Mention Interlaken, Switzerland and the name VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa immediately comes to mind for luxury travelers.
For the past 140 years, the opulent 212-room and suite VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa has attracted prestigious guests from around the world who come for the exceptional service. The hotel is also perfectly located with spectacular views of the Alpine mountains Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
In October 2006, Edward F. Nesta and I returned to the VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa. Having stayed at the hotel in the past, we were delighted with their new 5500 square meters VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Spa ESPA, which the hotel added in December 2003, along with 10 new junior suites in the Bel Air wing. During our stay, we pampered ourselves with spa treatments, which you can read about in the Spas section.
We stayed in a junior suite in the Bel Air wing next to the spa, where the emphasis is on guest comfort and features many Feng Shui elements. The foyer of our suite featured a spacious walk-in closet concealed behind a sliding opaque glass door, and had robes, slippers, and a safe that was large enough to accommodate a laptop.
The bedroom featured a color palette of ivory, cream, and pale celadon, had a beautiful wood floor and an architecturally interesting sloped beamed-ceiling. The king bed set into a black built-in headboard, was lavishly adorned with an ivory bedcover. Pink orchids in a square vase and two bamboo plants graced the shelves on either side of the bed. Opposite the bed, in front of the window, there was a comfortable sitting area with a pale ivory sofa lined with inviting pillows, and two chairs flanked two wood tables of differing heights. Magazines and books were attractively arranged on a square table with a silver ball shaped lamp with a cream shade that was placed in the corner of the room. There was a desk with a folding mirror that could be also be used as a vanity table, as well as Bang & Olufsen television with built-in radio/DVD/CD. The hotel thoughtfully provided a selection of CDs for guests to listen to during their stay. Other amenities included a mini-bar, and a tea maker with an assortment of teas.
Floor-to-ceiling celadon silk fabric graced the windowed wall and the door, which led out to a private terrace covered with a retractable yellow and white striped canopy. It was still warm enough during our stay in October to sit on the grey lounge chairs, sip Perrier-Laurent Brut champagne, and enjoy the views of the mountain.
The large bathroom featured double stainless steel sinks with special strip lighting alongside each of the mirrors over the sinks, as well as a vanity mirror and a hand mirror, a walk-in shower, deep soaking tub, Clarins amenities, hairdryer, stool, and a romantic red and white rose in a square vase on a black marble shelf.
The hotel has three excellent restaurants for their guests dining pleasure overseen by Executive Chef Manfred Roth. La Terrasse (16 GaultMillau points) features French gourmet cuisine by Chef Michael Wehrle in an elegant dining room; Jungfrau-Brasserie (15 GaultMillau points) features an all-Swiss menu and Swiss products in a Belle Époque dining room; and La Pastateca features contemporary ambience and the emphasis is on pasta. Chef Ramon Kuenzler is responsible for both the Jungfrau-Brasserie and La Pastateca. During our stay at the hotel, we had the pleasure of dining at all three of the restaurants. Read about the restaurants and recipes from the chefs in the Restaurants and Chefs Recipes sections.
On Sunday nights, the hotel offers a Tour through the Wine Cellar beginning at 6:00 pm, which we had the opportunity to experience. The Wine Cellar once housed horses and small cars used to pick-up guests at the railway station. Today, the 16,000 bottle stone floor cellar features a white painted beamed ceiling and an elaborate chandelier with angels, found in Versailles. The angels were the inspiration for the famous VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU angel candlestick. In addition to touring the cellar, we tasted a merlot from the Ticino region of Switzerland, which we enjoyed with a selection of hors d'oeuvres.
After dinner, we liked to visit the Victoria Bar, to listen to piano music and discuss cocktail trends with head bartender, Thomas Hänni. Although the talented bartenders at the Victoria Bar are happy to create any cocktail you desire, we enjoyed sampling the martinis in their excellent Martini – Nothing Else menu, which has interesting anecdotes and a full complement of martinis from A-Z.
One of our favorite experiences whenever we visit the hotel is swimming laps in their indoor pool, and then using their outdoor saltwater whirlpool. There is something very special about being outside when the weather is cool and soaking in steaming saltwater while gazing on the majestic mountains. It was the perfect place to relax after paragliding and hiking Jungfraujoch.
In addition to the pool, and indoor and outdoor whirlpools, fitness lovers will appreciate the indoor and outdoor tennis courts, and the fitness center offering many courses. Outdoor sports enthusiasts will find a variety of sporting adventures nearby including paragliding, hiking, boating, and of course, skiing.
Once again, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa, and look forward to returning in the future.
Read other articles on the VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa in the Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, and Spas sections. The VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa is part of the VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Collection, www.Victoria-Jungfrau-Collection.ch.
VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU Grand Hotel & Spa
Höheweg 41
CH-3800 Interlaken
Switzerland
Telephone: +4133.828.2828
Fax: +4133.828.2880
Email: Interlaken@Victoria-Jungfrau.ch
www.Victoria-Jungfrau.ch
Read other articles on Switzerland in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, Spas, Liquor Cabinet, Wine Cellar, and Adventures sections.
For information on Switzerland, please visit: www.MySwitzerland.com. For information on Lucerne: www.Luzern.org. For information on Interlaken: www.InterlakenTourism.ch. For information on Bern: www.BernInfo.com. For information on Zurich: www.Zuerich.com. For information on Swiss International Air Lines: www.swiss.com. For Information on Swiss Pass: www.SwissTravelSystem.ch.
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