Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen in Andermatt, Switzerland: A Sanctuary Deep in the Swiss Alps Swathed in Alpine Chic
The iconic red Swiss train is a historic scenic railway that crosses the Alps from Switzerland to Italy.
As I stepped off the bright red Swiss train, disembarking in Andermatt, deep in the middle of the Swiss Alps, I took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp mountain air deep into my lungs.
Nestled between looming, picturesque Swiss mountains near the Alpine Ridge, the quaint village is situated over 4,700 feet above sea level, not high enough to make my ears clog.
A network of gondolas brought me to an even higher elevation, where not one, but two Michelin-starred restaurants sat at 7,500 feet high in the mountains.
Accessible only by gondola (or by very determined hikers and mountain bikers), Gutsch by Markus Neff and The Japanese Restaurant—run by twin chefs—are two Michelin-starred restaurants situated at the highest elevation in all of Switzerland. The Japanese Restaurant also has a location in the valley.
Andermatt is a charming mountain village in the Swiss Alps.
The small town is replete with chalets, traditional pubs, and endearing amenities like public spouts with refreshing mountain spring water next to a simple syrup station set up, offering flavors like orange, kiwi, strawberry, and mint.
Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Andermatt anchors a newly built modern village center with paved stones, wide passageways, hiking gear store, bakery, cafes, and a Victorinox store where we bought engraved Swiss army knives.
The Reuss River starts in Andermatt and flows through the area.
Though I had stressed about making train changes in small Swiss villages named in Italian and German (the country uses four official languages), the trains moved like clockwork, on time and arriving on platforms like the Swiss signs had announced.
The Swiss public transportation system encompasses an intricate network of trains, boats, and buses, called the SBB (which stands for Schweizerische Bundesbahnen in German), that covers every part of Switzerland, while leaving the natural beauty of mountains, villages, and lakes intact and virtually untouched.
From the SBB website, you can obtain the Swiss Travel Pass, which makes it easy to hop aboard local trains, boats, and buses—as well as free museum admissions and discounts on gondolas, trams, and other mountain excursions.
The picturesque village features a storybook mountain landscape with authentic Swiss charm and a unique Alpine lifestyle.
From the train, about a half-hour before arrival, I called ahead to the Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, and the front desk sent a driver with a van to meet us at the station.
We could see the sleek, modern-looking Swiss chalet touched with Scandinavian design looming elegantly against the majestic Swiss Alps from the train station.
However, the thought of dragging our luggage and backpacks laden with computers a half-mile away seemed daunting. It was a relief that the start of a relaxing stay at the luxury 116-bedroom hotel would begin with a van pick-up.
Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Andermatt is a luxury hotel designed in a modern interpretation of a Swiss chalet.
Why You’ll Love It
One of the very few hotels in the Swiss village, the Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen boasts the largest indoor pool in Andermatt. In the expansive pool, warmed to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, benches line one edge of the 25-meter pool with alternating massage jets.
A large panoramic window that served as a wall showcased majestic mountain scenery with stupendous peaks and the Ursern Valley.
Open 24 hours, the large gym includes Technogym equipment, free weights, and yoga equipment, and has plenty of space for self-designed workouts.
The hotel’s warm and inviting atmosphere includes natural wooden floors, local fabrics, and soft furnishings.
The property’s 244 elegant rooms, suites, and residences feature a full range of upscale amenities.
Spa & Wellness
Situated next to the pool is a relaxing sauna sanctuary: Uela Spa. The area includes three soothing rooms, including a Finnish sauna, warmed to 194 degrees Fahrenheit, a dry sauna, and a steam room with local mountain herbs permeating the space.
A mountain of ice chips are in an open blue freezer built into the wall invites guests to help themselves for cooling down.
The waiting lounge area is swathed in white décor, complete with overstuffed comfy pillows, oversized long couches roomy enough to stretch your legs on, and airy, white, overhead lights in the shape of whimsical clouds.
The on-site Spa & Wellness Center offers guests a place to relax after a day of adventures.
Leveraging the bounty of the surrounding Swiss Alps, treatment options included the Alpienne Herb Stamp Massage, which uses handpicked mountain herbs in 60-degree hot, cloth-covered compress bags placed on the body to promote blood circulation and stimulate the metabolism.
Or choose the Swiss Stone Pine Vitality Massage, which uses Swiss pine massage milk and pine rods of various lengths and diameters to optimize relaxation effects on the body.
The spa also offers facial treatments to combat the effects of the outdoor elements, as many visitors come to take advantage of one of the best areas for skiing and nature hikes in Europe.
Guests can cool down with ice chips from the spa’s open blue freezer that is built into the wall.
The spa includes fitness facilities, a sauna, steam room, and pool.
In the morning we dined on the breakfast buffet that included an omelet station, pancakes, yogurt, oatmeal, and a surprising array of fruits, like kiwi and mango, along with berries and melons.
When it was time to leave, we hopped aboard the Swiss Glacier Express, a luxury tilting train with panoramic windows. As the train wound around the tracks, we viewed glaciers, mountains, aqueducts, and gorges that you can only see from the Glacier Express trains; these were unique perspectives that hikers, cars, or bikes can’t access.
The ride is so spectacular that they’ve even designed a tilting wine glass and tilting coffee mugs to accommodate the drinks as the train tilts around tracks. On board, passengers can order a range of plates, ranging from à la carte to multi-course meals, featuring dishes like chicken fricassee and chocolate dessert.
Located at the rear of the train, the luxurious Glacier Express Bar showcases local beer, wines, and cocktails, with wooden paneling, mesmerizing artwork on the ceiling, and panoramic windows of the Swiss Alps that make this moving bar one of the most unique places to sip cocktails.
The Swiss Glacier Express takes travelers across the Swiss Alps passing through 91 tunnels and over 291 bridges.
Insider Tips:
To receive a spa treatment, it’s best to book ahead of time because walk-ins are difficult to accommodate.
Note that the saunas are co-ed, so guests must be showered and should spa without clothing, but covered with a towel.
I love how the sauna rules spell out: “The sauna is an oasis of calm and relaxation. Loud discussions about business or other things are not the order of the day.” Love it!
Be sure to book a reservation on the Glacier Express train to leave Andermatt months in advance to explore the rest of picturesque Switzerland, the Swiss way.
For more information and to book a stay at Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Andermatt call (714) 294-7800 or visit their website. Follow on Instagram: @radissonbluhotelandermatt
Bärengasse 1, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland
More luxury destinations:
A LEGOLAND and Family Beach Adventure at The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa
The Newly-Rebranded Archer Hotel Brings Old World Hospitality to Alexandria, Virginia
[Photos courtesy of Radisson Blu Hotel Reussen, Andermatt]
Helen I. Hwang is an award-winning journalist, author, and mechanical engineer. Her works have appeared in The New York Times for Kids, Eater San Diego, People Magazine, Parents.com, Trip Advisor, Huffington Post, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine,TravelSavvy.com, and other publications. She has also written a book, titled All Grown Up: Please Touch Museum and Its Move to Memorial Hall, for the Please Touch Museum, a children's museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, Helen worked as a researcher for the Peabody Award-winning NPR radio program, Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Over the years, she's lived on three continents and traveled to more than 40 countries. She currently lives in San Diego, CA, the 16th place she's called home. More about her can be found at helenihwang.com.