.

Modern Alpine Chic at the Hotel Valsana in Arosa

Switzerland

The Hotel Valsana and Apartements is a stylish hotel which opened in December 2017. Located just in front of the lake at the entrance to Arosa, the hotel is very modern and beautifully designed.

With panoramic views of the mountains, and close proximity to the ski area in Arosa, it’s perfect for skiing. In Winter you can actually ski back to the hotel. However, as we found out, there is so much to do here anytime of year, making it an ideal holiday destination for singles, couples and families alike.

We were invited to visit in July, when hiking rather than skiing was on the agenda and as well as e-biking and walking we also enjoyed the wonderful spa and gym facilities.

The hotel is located at the entrance to the village and next to the forest with sweeping views over the lake. It has 40 bedrooms and 9 family apartments which all have either 1 or 2 bedrooms as well as kitchenettes.

The design by Carlo Rampazzi is stylish and chic. The lavish use of wood in a contemporary design pays tribute to the local region, but at the same time blends beautifully with the stone and the glass. There are lots of individual pieces of furniture from all over the globe in the open plan ground floor area, adding interest and detail.

Furthermore, for the eco conscious amongst you it’s good to know that the hotel has been built in a very environmentally friendly way. It even gets power from an “ice battery”.

Arrival

Arrival was friendly and very efficient and after a welcome drink of their own homemade iced tea, Carmen gave us all the information we needed and we headed up to our rooms where our suitcase were awaiting us.

The Bedrooms

The wood theme continues inside the bedrooms which are fabulous! Large and spacious with huge floor to ceiling windows they have enormous balconies which wrap round both outer sides of the room. The balcony had a panoramic view over the lake and the mountains from one side and had a fabulous swing to relax in as well as loungers and some chairs.

We stayed in a family bedroom as our daughter came with us and she had a sofa bed which was made up once we had checked in.

The bed was large and comfortable the décor was a modern interpretation of Alpine chic with a few quirky additions such as the multi coloured armchair and a record player with a selection of vinyl to play. There’s also a selection of books on hand too.

The mini bar is stocked with a selection of soft drinks which are available to guests free of charge.

Bathroom

Our bathroom was modern and grey with a beautiful bath tub taking centre stage and as well as a wonderful power shower there were two sinks and lots and lots of space. Fluffy towels and bath robes completed the look and as with an increasing number of hotels with eco credentials these days, they supplied full size multi use toiletries rather than miniatures.

Restaurant

Above – Two views of the large and spacious Twist Restaurant

There is a good buffet breakfast at the Twist Restaurant with a lot of healthy options. Hot egg and bacon dishes can be ordered on request and there is plenty of choice. Everything was of high quality and beautifully presented.

We didn’t have dinner at the hotel whilst were there as we went to a local restaurant, the Alpenblick, just a short walk away.

Dinner at the nearby Restaurant Alpenblick

We enjoyed a lovely dinner with all sorts of grilled Alpine specialities, after a wonderful Apéro on the restaurant terrace admiring the views and the goats in the field below.

However, as well as breakfast we also had a great lunch at the Twist too. Once again there is a good selection regional specialities as well as an excellent choice of healthy options including a selection of “bowls”.

Lunch at Twist Restaurant Hotel Valsana Arosa

After a hike in the morning we had worked up an appetite and really enjoyed our delicious lunch!

Beautiful Spa Facilities

After lunch it was time to explore the Spa and Wellness facilities. In addition to the beautiful pool, which is perfect for relaxation and swimming, there are two sauna rooms and a steam room.

It’s a great place to relax and you have views outside right into the hotel garden and in Summer they put extra loungers outside the pool on the patio. The changing rooms are quite compact but whilst we were there this wasn’t a problem as we had the pool almost to ourselves (despite the hotel being fully booked). In any case with your bathrobe you can easily go upstairs to your bathroom if you so wished.

There is also a comprehensive menu of beauty and massage treatments available.

Well Equipped Gym 

The well equipped gym offered modern state of the art equipment and along with an additional workout room, are located in the same wellness area.

Convenient Location and Plenty of Room To Unwind

Other facilities to note include a large and comfortable bar and lounge, free high speed wifi (which was very good), free parking in the underground car park beneath the hotel and right next door there is a sports shop as well as a Coop.

Activities and Things To Do

Arosa is the perfect place for an active family. The lake is on the doorstep offering boat, pedalo and SUP hire. In Winter apparently horse races take place on the frozen lake.

There is also tennis next door, a ropes course, golfing close by and hiking in the vicinity. Just recently the Arosa Bear Sanctuary has opened – a conservation park for bears.

Hiking

Julian took us on an excellent hike through some beautiful countryside which we really enjoyed. It was varied and very scenic and we saw some beautiful lakes. He had paced it so it was just the right level of exertion – and we all felt so glad we had done it by the time we got back.

E-Biking

You can hire e-bikes from the Sports Shop next door. We were lucky enough to go on an e-bike tour and there are plenty of trails just outside the hotel.

For me it was pretty daunting, but my husband who is a more experienced mountain biker, really enjoyed it. Please note if you are short (like me) you may need to check that they have an e-bike  with pedals you can reach! However, the e-biking team went to the ultimate lengths to accommodate me and event cut off some of the saddle length! Talk about service 🙂

Overall

We had a fabulous time at the hotel and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. The food was excellent and the bedrooms were so large, comfortable and spacious. Everything was well thought out and the whole experience was truly relaxing. For a person who usually only stays in mountain hotels during the ski season, however, I think I’ve now become a convert to Summer in the mountains too. Definitely a place to return to!

Hotel Valsana and Appartements Arosa

Address: Oberseepromenade 2, 7050 Arosa, Switzerland

Phone:  +41 81 378 63 63

Visit the Hotel Valsana and Appartements Arosa website here.

Click here for the Google Maps Coordinates for the hotel here.