Switzerland rolls out offers

Switzerland is famous for its hospitality. Be it pampering yourself at a luxurious spa in St. Moritz, a Ramadan in the alps or a summer family getaway at Saanenland, you are bound to come away impressed.

OVAVERVA IN ST. MORITZ

St. Moritz’s newest landmark, Ovaverva Pool, Spa and Sports Centre, will be opening on July 5, 2014, offering indoor swimming pools for children and adults, a diving pool, three water slides, an outdoor pool with massage jets and a Jacuzzi.

The spa offerings include massage, beauty treatments, different saunas and a variety of rest and quiet zones. Outdoor activities, gastronomy and retail space are on offer in the sports and recreational centre. The outdoor centre has an emphasis on Nordic walking and mountain biking in summer and a cross-country skiing school in winter. It is also home to a bistro restaurant offering healthy, natural and regional food.

With four floors of ultimate luxury, Ovaverva is a great addition to the ambience of St. Moritz, and its extraordinary architecture also creates a unique, visual highlight. The building will appear bright and welcoming to visitors and blend harmoniously into the surrounding landscape despite its modern appearance.

St. Moritz in Switzerland is a destination well known for its celebrity appearances. World-class events are held here every year, where royalty and luxury loving individuals gather to enjoy the finer things in life.

FAMILY FUN AT ALPINA

Few regions can provide as varied and memorable a family holiday as Gstaad and the Saanenland in Switzerland. This year, The Alpina Gstaad has added to the wide range of activities available with new outdoor adventures and experiences, while private nannies (available from 16 June) and activities suitable for all ages can be planned in advance at the Tree House Club. The hotel will reopen for summer from June 6 to September 28.

Make the most of a long weekend or midweek break with a Deluxe Family Holiday package: a four-night stay for four in two deluxe rooms. The holiday is inclusive of a three-day ‘Gstaad Easy Access Card’ to experience the Saanenland, Zweisimmen and Pays-d’Enhaut by cable car and public transport. The family will also receive food and drink vouchers worth CHF400 ($453) per day to spend at the hotel. The Deluxe Family Holiday for two adults and two children is CHF5,355 ($6,076), or two adults and one child is CHF5,235 ($5,939). Additional children: CHF560 ($635) each.

Free daily activities for children and a varied weekly programme are supervised by the hotel’s nanny at the Tree House Club. A uniquely conceived indoor adventure playground for children from the minute they tumble through the stable-style door.

Along with popular activities such as paragliding, river rafting and cycling the 280 kilometres of signposted mountain routes, local guides have put together some ‘hiking musts’ to discover the beauty of the Bernese Oberlan.

For those ready for a challenge, hikes can be arranged up the ‘Gummfluh’ region in search for the rare animal Steinbok. The Schonrieder mountain guide, Willy, is happy to share his passion for the flowers on the nature trail on the Hornberg.

Only a few kilometres from Gstaad is the unspoilt scenery at Lauenensee, not only a popular destination for relaxation, but the starting point for mountain tours and high altitude hikes to the Geltenhütte nature reserve to view the impressive landscapes of rock and ice.

Families at The Alpina Gstaad are able to experience a traditional Alpine Hut surrounded by endless mountain meadows. Spend a day, or a few hours learning how the farmers look after their animals in the summer and make cheese on wooden fires. Alternatively, try Mushroom Hunting, a guide will advise on those to take home and those that are better left alone.

Holiday time is the ideal opportunity to learn or brush up on a language as a family during a stay at the hotel. Personal language tuition in German, French or English can be arranged. One-hour private lesson is CHF140 ($159).

ARABIAN NIGHTS

This summer, the Tschuggen Grand, which is set in the beautiful alpine surroundings of Arosa in Switzerland, has created a dedicated package, ideal for Arab travellers. The ‘ Arabian Nights’ package enables guests to unwind at the spa that is built into the side of the mountain, which offers exquisite views even whilst indoors, with the stunning glass sails channelling light into the serene interior. The package includes a free pass to the private Tschuggen railway of the Swiss Alps and stops along the way.

For those travelling during the Holy Month, from July 4, traditional halal food and prayer mats will be available. Additionally, several rooms in the hotel are equipped with separate gender facilities, directions for Mecca available upon request, and room service that is respectful of Ramadan hours, as well as a private spa suite with a ladies-only sauna. Additionally, if guests prefer to be catered for more personally then the hotel can arrange a private butler service and Arabic speaker to ensure they have a more personable experience.

Starting from Dh8,600 ($2,340) per person for a deluxe double room including four nights’ accommodation, halal breakfast before sunrise, a Thalesebath, free admission to the Tschuggen Bergoase, complimentary use of the Tschuggen Express and an all-inclusive card to use in Arosa, valid until September 2014. Prayer rooms will be provided for the guests along with prayer mats. The option of hiring a private butler at an additional cost is available. Offer valid from July 4, 2014 to September 21, 2014.