In short… A cozy Alpine getaway in a picturesque Swiss village—an antidote to the overly commercialized ski resort towns that can feel like a scene.
The surroundings… The Brecon is located in the Swiss mountain village of Adelboden, 45 minutes from Bern and two hours from both Zurich and Geneva. Not much is going on in town other than a few bakeries, shops and bars. However, the town is famously known for their annual World Cup ski races held in January, which I imagine could be fun to be in town for if you’re a diehard skier!
The look & feel… The hotel is designed by Amsterdam-based studio Nicemakers, who have designed some other spaces I love back in London. It has a contemporary Art Deco feel with bold colors and geometric woodwork throughout, yet retains that cozy lodge feeling you want when you’re in the Swiss Alps. The hotel is run by a Wales native, Grant Maunder, who has had strong ties to Adelboden since his family took their first ski trip to the village 40 years ago. As an anglophile American living in the UK, I appreciated the Welsh touches intentionally placed throughout the hotel, including the handspun pottery, wool blankets and Coaltown coffee.
You truly feel tucked away and relaxed once you set foot inside the front door, as if it is a home. There are plenty of sitting areas on the main floor to tuck in with a book, have a glass of wine or play cards when not enjoying your room.
The rooms… I stayed in the Forest Cozy room, which is a spacious room overlooking the mountain with a porch to soak up the winter sun. The beds are super comfy, with sumptuous linen sheets and lots of fluffy pillows. The bathroom had gorgeous tiling, a rainshower, and was loaded with Aesop products. The room also had a well-stocked bar cart that is included in your stay rate, so no need to worry about being charged ridiculous amounts for water, drinks or snacks!
The food & drink… Food and drink is included with your room rate, so you don’t have to pull out your credit card, which helps it feel like an actual holiday! They offer an a la carte breakfast with a generous spread of the classics, daily afternoon tea, and elevated comfort food for dinner. My favorite was the endless selection of cheese at the chef’s table post dinner—it’s Switzerland, after all!
The activities… The highlight of my stay was the people behind the place. Many of the staff grew up in the village and know it inside and out—like where to get your ski gear sorted, or what trails to ski or hike. Marina from the Brecon team took us out skiing on her favorite trails and knew all the best spots on the mountain, like the “Ravioli Hut” chalet for lunch. Try the cheese on toast and pumpkin ravioli paired with some Swiss white wine. We also did a snowy hike one day at the top of Engstligenalp, which was stunning. I’d like to come back in the spring/summer to do a hiking/biking trip to experience another season here!
The wellness… I rate hotels by their sauna game, and the Brecon’s coal-fired sauna did not disappoint! The sauna has sleek glass windows overlooking the snow-lined trees and mountains for a peaceful backdrop while you’re sweating it out. There is also a steam room, reclining lounge chair area with an open fire, and outside is a heated plunge pool. There are also a few treatment rooms and I was lucky enough to nab a hot stone massage after a day of skiing. Heaven!
Be sure to… Take the gondola up to Val Thorens for the views (you can cross-country ski or snowshoe, as we saw many locals doing for their morning exercise) and have fondue inside the igloos (booking here). I normally don’t jump at these types of experiences as I find them a bit cliche, but it honestly exceeded expectations and sparked a lot of joy. Thanks to Martina from The Brecon, we met the owner of the igloo restaurant and learned more about the work that goes into the igloos, ice sculptures, and why the Swiss love fondue. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon in such a beautiful setting, while scarfing down cheese and bread in good company.
The logistics… I came from London and found the travel easy. I secretly relished the two-hour train ride from the Zurich airport, which felt luxurious in today’s fast-moving world. The train cafe cabin had white linen tablecloths, big windows with sloping mountainside views on each side, and a nice selection of breakfast and coffee. I caught up on emails, journalled and soaked up the views as I anticipated the next few days of skiing.
Parting words… The hotel is adults only (and exclusively open to hotel guests) making it feel even more like a cozy respite where you can truly relax and unwind on your holiday.
Date of stay: December 2024
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