) with magnificent views to the Mer de Glace glacier, the mythical Aiguille des Drus, the Grand Jorasses, and also the Valley of Chamonix.

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Spot on Gasthof Post Lech – where to stay in Lech am Arlberg

Spot on Gasthof Post Lech.

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Last week I was lucky to stay for a couple of nights at the Gasthof Post Lech in Lech am Arlberg. It was my third time in Lech, but the first time I was staying to sleep there, as I have been only a couple of times for lunch between meetings and going back to St Anton.

 

The Gasthof Post is a luxurious 5 star hotel in Lech, part of the Relais & Châteaux group of distinguished hotels.
The Gasthof Post is a luxurious 5 star hotel in Lech, part of the Relais & Châteaux group of distinguished hotels.       

I really liked Lech, and I will write a Must-Read Guide on the destination soon. But I wanted to single out this stay at the Gasthof Post Lech. I did not know much about it, only that it was one of the best hotels in town and that it was very well located.

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