From Ischgl to St. Moritz: High glamor factor: Stars spend their winter holidays in these hotels
Let’s be honest: Have you ever dreamed of spending your winter holiday in one of the posh ski resorts in the Alps? Where the rich and famous meet to ski and party. We show you five hotels that magically attract celebrities from all over the world.
The one with one
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Who probably slept in my hotel bed before? Most people are not interested in this question – unless they have booked one of the hotels that are very popular with the stars of the world. If you want to sleep in the same bed as Mariah Carey, David Garrett, Brigitte Bardot or King Willem-Alexander, you don’t have to travel halfway around the world, but rather book yourself on a winter vacation in one of the posh resorts in the Alps. We show five hotels in Switzerland, Austria and Germany where celebrities prefer to spend their winter vacation.
1. Badrutt’s Palace, St. Moritz: Innovative grand hotel
Let’s start with a legend. The time-honored Grand Hotel Badrutt’s Palace in one of the most sophisticated winter sports resorts in Switzerland. The father of the hotel founder is considered the inventor of winter tourism by attracting English people to St. Moritz with free holidays – with resounding success. The castle-like building with stone walls, towers and pointed arches has towered over Lake St. Moritz since 1896 and enjoys an exclusive reputation in high society. The list of crowned heads, presidents, billionaires and stars who have already been there is long: from Marlene Dietrich and Audrey Hepburn to Aristotle Onassis to Gunther Sachs, Brigitte Bardot and Caroline of Monaco or Boris Becker, who celebrated his wedding here Lilly Kerssenberg celebrated.
The ex-tennis star certainly had his English-style five o’clock tea in the old brocade armchairs of the state room before continuing on to the Belle Époque dining room and the infamous Kings Club in the basement of the house, where the champagne was served still flowing in torrents. In addition to the awareness of tradition, the Badrutt family has always focused on innovation. She built the first tennis hall in Europe in 1913, the first hotel elevator, the first telephone booth in the Engadine and the first infinity pool. This combination of modernity and tradition is also reflected in the 157 elegant rooms and suites, whose views of the snowy 3000m peaks and the frozen lake are legendary.
2. Hotel Gasthof Post, Lech am Arlberg: Down-to-earth and authentic
From the cradle of winter tourism to the cradle of alpine skiing: we jump from the Swiss Engadine to the Austrian Arlberg. Here six ski pioneers founded the first ski club and the first ski school in Austria. The 1,600-inhabitant town of Lech am Arlberg is located at an altitude of 1,440 meters and is considered the celebrity hangout par excellence in the Arlberg ski area, the largest ski area in Austria. However, understatement is the order of the day here, as the first glance at the traditional Post inn shows.
The pink-green farmhouse-style building with Lüftl painting and wooden shingles represents something like the perfect symbiosis of a grand hotel, a small 5-star hotel and an inn. It belongs to the illustrious circle of Relais&Châteaux hotels. The Moosbrugger family is now running the post office in the third generation and proves in the 46 rooms and suites what can be created with antiques, good taste, attention to detail, down-to-earthness and the motto “less is more”. Each room is designed differently. However, they all have the same ideal location for entering the ski area or exiting to the spa with its outdoor panoramic pool. The Dutch royal family, for example, likes the authenticity and cosiness of the post office so much that they have been coming on ski holidays for more than 60 years.
3. Trofana Royal, Ischgl: Sophisticated flair in the party hotspot
The first address in the Tyrolean Paznauntal is called the Gourmet & Relax Hotel Trofana Royal. The Royale in the hotel name suggests what is going on behind the facades of Ischgl’s first 5-star hotel: upscale host culture, elegant ambience, luxurious Alpine lifestyle. Everything at the master level of the luxury hotel industry. This not only includes the top location in the village center and at the same time on the slopes. But also the chef Martin Sieberer, Tyrol’s most decorated chef with seven toques.
He spoils hotel guests in the two in-house gourmet restaurants “Paznaunerstube” and “Heimatbühne”. Superstars like Mariah Carey, Robbie Williams and Helene Fischer have already stayed at the Trofana Royal – in modern, elegantly furnished rooms, tower rooms and suites. According to the von der Thannen family, the target group of the house with its sophisticated flair is people with style and taste who are cosmopolitan and modern. There’s certainly a bit of party spirit involved, as the legendary après-ski club “Trofana Alm” is right next to the hotel. Of course, it’s classy, because the après-ski restaurant has been awarded a toque by the renowned Gault&Millau restaurant guide.
4. W Hotel, Verbier: Between tradition and urban trends
There are a number of well-known ski resorts in the Swiss canton of Valais, but the underdog among the classiest is Verbier. Adventurers love the playground at an altitude of 1,500 meters. But also sporting stars and the British establishment. Richard Branson, for example, one of the most successful businessmen in the world and always looking for the ultimate adventure, owns “The Lodge” in Verbier. Nine luxurious chalets that Branson simply calls “Mountain Retreat.” Or the British singer and ex-soldier James Blunt, who has been traveling to the town of 3,000 for more than 15 years, has written a few songs there and even owned a restaurant for a few years.
Prince Andrew and mother-in-law crush Hugh Grant are also regular guests. Many VIPs stay in the most impressive hotel in the mountain region, the W Hotel. The 5-star hotel made of wood and stone, which belongs to the Marriott Group, has a traditional feel. But whoever enters it cannot help but be amazed: urban design with daring elements. This includes bright art installations and alpine touches. This is what makes the house’s 123 rooms and suites with fireplaces and spectacular mountain views from their own balconies so extraordinary. In other words: Glamor 4.0 in the Alps.
5. Elmau Castle, Krün: secluded location between the Zugspitze and the Karwendel Mountains
Paparazzi don’t have it easy here. The Luxury Spa Retreat & Cultural Hideaway Schloss Elmau is located all alone in a high valley in the Bavarian Alps, around 100 kilometers south of Munich. An idyll with few places to hide, which the world’s most powerful heads of state also use for their summit meetings. Chancellor Angela Merkel was already there and involuntarily posed for a photo that went around the world: the grand dame in the red blazer gesticulating in front of US President Barack Obama, who was casually strolling on a wooden bench, at the G7 summit in 2015. Holding for VIPs the Schlosshotel Elmau, which is part of the Leading Hotels of the World group, offers spacious presidential suites.
Typical of the luxury hotel are, in addition to its yoga retreats with internationally known gurus such as Dr. Patrick Broome and Barbra Noh also host top-class cultural events. Star violinist David Garrett has already given concerts here and is said to have enjoyed the diverse outdoor pool landscape afterwards: Badehaus Rooftop Pool, Badehaus Sunset Sole Pools, Retreat Adult Pool, Retreat Family Pool – all with wonderfully warm water and a view on the snowy Alps. Speaking of snow: cross-country skiers will find trails like paradise on their doorstep. Alpine skiers are taken with the in-house shuttle to the Luttensee family ski area in ten minutes or to the ski areas of Garmisch, Seefeld or the Zugspitz Glacier in 20 minutes – and of course picked up again. From the hustle and bustle back to peace and quiet.
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