If you can guarantee you enjoy your ski season wherever you are in Europe, then St. Moritz. In fact, this town in the Swiss Alps only comes to life when it snows. Certainly, it’s beautiful all year round, but without a layer of white flour, St. Moritz isn’t half the fun. And in fact, when the season is in full swing, it’s a lot of fun. Visitors come from all over the world – myself included, flying here from Australia to check in at the Carlton Hotel in St. Moritz and reporting what you can expect from this luxurious 5-star hotel overlooking the beauty of St. Moritz.
Check in at Carlton St Moritz
Anyone who visits St Moritz will say that the town is like a fairy tale. And this becomes more evident as it is covered with a thick layer of fresh snow. St Moritz has long been considered the most subtle place to venture into the ski season. This has become one of the more expensive choices, attracting glamorous customers every year.
Therefore, there are plenty of luxurious hotels in town, and most of the facilities here are five star hotels that have passed over generations. The Carlton Hotel overlooks the lake below, and is no exception. Certainly, it is one of the most famous hotels in town.
I decided to check in at Carlton St. Moritz at the end of their short season and share my experiences at the beginning of the new season. What surprised me most about this hotel is that it is only open for a few months each year before it completely closes until the snow returns.
Wake up at the Carlton Hotel in St. Moritz
Early or late days will start depending on how much fun you had the night before at the bar. Early risers are rewarded by the soft glow rising above the distant town, but serving breakfast until 10am takes as long as you like to cross the restaurant.
A buffet style is served for breakfast. There is an a la carte menu that can be used for pre-cooked dishes such as avocados and poached eggs. Notice the options in the Moving Mountains menu. These are healthy alternatives for health-conscious travelers or just looking for a hassle-free fare after being too long on the road.
Hotel area: Carlton Bar & Bel Etage
There are plenty of places to wine and eat around the hotel, but my absolute favourites were the Carlton Bar and Belle Etage. Here you can always relax and relax. Order AperolSpritz and enjoy in the sun or choose from the bar snack menu. This is also a place where guests can enjoy traditional afternoon tea. In the evening, a live pianist plays and puts a glass of foam in one place to enjoy sitting on the fire.
Carlton Hotel Gondola pops up
Another highlight from my visit was my (first time) cheese fondue, which was my evening enjoying my evening. I know, What a Swiss thing! On my first night at the hotel, I booked a gondola and experienced the famous fondue only once.
To switch that, I chose the truffle fondue. The entire pot of melted cheese is consumed by bubbly basking in bread, baby potatoes, pickles, etc. This is a remote speaker (very suitable, I chose Sinatra) that is even better with the use of a glass bubble on hand, and also allows you to enjoy your own playlist.
Inside the Carlton hotel room
Let’s say this. The Carlton Hotel rooms are some of the largest hotel rooms we have stayed at this size. That’s just going on! Multiple wardrobes, an oversized bathroom with both a shower and tub, a rather large outdoor balcony, work desk space and a huge sitting area that complements my oversized king bed.
Carlton Hotel Spa
We were very fortunate to sneak into spa treatments during our stay. This was especially exciting when I chose to treat moving mountains. The Moving Mountains concept is one of the highlights of the hotel. This, as mentioned earlier, offers a way to reconnect naturally with the surroundings, as well as treatments and menu options in the dining area. My treatment was massage to improve circulation. This was very important to me after a long flight to arrive in Europe (and I hadn’t travelled in a while beforehand!)
Spa facilities in Carlton
If you don’t like to reserve time for treatment, there are still many facilities to use in the wellness area. From saunas and steam rooms to multiple swimming pools, there are many ways to spend time outside of skiing. This is also a great way to restore and recover after a long day with the elements, so make sure you have time to enjoy everything your hotel has to offer in your wellness space.
Goodbye to dinner!
On our last night at the hotel, I enjoyed dinner at the Romanov restaurant. Considering the hotel’s regular dining restaurant (there are also two Michelin star restaurants), I was very surprised at how delicious everything was and how perfect the service was. You ask me, the dinner at the Romanoff restaurant is certainly worth it, but I couldn’t blame the evening a bit.
After St. Moritz, I was ready to take the train back to Zurich and set out on my next trip to London. It’s very easy to get on the train from nearby Zurich and you’ll need to change it once with tulle. However, you may also notice that most guests arrive on private jets, whether driving, hiring a driver or during the ice polo season. But you ask me, the train journey is too beautiful, especially if you are traveling by the Glacier Express.