Introduction

Good grief, how on earth did that happen? It’s my birthday. And it’s not just any birthday. No, this is my fiftieth – a milestone. One moment you’re a clueless teenager wondering what to do with your life, and then, in the blink of an eye, you have a PhD, a greying beard, and you’re still wondering what to do with your life – but quickly running out of options.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, I decided to treat myself to a long weekend of pampering and heavy maintenance (aka the Balinese deep tissue massage) at The Chedi in Andermatt.

Arrival

By the time I arrive at the hotel, it’s just gone 19h00 in the evening. The hotel seems quiet. The young man at reception welcomes me to the hotel and proceeds to check me in. He brings me a hot towel, a praline and some lemongrass infused tea while I wait.

The public areas of the hotel are very much in keeping with The Chedi brand, and very similar to the The Chedi in Muscat – but with a distinctly Swiss twist.

The Grand Deluxe Room

For my stay, I’ve booked a Grand Deluxe Room on the upper floors, overlooking the valley towards the Oberalp pass.

The nightly turn down service has already prepared the room for the night by the time I make it to the room. The duvet has been folded down, there is a fresh bottle of water and a glass on my bedside table, and there are two small chocolates sitting on the duvet.

The room is spacious and comfortable. There’s a fireplace that paints a nice glow across the walls and makes the room feel cozy and intimate.

The room has a fully stocked minibar and an Illy coffee machine. The soft drinks in the minibar are complimentary. They are replenished daily with the coffee capsules and tea selection.

On the coffee table is a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne, a bowl of fruit and more chocolate.

The view from the balcony is spectacular. It’s a very rugged landscape. Autumn hasn’t progressed far yet, even up here, but there’s already a nip in the air, which is laced with a hint of woodsmoke.

The Restaurant

There are two restaurants at the hotel. One is a Japenese restaurant, whereas the main restaurant focusses on serving fusion food. This is also where breakfast is served. Below are a few photos from dinner on the last evening.

Amuse bouche of cheese terrine.

A selection of dim sum.

Trout with Malfatti and pickled root vegetable noodles.

An interesting take on a Swiss classic: meringue with double cream.

And to finish, an espresso and some small pastries, just in case you’re still feeling peckish.

The Service

The service at The Chedi is excellent, with a lot of attention to detail. On the evening of my birthday, for example, the waiter brings me a rather substantial chocolate mousse cake with a candle and a birthday card from the hotel, which is a nice gesture, I think.

The restaurant also informs houskeeping when guests come down for breakfast. Throughout my stay, by the time I returned to my room after breakfast, it had already been cleaned, tidied and replenished, which is quite impressive.

The Spa

About that Balinese deep tissue… The Chedi has an extensive spa area with both an indoor and outdoor pool, saunas, a fully equipped gym and an extensive range of treatments. I go for the Balinese massage in the hope of relieving some of the knots in my shoulders. My therapist is a wisp if a girl with a killer grip! It’s kind of funny, because you really wouldn’t think so to look at her, but this woman seriously knows what she’s doing. By the time she’s done, I’m close to tears, my back is all sore from her ministrations, but… my headache is gone and so is the tension in my back.

Conclusion

I just love The Chedi brand, and I think their hotels are exceptionally well managed. Their staff are obviously well trained and there is a lot of attention to detail. A stay at The Chedi Andermatt is not cheap by any standards, but if you’re looking for a place for a special occasion, I think you can’t go wrong.