Rath checks in: Bürgenstock Resort, Lucerne

And at the same time, this place has an eventful history – as a film location, for example. In 1964, probably the best James Bond film “Goldfinger” was released, which was filmed at the Bürgenstock, among other places. Sophia Loren resided in this house as a regular guest for twelve years. So much glamor and glory on the outside – but how does it look in the sacred halls? I have extensively tested the service and the benefits.

A warning in advance if you want to book a room right away: Paradise is waiting to be conquered. At least that’s what I found out when I arrived. The hotel is special in every respect once you have finally found it. I arrive by car and get lost several times. While the after-dark lighting may seem romantic to night walkers, the signage could be a little less understated.

I also got lost on the property itself several times. The 15 buildings in total go beyond the dimensions of a simple resort and even look like their own little mountain town. Only the nebulous navigation disturbs. Perhaps you simply use the great shuttle ship from Lucerne advertised on the website and continue with the Bürgenstock Bahn. It stops right at the lobby, so it’s almost impossible to get lost here. Or you can book a helicopter and land directly on one of the landing pads belonging to the resort. You read that right, plural.

Swiss charm and oriental glow in the Bürgenstock

When I finally enter the lobby, I feel like Aladdin opened his magic lamp. Without me having to ask him. After the warm welcome I am already beyond wishing happy. Everything shines and sparkles. The wood is polished, the accessories are carefully selected. The staff behind the counter smile at me like we’re old friends. I feel the great spirit of the house from the moment I opened the front door.

The bumpy journey is long a thing of the past when I enter my suite. I discover it immediately, my favorite place: the bench in front of the three meter high, floor-to-ceiling windows. Incidentally, every guest enjoys this luxury, regardless of whether they opt for a standard room or a spacious suite. Wherever I look, only the best materials are used in every corner. Even the laundry bag, a detail that is often overlooked, is made of the finest linen.

The three by three meter marble slabs in the bathroom with an interesting grain are meticulously coordinated. Put together, they form a large whole on the wall. This attention to detail is rare to find in such a large resort and at the same time difficult to implement. It’s really a pity that I can only pay so little attention to this finishing touch as I end the day with relish in my private whirlpool with a view of Lake Lucerne.

Between heaven and vitamin sea: experience a spectacular spa

A spa is part of the good feeling in the luxurious houses of this world. As a frequent traveler, I know a wide variety of wellbeing approaches. The Bürgenstock’s range of spas surpasses most. 10,000 square meters of heaven built close to the water – in the truest sense of the word. While I swim in the infinity edge pool, my eyes wander to the opposite Alpine landmarks Rigi and Pilatus. Below me, you guessed it, lies Lake Lucerne in all its glory.

Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to explore the private spa suites, because I lose all sense of time and space in the spa halls. In any case, I let go of all tension and float weightlessly in the brine bath of the Alpine Spa for a quiet eternity. If, like me, you book the floating package, you get three-hour spa access included.

A guided yoga class in the spa garden under the expert guidance of the yoga teachers is an absolute must. Pure mountain air included. And who knows, maybe the mountain will call you too. For a long hike in spring, when the snow has melted and the lush mountain meadows beckon with colorful flowers.

I go one health step further in the associated Waldhotel Health & Medical Excellence Spa. Wellness with health expertise is offered here under the motto “Healthy by Nature”. In this spa I feel like I’m right in nature. Wood from the adjacent forests and tiles made of alpine stone ground me and make me want more. More silence. More health. More well-being.

I choose a spa breakfast package. While this is for early risers, the nutritious breakfast buffet is unfortunately only available until 10:30 am. But the early bird is known to catch the healthy worm. Selected vitamins, healthy cereals and aromatic teas get me in the mood for the day ahead. The Waldhotel’s diet is based on changing the color of food every day, as fruits and vegetables of the same color are believed to maximize the absorption of the ingredients. Anyway, I feel like I could rip trees out after my spa day.

The expertise of the Waldhotel goes far beyond the already fantastic spa area. Diagnostic, therapy and rehabilitation offers are complemented by Prevention & Health programs. An interdisciplinary team of experts accompanies everyone who wishes to on their individual path to more vitality and life energy. I will definitely do a short spa stay for my health on my next visit to the Waldhotel.

Palate explosions: Culinary delights at the highest level

The final love for a place is through the stomach. At least my gut feeling makes the final decision as to how happy I am in a home. With a total of seven restaurants, three bars and a total of 73 Gault Millau points, the choice is difficult. I end up dining in the Spices Kitchen & Terrace just above the lake. Not for the faint-hearted or people with a fear of heights: the glass facade gives me the feeling of floating directly above the lake. A little trust in the architecture of the star architect Matteo Thun is part of it.

The dishes are to my liking and touch all my senses: Janet Lopez is actually from the Philippines and works as a Japanese specialty chef at the Bürgenstock Hotels & Resort Lake Lucerne. In the show kitchen, she conjures up the best Asian menu I’ve ever eaten outside of Asia. Finely spicy aromas and a sweet spiciness delight my palate with every bite. It is a pleasure to watch Ms. Lopez and her colleagues prepare the food. An experience to see, taste, smell and enjoy.

Conclusion: Quality at the highest level, which has its price

I enjoy every second of my stay and have the feeling that Switzerland is once again the world market leader when it comes to hotels and quality. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Dolder Grand, the Bad Ragaz or now the Bürgenstock: I’m surprised by the elegance and finesse in all of the hotels. That rightly has its price. A night in the Bürgenstock cost 1,500 Swiss francs. A development that I also foresee for Germany, quality has its price.

In Germany it would be high time to pay employees in the hotel industry better and to pass on the prices to the end consumer so that quality pays off again. At least at the top. This is the only way Germany can catch up with the Swiss elite again. You can find out here in the Handelsblatt at the end of November whether the Bürgenstock will be listed among the neighboring hotels in the “101 best hotels in Germany”.

About the author: As a former grand hotelier and operator of a travel platform, Carsten K. Rath is a professional globetrotter. He travels to all the hotels he writes about for the Handelsblatt on his own account. Rath is the brain behind the ranking “The 101 best hotels in Germany”, whose partners include the Handelsblatt.

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