My personal highlight: spending time walking through nature is the BEST way to connect and experience a destination.

Ever heard about the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tectonic Arena Sardona or the Rhine gorge? Or the two jewel alpine lakes named Cauma and Cresta?
Welcome to the Swiss Alps in Graubünden, the home of giant peaks, vibrant forests and flowery mountain meadows!

This article shall inspire you for the perfect Alpine weekend trip! Flims offers all you want from the perfect autumn hideaway. Get there in only 1.45 minutes by train from Zurich. By car in even 1.15 hours.

Must do on your trip: Relaxing walk to Caumasee & Crestasee

Caumasee is one of the most breathtaking mountain lakes in Switzerland, they call it the pearl of Flims. Experience this with your own eyes, pictures alone won’t make it. This lake is not that secret anymore, so make sure to get there early!

Embedded in a forest you find turquoise blue and crystal clear waters. Water temperature in summer is at an average of 21 Celsius, with a maximum of around 24 Celsius. Around the lake you have spots to relax, you can even rent an inflatable boat or bring your unicorn! The entrance fee from May – to September is 12 CHF (adults), and 6 CHF (kids). Find different areas for a barbecue or just enjoy their restaurant for drinks & food. The car parking is close (15 min).

How to get there: You can walk (ca 45 min) or bike (ca. 15 min) from Flims Dorf or take a local bus (ca. 15 min,)

My insider tip: Crestasee. This lake is small and yet undiscovered by tourists. Stay here for a pick-nick or a BBQ at the fireplace close by. Go for a swim in summer! The entrance fee in summer is 7 CHF for adults and 3 CHF for kids.

Once in Crestasee plan some time to walk up to the observation deck called “Il Spir” (takes you about 4o min.). Enjoy a 180° view over the famous Rhine gorge also called  ‘The Swiss Grand Canyon. The platform was designed by the local architect Corinna Menn. Once up at Il Spir enjoy lunch or dessert at the Restaurant Conn.  From here you have the choice to continue your hike to various destinations, if you’re in the mood to stroll back to Flims Dorf by horse and carriage, this is the spot where to do it. Book your ticket at the restaurant (20 CHF for adults 1 way, 13 CHF for kids, 1 way).

Suggested walk for a 2.30 hours , ca. 10 km trip departing from Flims Waldhhaus:

Trin-Mulin – Crestasee – Caumasee – Flims – Felsbachschlucht – Trin-Mulin

In the mood for some alpine action?

Experience pure adrenalin in the wild gorges while river rafting or take a hike along with the craggy rock formations. An easily accessible hiking trail and several biking trails along the Rhine also present excellent opportunities to have a barbecue, create stone mounds or dip your feet in the water.

More into an active train ride through the Rhine Gorge?

The bizarre geological formations surrounded by old pine trees fascinate train passengers, hikers and river rafters from around the world. Experience the Rhine gorge from very close every Sunday. The adventure train, with its open observation carriages, takes a leisurely ride along the side of the river, amidst striking rock formations. Get your ticket and all details here. Tickets start from 24 CHF for adults and 12 CHF for kids.

Find more inspiration on activities on the website of Flims/Laax/Falera!

For your comfort and cosy stay, I absolutely recommend “The Hide Hotel” in Flims located directly at the bus station and close to the slopes in winter! Get my full article here!

My personal highlight: Discovering the most charming and sustainable Hotel in Switzerland in Arosa

Welcome to the hidden gem Arosa is located in the region of Graubünden in Switzerland about 2 h train ride from Zurich. This blog story shares with you a travel experience suitable for a weekend trip or week holiday in the Swiss Alps. No matter if you choose to travel in summer, autumn or winter, Arosa offers outdoor activities and the best culture or wellness all year round. Get more on the destination here.
I had my friend Annasole with me for the weekend and guess what, it’s the perfect spot to just relax your soul and have fun together in the snow!

Why choose 4* Valsana Hotel & Appartements for your trip

The interior design is characterised by the eccentric designer Carlo Rampazzi and makes it easy for every guest to feel at home either in the “living room” area, at the restaurant, on the beautiful outdoor terrace and especially in the hotel room. The warm colours of the furniture and materials used with their partly natural shapes create a mix of alpine and oriental home atmosphere. In the decoration, nostalgic elements catch the eye: absolutely play a song on the vintage turntable with some vinyl of Frank Sinatra!

Every room has different interiors: My favorite one is the sofa a colorful vibrant flower imprint.

The 115-year-old hotel was completely demolished in 2015 and reopened in December 2017 as a new three-part, modern hotel with 40 spacious rooms and junior suites and 9 apartments. The hotel belongs to the Tschuggen Hotel Group and has been renovated with a budget of ca. 50 Mio. Why so much you think? Because the owner’s approach was to create innovative and avant-garde surroundings was to support a clear conscience for every visitor!

Guests are given the opportunity to offset the emissions generated by their journeys! Several sustainable projects in cooperation with myclimate are available, check them out!

The food concept at Valsana is clean, healthy and where ever possible regional and local, this is why for example you find only European wines on the menu and meat from free-range animals or certified fishing operations. The SPA features different fair cosmetic brands, just to name some of their environment-friendly projects!

Accommodation

Find 40 double rooms and junior suites between 33 and 52 m2 and 9 apartments with hotel service between 79 and 86 m2. In Winter double rooms are available from CHF 357 incl. breakfast buffet per day, in summer from CHF 227 incl. breakfast buffet per day. Appartements start at CHF 557 for 2 person /day (winter) and in summer at CHF 427 for 2 person /day. Book your room here.

Wellness, Gym, Yoga & SPA

Enjoy your Yoga lesson in the morning held by Instructor Julian or a guided snowshoe hiking adventure or just some relaxation in the 800 square meters of their wellness oasis. There is a pool facing the majestic alps, a steam bath, and saunas. I absolutely recommend also their massages after a fun afternoon in the snow! If time permits, book a personal training from the program R1: The “Athlete of Life” offer, conceived in cooperation with the Munich R1 Sports Club, not only builds on strength training, but also pursues a holistic approach to work-life and energy balance, mindfulness, nutrition, and exercise! Get a full picture of all of their Sports & Spa services here.

Restaurant & Drinks

The hotel restaurant TWIST is a casual way to enjoy healthy food. The cuisine designed by Chef Marco Campanella is particularly versatile and offers something for gourmets, fans of vegetarian and vegan cuisine as well as conscious gourmets. Find mostly regional products for example the salmon Lostallo from the company Swiss Lachs. I absolutely recommend sharing plates, as this is the best way to taste a bit of everything from their menu. My absolute favourite dish was the barley risotto with mushrooms, dried tomatoes, leek, and basil.
Enjoy a drink at the bar where you can find a variety of Swiss spirits including extraordinary Gins!

Why does using the latest technological innovations minimize the hotel’s impact on the environment!

What happens in the cellar of the hotel is something I’ve never seen before! The entire Valsana complex is heated using geothermal probes and by capturing and reusing waste heat from other appliances that are ordinarily lost to the surroundings. This waste heat is stored in a large tank or ice battery, essentially a large water tank housing a 400m pipe register of 1.5 m high pipes.  Hotel Valsana is probably the greenest hotel in Switzerland.

Thanks to its energy concept, it uses virtually no fossil fuels.

Want to know more about this fantastic concept: get it here!

A warm thank you goes to all of the Valsana Staff that is incredibly hearty and always helpful; and to Stephanie and Michael Lehnort and Rahel Rohner, the PR Manager that made this press trip possible.

www.valsana.ch

Address: Valsana Hotel & Appartements, Oberseepromenade 2, 7050 Arosa, Phone: +41 81 378 63 63, info@valsana.ch

In the mood to discover more lovefoodish travel stories? Get them here!

My personal highlight: L O V E at first sight – architecture meats a modern alpine lifestyle

Welcome to Flims and to The Hide Hotel, a destination in Graubünden that will touch your heart! The hotel is located in the midst of nature, adjacent to the valley cablecar station, only a few metres away from the slopes, bus station and malls in the recently created apartment area “Stenna“.

The alpine pearl has been designed by the renowned Gothenburg-based and multi-award winning designer team from Stylt Trampoli.
All materials and fabrics are chosen to match perfectly together, this makes the ambience contemporary in unison with the natural surrounding of the beautiful alpine way of life. This can be experienced from the lobby to the rooms, in the SPA area and in their restaurants.

The cozy sofa around the fire place in the lobby lounge is the perfect spot where to sip an aperol spritz!

Accommodation

Find 42 double rooms and 5 suites located on the top floor of the Stenna building. Experience a penthouse lifestyle! All rooms are spacious and functional. The Furniture is timeless and very warm. The terraces are super large and invite you to relax! Choose from a double room or Junior Suite. Find more about special packages and rates here.

Forgot to pack your backpack? No problem, use the practical backpacker you’ll find in the room!

SPA & Relax

Take your SPA bag and find out where to relax best! Finnish Panorama Sauna with direct mountain view, a steam room, sauna, rain showers, relaxation room, as well as a private SPA area for two people spread over 1000 m2.

For the sporty ones, enjoy their state-of-the-art Fitness room!

Restaurant & Drinks

The Deli offers cuisine from Lebanon, Israel and the Arabic region combined with regional specialities. The relaxed atmosphere is expressed through a warm alpine interior style. Perfect for lunch or dinner. I love the open kitchen that allows looking over the shoulders of the Chefs.

My personal highlight: Roasted chicken breast in a Tagine perfectly aromatized and tender, mixed with fried eggplant squares and mozzarella because oriental meets local!

The Hide Dinner is the restaurant of the renewed Chef Adrian Tschanz you should absolutely try.

Choose vegetarian or vegan dishes made with regional ingredients. The menu includes traditional plates combined with a cuisine Adrian Tschanz experiences all around the world.

Once the accommodation has been chosen, it’s time to discover all activities around Flims such as hiking, climbing, biking or skiing! Explore the most beautiful Alpine Lake with unique turquoise waters called Caumasee. I put together some suggestions for you in this blog post here.

The Hide Hotel – Address: Via Nova 80, Flims 7017, Switzerland – www.thehidehotelflims.com/

Explore old traditions of the Maiensäss at the Hotel Guardaval

In this story I share with you the history of the Maiensäss hotel located in Sporz, a hamlet directly above Lenzerheide in the canton of Graubünden/Switzerland and how these houses have been turned into a unique romantic luxury alp hotel.

Here is the link to the promotion offer:

Special Package for LOVEFOODISH Guests

With the Lovefoodish Promocode you will get an additional Apéro Plate to start your romantic weekend of 2 nights.

What means Maiensäss?

The word ‘Maiensäss‘ derives from the month of May (Mai in German), when the cattle were raised for the first time in the year. It is also a special form of an Alm/Alp that is a cleared area with huts and stables. The houses are 300 years old and rich of history and traditions.
In 2009 the Hotel Guardaval was built on fabulous preconditions to offer a place where the beauty of the nature, local traditions and luxury alpine design melt together.

Find 11 Maiensäss huts and barns located 1600 meters above sea level. Some of the houses have maintained their original facade. Fantasize what happened behind these facades years ago!
The Hotel is managed by Ralph Treuthardt, an experienced Hotel Manager and Chef. Ralph’s and the staff’s mission at Hotel Guardaval is to show you the secrets of the Maiensäss, to lead you to precious moments of peace, serenity, consciousness.

Accommodation

Find 50 retreats with different arrangements and categories available. Get a chic double room in the authentic Maiensäss style or the private chalet with an own sauna, whirlpool and hay bed. Every room differentiates from each other. Be prepared for a unique experience. In the SPA Guarda Sana your body and soul get spoiled and energized with lots of attentions. Get a massage to relax your muscles and prepare the senses for a mouthwatering dinner. Find all booking details here.

Seminars & incentives

People looking for a calm and inspiring place with space for creative ideas fare away from the busy city should try this surrounding. It makes an ideal venue for inspiring exchanges. Everything you need is available: modern equipment, brights rooms and space.

Food & 1 Michelin star

Choose from two restaurants. The Crap Naros serves Local dishes and cheese fondue. The fondue is one of the best you can find in that area! Don’t miss that. The spacious outdoor terrace is great in summer, if you are lucky you got the chance to meet Roger Federer having a beer, since he lives in Lenzerheide.

For dinner choose the restaurant Guarda Val. Chef Thomas Walz and his team are amazing. The ambience is elegant and warm. The menus vary. I love the symbiosis of modern and ancient that merge together. The plates are mouth-watering, colorful, delicate and prepared with love.

Secret hint – Wine and Cheese!

If you got the chance let Ralph Treuthardt guide you through the wine cellar that owns over 300 different wines and great sorts of cheese. There is a wide selection of local wines. I love the fact that he knows the suppliers personally, supports their local business and has the background of every ingredient used in the hotel.

Don’t miss the wine & Dine events at Hotel Guardaval, where you got the chance to be introduced to their excellent quality products.

Leisure time! Feel the old traditions during your stay

Hotel guests get the opportunity to experience nice packages during their stay. Milk a cow to get fresh milk for breakfast or visit local farms to experience real farm work. If you are in the mood of hiking, this place is just great or try the great biking trails.
In winter go for a sledge ride or snow walking. Use the hotel transportation service that brings you to the close by skiing slopes or picks you up at the bus station.

My personal highlights

The Maiensäss houses are indefinable calming and charming. Hearing the wind rustling is a precious way to fall asleep for me. Taking a bath looking up at the sky and watching the stars is the cherry on the cake.

I  experienced the staff being very helpful. Their happy smiling faces made me understand, that working in such an idyllic and natural ambience must be energy charging. Having personal chats exchanging stories of immigrants was touching and threw me back into my own life as the kid of an immigrant.
Hearing the Wurlitzer Jukebox playing Elvis and the Beatles gave that additional feeling of jumping back in the years. Everything matches perfectly here. I absolutely recommend a stay at Hotel Guardaval. You will be inspired.

Thank you for using the Lovefoodish accommodation guide.

www.hotelguardaval.ch

My personal highlight: Paradise for families, couples and solo travels find modern comfort, peace and a blue sky full of shiny stars at night

Choose the Privà Alpine Lodge Resort if you want to keep your living habits from home in an alpine surrounding.

The Chalet Village is a real pearl in Lenzerheide. Its concept of offering living spaces in 90 Chalet-Apartment and 3 Chalets is unique. In the Chalet Village you have everything you need:

Underground parking, shuttle transfer from/to train station, direct access to the ski slopes, ski school and rental, play land for kids, mini-shop, a wellness area and great restaurant.

Take a short walk through the forest to get to the lake of Lenzerheide, which is lovely for ice skating in winter and swimming in summer. If you love Biking, discover the most beautiful and secluded places around here on great bike trails. There are many events and activities, too, in the whole region! Find more details here.

Accommodation

Feel at home when you enter into the Chalet Village. Privà Lodge offers a modern living for couples, families and groups in spacious and high quality equipped apartments. The interior design and furniture are elegant and modern with a wonderful alpine touch. Choose an apartment with a private infrared sauna you will not regret it! In Winter you can do the Kneipp just on your snowy terrace!

There are various categories of rooms and sizes available that match your budget. Find here all details.

A world for kids

Families love this place. There is a ski and snowboard school and a special kids program (starting as of 2 years old) where they can have fun and entertainment all day long. A professional is there to take care for them.

Food & drinks

Feel the hearty hospitality everywhere in this house. Corina and Daniel the manager of the house take care of their guest’s wishes personally. All the staff carefully understands your needs and makes you feel home from the first moment you enter the door. There is a restaurant, a bar and a restful Cheminée Lounge in the resort or if in a hurry order your food take away.

My personal highlight

The highlight of my stay at the Privà Lodge, (I admit that I abused a bit the fact that I am a food blogger) was the chance to have a look behind the scenes in the kitchen and chat with the staff. I immediately felt like being part of a team. Exchanging my instagram name with their youngest Chef Vera made me feel honored and happyfoody.

Further, Kenny, also a Chef at Privà Lodges explains with lots of attention where the ingredients come from they use. Now I do also know, that they prepare a great Italian carnaroli risotto rice, the Acquerello risotto produced in Vercelli/Northern Italy! Thank you for this insight! It’s a great joy to see people creating food for you with creativity and love. It connects me with the plate, once served on the table.

The restaurant offers delicious traditional Swiss meals prepared with local and international products. Their meat menu and pizza are my favorite ones on the menu. Taste their selection of local white and red wines. They are excellent.

I absolutely recommend having a cheese fondue in the little wooden “Berghüttli” (little alp house). It’s a magic atmosphere dining with candlelight having a fell on your lap and feeling like being up 2500 m high in an alpine house. And even practical, after your Fondue you walk only 5 minutes back home.

So if all of this matches your ideal winter or summer holiday up in a tranquil village, check it out or get in contact with Privà Alpine Lodge. I enjoyed my stay and lovely talk to Daniel and his staff. Thank you!

www.privalodge.ch