If there’s anywhere in Europe you can guarantee you’ll enjoy the ski season, it’s St. Moritz. In fact, this town in the Swiss Alps only comes alive when there is snow. Sure, it’s beautiful all year round, but St. Moritz wouldn’t be half the fun without a layer of white powder. And indeed it’s a lot of fun when the season is in full swing. Visitors come from all over the world including myself who flew all the way from Australia to check into the Carlton Hotel in St Moritz and tell us what you think of this luxurious five star hotel overlooking the beauty of St. Moritz can expect.
Check in at the Carlton St Moritz
Anyone who has visited St. Moritz will tell you that this town is straight out of a fairy tale. And covered in a thick layer of fresh snow, this only becomes more evident. St. Moritz has long been considered the swankiest place to venture to in ski season, making it one of the pricier choices and attracting a glamorous clientele year after year, in every season.
The city is therefore full of luxury hotels and most of the properties here are five star hotels that have been passed down through the generations. The Carlton Hotel overlooks the lake below and is no exception. In fact, it is one of the most famous hotels in the city.
I checked into the Carlton St Moritz at the end of the short season and decided to share my experience at the start of a new season when many of you are considering a ski holiday during the holidays. What surprised me the most about this hotel is that it is only open for a few short months each year before closing completely until the snow returns.
The view from my room – pick a lake view to wake up to every morning!
Waking up at the Carlton Hotel in St. Moritz
Days start early or late depending on how much fun you had in the bar the night before. Early risers will be rewarded with a soft glow of light looming over the city in the distance, but as breakfast is served until 10am, you can take your time strolling down to the restaurant.
Breakfast is served buffet style, with an a la carte menu for cooked dishes like avocado and poached eggs on toast. Keep an eye out for the Moving Mountains menu options, as these are healthy alternatives for health-conscious travelers or those just looking for a no-fuss fare after a long drive.
Around the hotel: Carlton Bar & Bel Floor
There are many places to eat and drink around the hotel, but my absolute favorite was the Carlton Bar and Bel Etage. Here you can relax and unwind at any time of the day, order an Aperol Spritz for the sun or choose from the bar snack menu. Here guests can also enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with a glass of bubbly, which they can enjoy by the fire in the evening while a live pianist plays.
The Carlton Hotel Gondola Pop Up
Another highlight of my visit was my night enjoying my (first) cheese fondue. I know, I know how Swiss! On my first night at the hotel I booked a gondola to experience the famous fondue once and for all and I dare say I wasn’t disappointed.
For a change, I opted for the truffle fondue — a whole pot of melted cheese simmering with bread, baby potatoes, and pickles to dip and consume. This got even better with a jar of bubbles in hand and a remote speaker to enjoy my own playlist (quite appropriately I chose Sinatra for the occasion).
In the rooms at the Carlton Hotel
First, let me say this: The rooms at the Carlton Hotel are some of the largest hotel rooms I have ever stayed in in a hotel of this size. It just kept going! Multiple closets, oversized bathroom with shower and tub, large outdoor balcony, workspace, and huge sitting area to complement my oversized king bed.
The Spa at the Carlton Hotel
I was very fortunate to be able to sneak in a spa treatment during my stay, which I was particularly excited about when I opted for a 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 surroundings, with thoughtful treatments and menu options in the dining areas as I mentioned. My treatment was a massage to improve circulation, which was of great importance to me after the long haul flight to Europe (and I hadn’t traveled in a while before that!).
The spa facilities at the Carlton
If you don’t want to set aside time for a treatment, there are many facilities available in the spa. From saunas and steam rooms to multiple swimming pools, there really are many ways to spend your time outside of skiing. This is also a great way to unwind after a long day in the elements, so make time to enjoy everything the hotel has to offer in the spa.
Dinner and goodbye!
On my last night at the hotel, I enjoyed dinner at the Romanoff restaurant. I was quite pleasantly surprised at how delicious everything was and how impeccable the service considering this is the hotel’s main dining restaurant (which also has a two Michelin star restaurant on site). Dinner at the Romanoff Restaurant is definitely worth it if you ask me, I couldn’t fault the evening.
After St. Moritz, I ventured back to Zurich by train, ready for my next trip to London. Taking the train from nearby Zurich is fairly easy, and you only need to change once in Chur. However, you can drive yourself, hire a driver, or during ice ball season you’ll find that most guests arrive by private jet. But if you ask me, the train ride is too nice to pass up—especially if you’re traveling on the Glacier Express.
A big thank you to Carlton St Moritz for welcoming me to the hotel earlier this year to share my stay. As always, all opinions and photos are my own and I cannot recommend this hotel and location in St Moritz highly enough!
Brooke Saward
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. Today she divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
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