Switzerland is one of the world’s most scenic countries and Verbier is one of its most picturesque ski villages. It’s known for its particularly impressive ski runs and high altitude, as well as its legendary après-ski. Many celebrities and royals flock here to enjoy its amenities and whilst I’d never been, Paul had loved his visit some years ago. We were therefore delighted to be invited to stay at Hotel La Cordée des Alpes and to savour its alpine charm.
First Impressions of Hotel La Cordée des Alpes
Arriving at Hotel La Cordée, we were straight away struck by how picturesque it is. The wooden facade is designed in a traditional Swiss chalet style. There’s even a vintage carriage outside and guests have access to the private underground car park, which is pretty handy when the temperatures are below freezing. Heading into the spacious lobby we were warmly greeted by Emmanuelle. She checked us in swiftly and we were shown to our Deluxe Room with fireplace on the second floor.
Accommodation at Hotel La Cordée des Alpes
Hotel La Cordée des Alpes is a member of Small Luxury Hotels and it really had the wow factor with two balconies overlooking the snowy peaks.
Let’s have a look around, shall we?
Although it’s called a deluxe room, there’s actually a separate lounge with a handy desk area and a log fire, so I’d actually consider it to be a suite. What a great way to relax after a full day’s skiing, watching the flames flicker. The aged wood floors also added to the cosy ambiance.
I loved the bathroom with its patterned tiles and double sinks. There was a great power shower, a selection of
Le Labo toiletries, fluffy bathrobes and slippers.
My favourite feature though was the bathroom’s glass panel. You could see the snow-topped trees while lying in the bath, yet there was a sliding wood panel that you could close for privacy. There was even a cut out panel in the shower. With a separate W.C., it really was very well thought out.
The bed was incredibly comfortable and the room was so quiet that we got an excellent night’s sleep. I also liked the fact that it was nice and warm throughout the hotel – nothing worse than a chilly bedroom! Our suite was well equipped with a safe, minibar, iron and board, flat-screen TV and tea and coffee making facilities plus complimentary high speed WiFi.
Facilities at Hotel La Cordée des Alpes
The spa at Hotel La Cordée is a real highlight and considered by the locals that we spoke to as the best in all of Verbier.
It’s a beautifully designed space with a huge swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. There’s also a gym for those feeling very energetic – I stuck to the jacuzzi!
The relaxation areas have an exotic feel with comfy daybeds tucked into cosy alcoves. The spa carries two lines, Cinq Mondes and Karin Herzog. The latter is Swiss made and considered to be the world leader in oxygen skincare. I enjoyed one of their express 20 minute facials, starting with a thorough cleanse using Karin Herzog Finest Chocolate Cleansing. It had an amazing aroma of chocolate and made my skin feel clean without drying it out. My therapist gently worked in the Mild Face Scrub to exfoliate my skin. This unique product is apparently popular with many celebrities and it has a gentle fizzing action that clears away dead skin cells, revealing fresh skin underneath. Afterwards she applied a light serum into my face with an expert touch. The final step was a Nourishing Face Cream which had a thick and creamy consistency. By now my skin felt thoroughly revitalised and ready to face the mountain weather.
There’s also a cosy open plan area on the ground floor of the hotel. The bar serves up tasty cocktails and hot drinks.
The lounge area has comfy sofas and a good selection of books.
We particularly liked the decorative touches of vintage skis and boots – thankfully things have got a lot more high tech since those days. Which brings us on to…
Skiing at Hotel La Cordée des Alpes
For ski hire, the hotel have an arrangement with Jet Verbier, located a few minutes walk away. For those guests hiring skis or other equipment, they’ll deliver them directly to the hotel so there’s no need to carry them back. The same goes for when you leave, your equipment will be picked up by Jet from the hotel’s boot room. It’s a real time saver and nice not to have to carry them. I tried on a number of boots as I like to have plenty of room inside them and they were very helpful in finding the right ones. The staff speak quite a few languages and the person assisting us turned out to be British. We were very impressed with our ski helmets which had a faux fur lining that really keeps your head warm. It does away with the need for a sports underneath your helmet. There was also a wide selection of ski clothing to buy, handy as I managed to leave my ski trousers at home! They also rent out mountain bikes in the Summer.
Back at the hotel, we took a look at the ski and boot room, which in the words of another guest is the best they’ve ever seen. Not only is it extremely spacious but there are heated boot holders for each guest with the corresponding room numbers. There’s an adjacent room with lockers which we didn’t need to use.
Another convenient feature of the hotel is their luxurious mini van that will whisk you to the ski lift in the blink of an eye. It’s only a ten minute walk but nice not to have to carry anything for longer than strictly necessary! I’ll be dedicating a whole post to skiing and après-ski in Verbier but suffice to say that conditions are excellent. That’s mainly due to its high altitude, and there are also ski cannons that can be called into use if need be. Watch this space as we’ll be sharing photos of the highest fondue restaurant in Europe!
Dining
You wouldn’t necessarily expect fine dining in a skiing village but this is Verbier after all…and the restaurant at La Cordée is a real find. Some of the dishes are worthy of a Michelin starred restaurant. We particularly enjoyed the delicate shrimp starter and the aubergine parmigiana as well as the succulent tuna main course.
And just take a look at these desserts…the apple parfait was a triumph.
This lemon cheesecake tasted every bit as good as it looks, with a great range of texture and flavours from mint to fresh orange.
Breakfast at Hotel La Cordée is a hearty affair, with a fabulous buffet and a range of hot à la carte dishes.
We enjoyed scrambled eggs and omelettes during our stay, as well as a range of tasty hams, salmon, cereals and cheeses. You can also make your own healthy juice from a range of fresh fruit and vegetables.
One of Verbier’s most iconic venues is the Farm Club, delighting partygoers since 1971. It’s not located on a farm but in Hotel Nevai, the sister property of Hotel La Cordée des Alpes. Guests staying at La Cordée are pretty much certain of getting one of the coveted tables at this lively place, which has seen the likes of David Bowie and Diana Ross gracing its dance floor.
Hotel Nevai also houses the stylish Bottle Brothers restaurant and bar, the brainchild of Benjamin Luzuy who also owns several restaurants in Geneva. It specializes in mini burgers, organic wines and delicious cocktails. The barman rustled up one of his signature concoctions which recently won an award for its secret ingredients, and very tasty it was too!
Another famous spot in Verbier is Le Mouton Noir, which translates as The Black Sheep. Located on the slopes, right next to Les Ruinettes ski lift, it’s the in place to be after skiing. The party gets going from mid afternoon, with a live DJ spinning tunes on its huge panoramic sun terraces. It’s fun to watch the paragliders as you relax in the bar!
We went there for lunch and I didn’t expect the food to be quite as good as it was. They do some very refined dishes as well as hearty mountain fare like my cheese croute with egg, bacon and salad and Paul’s roesti potatoes, also with egg, bacon and salad.
I enjoyed a café gourmand or selection of sweet treats with coffee – an attractive dessert, wouldn’t you agree?
However I think Paul’s homemade profiteroles with vanilla ice cream outdid mine 
Getting to Hotel La Cordée des Alpes
Geneva airport is just 1 hour and 50 minutes away, and there is a train station located fairly close by at Le Chable. To arrive in style, consider a transfer by Tesla. You’d be surprised how well these electric cars grip the road and of course there’s no fuel to pay for. We decided to charge the car up at a service station for the fun of it, though it had come fully charged – in less than 15 minutes it had completely recharged. It’s a very comfortable ride and we both really liked the large display screen that shows your route and other useful information. The car comes equipped with a ski box and also with Spotify – we had great fun listening to a range of songs along the way.
Final thoughts about Hotel La Cordée des Alpes
For fabulous service with a smile and a cosy alpine ambiance, Hotel La Cordée des Alpes is the perfect choice. We particularly liked:
- Excellent food and drinks at La Cordée des Alpes, Le Mouton Noir and Hotel Nevai
- Service that goes above and beyond
- World-class spa facilities
Whilst it’s an ideal base for skiing, it would be equally great for a Summer hiking trip. We hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual tour – have you ever been skiing in Switzerland?
Hotel La Cordée des Alpes, Route du Centre Sportif 24, CH – 1936 Verbier, Switzerland
The post The Ultimate Luxurious Ski Stay – Hotel La Cordée des Alpes, Verbier appeared first on Luxury Columnist.
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