I’m clearly getting into hotel corridors at the moment. After the recent post on the Riders Palace, here’s another interesting ski and boarding hotel.

The Cube in Savognin is designed to be enjoyed apparently, with a modern lifestyle architecture.

The idea is that most of the time you spend in the htel, you aren’t in your room, and even if you are, a lot of the rooms are for four people so you can still socialize.

The hotel features a wellness area downstairs, and there’s also a climbing wall if you fell like, er, climbing a wall.

There’s a club (the Cube Club) in the basement too,

Spacious communal areas, big TVs. You get the picture…

Savognin itself is not the largest ski area, but it’s big enough (80km of pistes) to keep you occupied and is only 40km from St Moritz should you feel so inclined.

Room prices are from CHF 179 per person including half board and a ski pass, so it seems good value.

http://www.cube-savognin.ch/en/home/

Photo: Flickr Lars Tinner

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Lago Bianco – White Lake.

Except it’s not really white, unless it’s frozen and snow covered. And given that it is 2234m above sea level (over 7000ft) that happens quite frequently.

If you happen to be staying in the Bernina area of Switzerland, you might want to travel along the Bernina Pass and take a look at this little lake. It’s about 1.5 square km, which is less than a square mile, so there’s not masses of walking to get round it, but expect to do some clambering. Remember: sensible shoes…

The pass, which is located in the eastern end of the country, Graubünden (or Grisons) connects the locals with Italy. At least it does in summer. It’s pretty much closed from October to April. Check local reports before setting off!

The lake is at least partially dammed, and has a hydro-electric power station at one end, providing clean electricity to the national grid.

The Bernina Expresses passes close by, so you can get there easily (and very pleasantly) even if you don’t have a car.

Photo: Flickr Lars Tinner

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

The main station has a Christmas Market on at the moment, the Christkindli Markt.

It’s full of little wooden huts selling craft items, or food, pretty much all of it of reasonable quality.

But the thing you notice first is the Christmas tree.

Provided by Swarovski, the entire thing (and it’s massive) is decked out with tons of sparkly crystals.

Once again showing that Switzerland is a great place to be wealthy…

Photo Flickr: Brujita

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

The Riders Palace Hotel in Laax is one of the coolest destinations for snowboarders in Switzerland.

I’ve never bneen there because A) I ski, not board, and B) I’m not cool.

But if you’re into gaming and stuff like that, it’s the sort of place that has a playstation in every room.

And there’s a club where you can throw shapes (or whatever it is that one does these days)  until the early hours.

I’ve just worked out that if you’re the sort of person that’s likely to go there, you won’t want any more info from me, but I hope you like the traffic light corridors…

http://www.riderspalace.com

Photos: Flickr- hannes du plessis and newformula

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

 The six day bike race is a bit of a tradition.

The history of six day racing seems a bit unclear, and seems to have started either in the UK or the US, but is no mainly popular in mainland Europe.

A number of events are held throughout the year, and one of the oldest is in Zurich.

This year the 52nd Six day race will be held, and it’s as much a social occasion as a sporting event.

Social in the sense of groups of (mainly) men eatring, drinking and smoking cigars – although the latter might be getting a bit less popular.

The original concept was to have one of the riders from a team continually on track – although they could take tiome off to sleep if they had to. Sounds fair enough, until it’s pointed out that a team consists of only two riders.

 So, on average, a rider would be cycling at racing speeds for twelve hours a day, for six days solid.

But clearly cyclists are getting soft and only race in the evenings now.  well, I say evenings, but usually it goes on past midnight, in fact on Saturday they’ll be racing until 03:30 in the morning.

The racing takes place from Thursday 11 December until Tuesday the 16th at the Hallenstadion. 

Tickets are available in various categories, including a late night option for CHF 12, so even in todays economic markets, it’s an affordable pleasure. Unless you opt for a table for all six days at CHF 5200.

Photos: Flickr tetedelacourse

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

Fancy a new wallpaper for your PC?

How about this image, taken in Eastern Switzerland, near the skiing area of Flumserberg.

One day I really must find out what HDR means. Obviously it’s something to do with really bright colours!

Photo: Flickr – Tambako the Jaguar

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

This weekend, classic car enthusiasts from all over Switzerland will be congregating in St Moritz for the annual British Classic Car show.

The show focusses mainly on posh stuff, rather than sports cars, but still has plenty of interest.

Main Marques represented are Bentley and Rolls Royce, with Jaguars, Austin Healeys and Aston Martins and Lagondas also featuring.

Only one MG and one Triumph are on the list, but I’m sure there will be more to see in the visitors’ car parks.

The cars will run up the hill, and given St Moritz’s location, they will have had enough practice at that on the way there.

Classic cars in Switzerland are among the best prepared in the world, the cars are probably in better condition than when they left the factory!

Entry is free, and although it’s normally possible to add a car as a late entry, this year the list is full, so a grand turn out is assured

St.Moritz: Friday, 11 July 08 – Sunday, 13 July 08

www.stmoritz.ch

Photo Flickr: smenzel  juhanson

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

 Switzerland is completely sport crazy at the moment.

Not only do we have the EM (Did I mention that?) but there’s also the Tour de Suisse, one of the biggest annual sports events in the country.

It’s not as big as the Tour de France, but then France is much bigger than Switzerland.

But as Switzerland consists mainly of hills and mountains, it is a major event for cyclists.

It runs over 9 days, and covers 1411 km (close to 900 miles). That’s 100 miles per day, over hilly passes. Rather them than me!

It finishes on the 22nd June, so still plenty of time to catch a bit of the action – it really is very impressive as the riders go cycling by.

The downside is that it is over very quickly, but then you get to look at the scenery and find a nice restaurant to provide sustenance. Life is good.

www.tds.ch

Photos: Flickr Meckimac

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

I couldn’t resist this extra shot of the footballer “sculpture” in Zurich, so here it is.

I kind of guess that it makes sense to have 11 players in it, but I’m surprised they didn’t make it one player from each country…

Photo Flickr: Beat

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler

As tickets for the matches are like gold dust, many people are opting for the next best thing.

Public Viewing Areas are springing up all over the place, even in the lakes, as you can see here in Zurich.

The idea is to promote the party atmosphere of the EM, and generally get loads of people out on the streets celebrating-

Some will be family areas, one I saw being built was sponsored by Migros the supermarket chain. Others will be corporate jollies.

I’ll probably opt for a local biergarden with a large screen and nice shady trees…

Btw – EM is short for Europa Meisterschaft (European Championship) and I’ll be sticking with the local abbreviation.

Photo: Geoff

Post from: The Switzerland Traveler