If there's a place in Europe you can guarantee you'll enjoy your ski season, it's St Moritz. In fact, this town in the Swiss Alps only comes alive when there's snow. Sure, it's beautiful all year round but without the white powder coating, the St Moritz wouldn't be as enjoyable. And it's really nice when the season is in full swing. Visitors come from all over the world – myself included, having flown here all the way from Australia to check into Carlton Hotel in St Moritz and report back on what you can expect from this five-star luxury hotel overlooking the beauty of St Moritz.
Check in to Carlton St Moritz
Anyone who has visited St Moritz will tell you that this town is like something out of a fairy tale. And covered with a thick layer of fresh snow, this is even more noticeable. St Moritz has long been considered the most upscale location to explore for the ski season, making it one of the more expensive options and attracting a glamorous clientele year after year, every season.
Hence the city is full of luxury hotels and most of the properties here are five star hotels which have been passed down from generation to generation. The Carlton Hotel overlooks the lake below and is no exception. Indeed, this is one of the most famous hotels in the city.
I checked into the Carlton St Moritz at the end of their short season and decided to share my experience at the start of the new season, when many of you will be considering a ski trip to vacation. What surprised me most about this hotel is that it is only open for a few months each year, before closing completely until the snow returns.
Wake up at the Carlton Hotel in St Moritz
The days start early or late, depending on how much fun you had the night before at the bar. Early risers will be rewarded by the soft glow that casts over the city in the distance, but with breakfast served until 10:00 a.m., you can spend as long as you want strolling to the restaurant.
Breakfast is served buffet style, with an a la carte menu available for cooked items such as avocado and poached eggs on toast. Keep an eye out for the Moving Mountains Menu option, as it's a healthy alternative for health-conscious travelers or those just looking for a hassle-free meal after spending too long on the road.
Around the Hotel: Carlton Bar & Bel Etage
There are lots of wine and dine locations around the hotel but my absolute favorites are the Carlton Bar and Bel Etage. This is where you can relax and unwind any time of day, order an aperol spritz to enjoy in the sun or choose from the bar's snack menu. This is also where guests can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea, complete with a glass of bubbles to be enjoyed sitting by the fire with a live piano player playing in the evenings.
Pop Up Gondola Hotel Carlton
Another highlight of my visit was the night I enjoyed my (first time) cheese fondue. I know I know how Swiss! On my first night at the hotel I had booked the gondola to experience the famous fondue once and for all, and dare I say I did not leave disappointed.
To change it up, I opted for a truffle fondue – a whole pot of melted cheese bubbling with bread, baby potatoes and pickles to dip into and consume. It gets even better with a glass of bubbles in hand, plus a remote speaker for enjoying my own playlist (just right enough I chose Sinatra for this event).
Inside the Room at the Carlton Hotel
Let me start by saying this: the rooms at the Carlton Hotel are some of the largest hotel rooms I've ever stayed in for a hotel of this size. It continues! Multiple wardrobes, a large bathroom complete with shower and bath, a sizable outdoor balcony, work desk space and a large sitting area to complement my massive king bed.
Spa at the Carlton Hotel
I was lucky enough to sneak in a spa treatment during my stay, which I was so excited about that I chose the Moving Mountains treatment. The Moving Mountains concept is one of the highlights of the hotel, as it offers a way to reconnect with nature and your environment, with a choice of treatments and menus considered in the dining area as I mentioned before. My treatment was a circulatory massage, which was essential for me after a long haul flight to reach Europe (and I've never traveled before!)
Spa Facilities at The Carlton
If you don't like setting aside time for treatment, there are many facilities available in the wellness area. From saunas and steam rooms to several swimming pools, there are many ways to spend your time outside skiing. It's also a great way to recuperate and recharge after a long day outside, so be sure to allow time to enjoy all that the hotel has to offer in the wellness space.
Dinner and goodbye!
For my last night at the hotel I enjoyed dinner at Restaurant Romanoff. I was pleasantly surprised by how good everything was and how impeccable the service was, considering this is your usual hotel dining restaurant (where there is also a two Michelin star restaurant on site). If you ask me, dinner at the Romanoff Restaurant was certainly worth it, I couldn't fault the evening one bit.
After St Moritz I ventured back to Zurich by train, ready to start my next trip to London. Taking the train from nearby Zurich is easy and you only need to change once at Chur. However you can also choose to drive, hire a driver or in ice polo season you will see most of the guests arriving by private jet. But in my opinion, the train ride is too scenic to pass up – especially if you're traveling on the Glacier Express.
thank you very much for Carlton St Moritz for welcoming me to the hotel earlier in the year for the purpose of sharing my stay. As always, all opinions and photos are my own and I cannot recommend this hotel and location in St Moritz enough!