$$$$, Zermatt
Fodor's Review:
A glass-and-steel tower juts out of the hillside above the church square, its only concession to local architecture the wooden panels that cap each end. Part engineering marvel, the rest 21st-century chic, the hotel is a standout in a village of traditional hoteliers. A private tunnel leads to the secure elevator where you are whisked to the reception platform, a contemporary lobby with stone fire box and Mies Van Der Rohe-like furnishings. Rooms are lettered not numbered, a tip of the hat to personalization. The staggered level arrangement with three-sided glass elevator that accesses guest quarters is a bit confusing, but once inside your aesthetically cool room all is serene, from the Bose sound system to slate baths with designer toiletries. Decks and balconies maximize views in all directions. For a jaw-dropping wake-up call push back the curtains to see the sun cast its red flare on the Matterhorn. The restaurant and bar are equally sleek places to sip and dine; the wellness area with multiple steam applications and a contoured tile relaxation room adds solitude.
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