In Gstaad, there is a place that breathes and echoes relaxation, peace and tranquillity. A place that whispers sophistication and chic, and wears its 5 stars with pride and class. With its authentic wooden balconies, dark, modern roof tiles, this building is a stylish resort but has evolved from a cosy chalet. Beautiful gardens, and a spa-worthy, modern decked swimming pool with luxurious white sunbeds and towels are the final touch to this masterpiece. This masterpiece called The Alpina hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland.

The Alpina is a 5-star hotel, with 56 modern and elegant room and suites, and it is situated so that it overlooks the Saanenland ski village. This means it has stunning alpine views – with mountains shimmering through the sunlight, and whether its winter or summer, the valley has a magical radiance in its natural beauty. The hotel is known for its authenticity, with its art collection with currently 64 world class artworks, and architecture, making it a magnificent demonstrator of Swiss design and culture. The hotel’s fame does not stop there, for it is also renowned for its Michelin-star restaurants and wine cellar that has over 1700 different high-end labels. It is safe to say here in this hotel, your experience would be truly complete, and the Six Senses Spa, and excellent guest service, will guarantee that you are relaxed to a level of peaceful bliss throughout your stay.

The hotel opened in 2012, and since then, it has risen to fame and gained its 5 stars. The Alpina was built by famed billionaire Jean Claude Mimran, who designed the luxurious suites, and the chalet style six-bedroom suite that has an outdoor pool overlooking the Gstaad slopes: the world-famous Panorama Suite. The Alpina is home to some of the highest expressions of Swiss designs because of its close connection to art and architecture.

The 56 rooms and suites in the Alpina follow traditional Swiss design, timber-clad with traditional Swiss art and hand-painted cabinets, but each room has an elegance that reflects the luxury of the hotel. Most of the rooms are for up to two people, but vary in size, for the Deluxe Rooms have a private terrace, for guests to enjoy a beautiful view of the hotel’s decorative gardens, the Junior Rooms have a lounge and fire place, where cosy evenings are made even more snug with the warmth of a crackling fire, and the Deluxe Suites have all of these features: a large terrace, lounge and large fireplace. The Grand Luxe Suites then take this one step further and also include an elegant dining room, where guests can enjoy a meal in the comfort of their own room, and also entertain other guests, alongside having the warm fire, and the stunning south-facing views that highlight the beauty of the valley.

For guests arriving at the hotel with a larger party, the Chalet Suite is a chic accommodation for numbers of up to 6, with a modern kitchen and bar perfect for entertaining, or to enjoy a night in when you’re feeling wiped out from a fun-filled day of skiing. There is also a large dining area and lounge, so that guests can enjoy a meal and relaxed night in the comfort of their room, while still having the luxurious experience of being in a hotel lounge. These rooms have stunning 360-degree views of the mountains and show guests every beautiful angle of the Saanenland village.

The Panorama Suite is a world-famous suite, that is a duplex apartment with three bedrooms and over two floors. This suite was named the one of the world’s 50 best suites by the Telegraph’s Ultratravel magazine. The rustic balcony, the cosy fireplace, the elegant walk-in dressing room and bathroom, with a large free-standing bath, make every aspect of a stay in this room the peak of luxury. To complete this suite, the superb views both north and south, up and down the valley, provide the guests with a breath-taking sight of the mountains, which make every cosy night by the fire, or drink out on the balcony, even more magical.

The Alpina hotel may seem like a small hotel with its 56 bedrooms and suites, however its vast number of features suggest otherwise. Among these is the top of the range basement cinema, which is designed to be progressively modern, but also matches the antique and artistic nature of the Alpina, as the cinema has a vintage popcorn maker, with gives the cinema an aged, retro effect. There is the hotel’s outdoor pool, which marks the hotel as a paradise spot, as lying on a sunbed by the pool in the immaculate gardens of the hotel feels like a breath of heaven. For the winter, there is an indoor pool, to stretch out muscles with a few lengths of swimming, or to relax in the warmth of the water, after a cold day of skiing.

To say the least the Alpina ensures every guest has a wonderfully relaxed stay. The excellent and kind service from the staff attends to every need of the guests, and the hotel takes this one step further with the peaceful Six Senses Spa. Designed with dusty-pink Himalayan salt, along with the brickwork, the spa feels very much like a temple of meditation, as much as a place of relaxation. Guests can even have the ultimate pampering experience, and after a visit in the spa, go to the hair salon, where Françoise will be able to style and cut your hair with chic and elegance.

The hotel has a number of fantastic restaurants, as the dining options at the Alpina are only the very best of Swiss cuisine. The hotel’s breakfast buffet holds a wide selection of delicious cuisines to boost your energy ready for each day, and the beautiful outdoor terrace seating is perfect to start your morning in the beauty of nature. The three main restaurants are unique, and have different cuisines served to a fantastically high standard. The sophisticated Sommet explores a number of different cuisines, as Chef Martin Göschel uses inspiration from France, Italy, Southeast Asia and South America. This modern, yet rustic restaurant has received 18/20 Gault Millau points, and the menu has a combination of tasting courses from 4-6 courses, alongside the a la carte options. Some of the delicacies on the tasting menus include the ravioli filled with Gstaad mountain cheese served with Imperial caviar and lime sauce, combining the peak of fine dining with the traditional produce of Gstaad. On the vegetarian tasting menu, the caramelised risotto with summer truffles and 24-month aged parmesan is a favourite, for the richness of the risotto is balanced perfectly with the aromatic earthiness of the truffle.

There is also the sushi restaurant Megu, which follows Japenese cuisine, and even creates the aesthetic of sitting in temple gardens with its slate-grey gardens, slatted wooden partitions, and antique kimonos. The quality of the food here is elite, for Gstaad is renowned for its vast and delicious fish supply. Here, Chefs Tetsujro Ogata and Tsutomu Kugota offer guests a la carte dining as well as a 7-course tasting menu, which has a selection of beautiful sushi, as well as the delicious Tuna Tataki with Kanzuri radish, ponzu and nori vinaigrette, with its perfectly balanced spices that complement the tenderness of the tuna. This restaurant offers the largest sake collection in Switzerland, enough to tempt every guest to try this intricately fermented alcoholic drink.

The last restaurant, the Swiss Stübli, is the very spirit of the Swiss mountains, with its warm, welcoming vibrance, the rustic wooden panelling, and the comforting Swiss cuisine. The famous speciality here is the Swiss pasta with minced beef and apple sauce, which is a comforting, delicious meal that is a compilation of the Gstaad local delights. For vegetarians, the Perigord Truffle with aged mountain cheese is another speciality that will be a flavoursome bliss to enjoy. It is safe to say that the Alpina, guests never have to worry about going hungry, for the quality of the food served in these restaurants is of such high standard that every guest leaves a meal satisfying full and content.

The Alpina Hotel doesn’t stop there with its impressive features, for it also has a number of additional things to offer its guests. The hotel offers electric bicycles for guests in the summer, and organises cycling experiences for guests to enjoy: guests can cycle 150km through the Saanenland region, glimpsing its natural beauty up close, and guests all have 3 hours of complimentary use of the bicycles.

There is the Alpina Bees, and the hotel sees beekeeping as an art, that works to help the environment. The hotel tries to get involved with helping the local environment, and so the beekeeping helps the flora and fauna in the region flourish, as pollination is a vital support for the biodiversity of the ecosystem. Beekeeping is an ancient tradition dating back to the 35th Century BC, and guests are able to learn about this, and witness the hard beekeeping work first hand, as the hotel offers tours for its guests.

The hotel has its very own tree house club, which is designed for younger guests to play and adventure. With childcare professionals all around to look after the children, young guests can enjoy a range of different activities in the different parts of the tree house, giving them a chance to let out some excitement and energy from the thrilling height of the treetops.

The Alpina Hotel is a 5-star treasure in the Saanenland region, and provides every guest with a peaceful, relaxing stay in Switzerland. The hotel’s many features as well its close connection with health, mediation and culture demonstrate the level of care the staff at the hotel have for its guests, to ensure that all guests are all able to feel as relaxed as possible, while having a holiday that is fun-filled and action-packed. From some of the best cuisine in the region, a cultural experience like no other, in a hotel that feels like paradise, there is really nothing missing from the experience of a stay in the Alpina.