All I want for Christmas is...
As the year draws to an end, we would like to share our travel highlights with you – six extraordinary hotels that have inspired and enchanted us this year.
7132 Thermal baths © 7132 Hotel - Julien Balmer
7132 Thermal baths © 7132 Hotel - Julien Balmer
Daniel, Art Director
The 7132 Hotel in Vals is is an architectural masterpiece that never fails to captivate me as a designer and a devoted fan of great design. The thermal baths, designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, offers a meditative bathing experience with its minimalist aesthetics and harmonious interplay of light, stone, and water. Meanwhile, Kengo Kuma’s penthouse suites seamlessly blend alpine surroundings with Japanese craftsmanship. Visionary architecture nestled amidst the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps – truly my travel highlight of the year!
Deluxe Room at Villa La Madonna in Piedmont
Villa La Madonna is my personal truffle paradise, far from the beaten tourist track. Nestled in the gentle hills of the Langhe and Monferrato landscapes, this boutique hotel charms with its stylish fusion of Scandinavian design and Italian flair. The kitchen celebrates Piedmont’s flavours with fresh, regional ingredients, perfectly paired with wines from its own cellar. Particularly during truffle season, every stay here turns into a culinary celebration!
The Aman Venice is located directly next to the Canal Grande
Ekaterina, Co-Founder
I love city breaks. During this year’s Biennale in Venice, themed "Strangers Everywhere," I discovered the Aman Venice, located in the magnificent 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli, on the Canal Grande. Breathtaking ceiling paintings by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, renaissance hearths by Sansovino, and listed frescoes lend a majestic elegance to the rooms. The stark modern furnishings bridge the gap between past and present styles in exciting ways.
"Jedermann" Room at Hotel Goldgasse in Salzburg
The Salzburg Easter Festival was a cultural highlight for me this year, especially Ponchielli’s opera "La Gioconda," with Anna Netrebko in the leading role. My stylish home-away-from-home is the Hotel Goldgasse, located on a historic street of the same name. This charming boutique hotel is a treasure trove for art lovers, marrying modern interiors with baroque flair. Each of the 16 rooms has an entire wall decorated with large-scale photographs of the Salzburg Festival that were taken by Italian photographer Luigi Caputo – creating a truly unique ambience. After a day filled with music and culture, Hotel Goldgasse is more than a place to rest – it is an extension of the festival experience itself.
Pool with a view at La Coquillade in Provence
Joanna, Co-Founder
For me, La Coquillade embodies the essence of Provençal beauty. Surrounded by the rolling hills of the Luberon, lavender fields, and sprawling vineyards, it offers a setting that has inspired artists for centuries. The unique, luminous light here captivated even Vincent van Gogh, bathing the landscape in a magical glow. From the pool, the breathtaking view sweeps across the hotel’s vineyards to the panorama of the Luberon Valley, capturing the Provence’s enchantment. Boasting the region’s largest spa, La Coquillade is also a the perfect place to unwind, explore and reconnect with nature.
Room with a view at BEAUSiTE Zermatt
The Matterhorn is the most photographed mountain in the world, and one of its finest views can be enjoyed from BEAUSiTE Zermatt. But the hotel’s appeal isn’t just its location. This historic Belle Époque building from 1907 has been sensitively renovated with fantastic use of colours. The reception and lobby shine in dark forest green and refreshing icy blue, while the Wine Box, featuring an oversized chandelier of wine bottles, is an eye-catcher. My personal highlight? A spirited 'Wine Battle' with NZZ wine editor Peter Keller – an epic duel of taste buds and tannins. Come March 2025, the Zermatt Wine Sessions are back, promising more corks popping from Piedmont to Bordeaux, all under the watchful (and surely jealous) gaze of the Matterhorn itself. Read more
Nostalgic picture of Ekaterina, Joanna and Daniel
Whether you are celebrating in the mountains, in the city, or by the sea – we wish you a merry Christmas full of magic moments, and a great start into a happy, healthy New Year filled with exciting travels.