The Alpina Gstaad – Madonna’s £17,500 A Night Ski Hotel

Where? The Alpina

Location? Gstaad, Switzerland. Madonna’s favourite winter wonderland hotel in the Alps, she liked it so much she bought a chalet in the same village.

Celebs who’ve stayed?  Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tiger Woods and many more…

Fun facts?  The Panorama Suite (where Madonna stayed) costs £17,500 per night.  It has its own private gym, massage room, jacuzzi, hammam, kitchen with personal chef and in-room butler. Madonna had black out curtains installed in the bedroom before arriving.

– Leo DiCaprio signed the Titanic Poster which hangs in the hotels private cinema room when he visited the hotel.

– There are 2 Michelin starred restaurants in the hotel, Megu and Sommet.

– A state of the art Tesla car which looks like a white spaceship, comes to pick you up on arrival and departure from the airport.

– The spa is a world renowned Six Senses Spa. The hotel boasts 12 international hotel awards including #1 hotel on Trip Advisor and Travel and Leisures Top 100 Hotels in the World.

The Hotel

The Alpina is one of the most renowned and revered hotels in the Swiss Alps. It sit like an icon overlooking the chic alpine resort of Gstaad. It goes beyond luxury in its decor, ethos and impeccable service.

Gstaad is known for its jet-set clientele and caters for their expensive tastes with shops in the resort such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi. The Alpina is the perfect hotel to cater for their well travelled tastes too.

Commanding breathtaking views of the mountains and beyond the hotel is perfect for winter and summer breaks.

The Decor

Employing some of the countries finest crafts people the hotel is a true design property. It perfectly juxtaposes traditional alpine furnishings made with stone, leather and reclaimed wood, created by the best local artisan with modern functionality and an outstanding modern art collection. Housing ones of Switzerlands finest art collections, the hotel is a living gallery space.

I was taken aback by the grandeur of the main atrium pictured above and below the cosy and stylish bedroom in my suite. Each bedroom has it own individual hand painted furniture and everything from the lights, heating, music and curtains is activated from a central stat of the art electronic dock.

The Madonna Factor

As I mentioned before the hotel has no end of celebrity and A-list guests. The image above is of me hanging out in the spa chill out room of the Panorama Suite, which is the room Madonna stayed in. Below is the private in-room balcony jacuzzi, with an incredible view. Why visit the spa when you have one in your room?

The hotel acts as a living gallery to one of the best contemporary art collections in Switzerland. Above: me just casually chilling underneath a Tracey Emin neon art work.

Everywhere you look in the hotel is an aesthetic delight. The ceiling of the main atrium is an antique hand painted wall which was reclaimed from a disused local church.

Gastronomic Experiences

Combining Swiss traditions with the best ingredients sourced from all over the world, The Alpina is perfect place to tantalise your taste buds. From modern Japanese cuisine brought to you by master chefs at Megu, to Michelin starred gourmet dishes at Sommet and an altogether more traditional alpine feast at Stubli, every restaurant is impeccable.

I tried each restaurant and I highly recommended them. So much so, next time I stay I won’t be eating anywhere else. Every flavour and ingredient from the Japanese Waygu Beef at Megu to the locally sourced Raclette cheese at Stubli is probably the finest you’ll taste in Switzerland.

Megu is a mouth-watering, Michelin starred, Japanese restaurant on the first floor with incredible decor and an award winning sake menu. The sushi (and everything else) is divine.

Swiss Stubli (pictured below) has a warm and homely decor and a delicious traditional Swiss menu. Charlie practically had to carry me out of the restaurant I ate so much :) I am obsessed with raclette cheese and fondue.

Gstaad is filled with hundreds of attractions and fun things to do. If you like skiing or just to get a view of the mountains from the worlds highest bridge between two peaks, head to Glacier 3000. For more on Gstaad activities check out last weeks blog on my family trip to the Alps.

The Six Senses Spa

Blissful serenity, the two words I use to describe my post treatment feeling at the Six Senses Spa at The Alpina. I indulged in an hour of my usual favourite, the signature full body massage, but this treatment was unbelievable, quite possibly the best massage I’ve had!!

Post spa you must take a dip in the spectacular underground spa pool and hot tubs, float in the water and watch the snow hit the dome window in the ceiling. Or brave the sub zero temperatures outside before running into the warm heated outdoor pool. Whatever you do you must make sure you save time for a little spa action, you’ll be missing out of you don’t. You can also indulge in more unusual holistic treatments like Chakra Healing.

The spectacular underground cave swimming pool with glass dome ceiling.I have to say, The Alpina was such a magnificent hotel it is easily in my top 5 hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Everything about it is just fabulous!

That’s all from The Alpina Gstaad, next stop London. Thank you so much to the incredible Alpina Gstaad team for such fantastic service, stunning decor, breathtaking views and generally treating me like a princess! You made me feel like a real VIP!

And a huge thank you to Gstaad Official Tourism Board for organising such a wonderful and memorable trip. For more info on Gstaad head to the official website.

To find out more about the stunning Alpina Hotel click here.

For more of Bonnie’s Swiss adventures click here.

Bon Voyage! xx