Switzerland is wonderful, and if not there a real fan of skiing can spend a vacation? For the project "Hotels from the first hands," we have already presented you many different Switzerland hotels. And this time we want to tell you about a particular hotel – Nira Alpina.
Claudia Pronk the General Manager of Nira Alpina, with pleasure agreed to answer the questions posed by our Managing Director Vasily Maslov.
V.M.: Could you tell a little about location of the resort, its sights and natural peculiarities? And whether hotel fits in this area or not in your opinion?
C.P.: Sure, Nira Alpina is situated at the upper end of the spectacular Engadin valley with panoramic views over the endless expanse of turquoise lakes that lie along the plateau. Tucked into the mountainside beneath and right next to the majestic Corvatsch Mountain, the hotel enjoys views of the small Swiss village of Surlej and Lake Silvaplana beyond.
The hotel is only five kilometres from St Moritz, yet offers a far more enviable location.
Due to a private, direct access to the Corvatsch cable car station, the hotel provides true ski in – ski out access, the first hotel in the entire ski domain to do so, and connects guests quickly and seamlessly to the finest skiing in the region. So I can surely say that the hotel fits perfectly in this area.
V.M.: Very impressive, as the main reason of our tourists travel to Switzerland is skiing. So, why should they choose a resort where your hotel is located, and as a result your hotel?
C.P.: The Corvatsch offers by far the most challenging skiing in St Moritz with 41 kilometres of red runs and 12 kilometres of black piste. The off-piste is legendary and rarely gets tracked out. The excellent snow conditions on the Corvatsch are in part due to the altitude, however more importantly, the mountain's North facing aspect, ensures slopes seldom come face to face with the sun. Therefore everyone can find slopes to their preferences.
V.M.: Okay, thank you. And now what can you tell about hotel’s history? I mean when your hotel was established? Do you have any interesting/funny facts or stories related with the history of the hotel?
C.P.: I can say that our hotel is quite young. The first 4* superior Nira Alpina ski in – ski out hotel opened its doors on 30 November 2011. One of the highlights it is the connection to the Corvatsch cable car via a private bridged walkway, the hotel offers the best ski access in St Moritz. Guests can reach 3,303 metres, the highest point in the entire ski area, without having to step outside the door of the hotel.
V.M.: This is very convenient you know!
C.P.: Yes, certainly. In addition, for those with young children, a nursery slope serviced by a small button lift operates alongside the hotel, allowing parents to watch their children glide past from the comfort of an armchair at the bar, the sunny terrace of our lounge or even from the Jacuzzi in our Spa.
V.M.: I presume that parents glad about that, they can spend some time alone and don’t worry about their children. Now let’s talk a bit about services. How can you describe your accommodation facilities?
C.P.: With pleasure! The architectural layout of the hotel is a masterful use of the surrounding topography to create light and space. The building clings to the mountainside, which allows every room in the hotel to benefit from a vast terrace or balcony that opens up to the sky, along with floor to ceiling panoramic windows overlooking Lake Silvaplana and the mountains.
V.M.: There are must be stunning views! Maybe you have some special offers/features in room services?
C.P.: Kind of, if staying two or more nights the ski pass can be purchased at CHF 38.00 per adult per day for the duration of the stay.
V.M.: That’s pretty good offer. Well, let’s talk about young guests. What your hotel offers for young people?
C.P.: Nira Alpina overlooks the majestic lake of Silvaplana, which is one of the best snowkiting venues in the world. The hip new sport for adrenaline junkies, snow-kiting involves acrobatic stunts using a board or pair of skis. The mighty Maloja wind, which blows through the Engadin valley, combined with strong thermal currents creates the perfect environment for the sport.
Our guests will be able to go down the longest lighted slope of Switzerland. Sure, that on Friday evening, you have fun with friends wonderfully well! The spotlight is on Corvatsch, when, from 7 p.m., the freshly prepared 4.2 km long slope opens up again and provides Night Skiing until 1.00 a.m.! After a day (and night!) of skiing, people meet up at the Rooftop Bar and enjoy one of our signature cocktails.
V.M.: Oh, I am convinced that having arrived there, you certainly never want to go home! What is so unusual you can offer to families, especially those who come with children?
C.P.: Nira Alpina is the first choice for families seeking an action-packed Alpine adventure. From our spacious family-friendly rooms and relaxed dining experiences to our wonderful kids club and fantastic ski school, we have everything you need to enjoy a memorable holiday as a family. Nira Alpina’s Alpine Junior Suites, and its 10 interconnecting Corvatsch Rooms are perfect for families with young children. These child friendly rooms can be equipped with a baby cot or rollaway bed on request. Children below 12 years stay free of charge in their parent’s room.
The Kids Club offers professional childcare for children aged 3 and above between 4pm and 9pm. The Kids Club features plenty of games, a multilingual reading area and a variety of entertainment for all ages. The hotel has direct access to the children slopes, only five meters away from the property and viewable from the hotel bar, lounge terrace and spa. Children can also enjoy a friendly introduction to skiing on the child friendly slopes, with local ski schools, like the Schweizer Skischule Corvatsch next to the hotel. By the way, we have a ski school partner called Skicool and they have lots of Russian speaking ski teachers.
The Nira Spa also offers a selection of treatments which are specially designed for children. Our Snow Prince and Princess facial treatments use products from the organic TOOFRUIT range, and are designed to relax little ones and illuminate the skin. The restaurant offers a children’s menu featuring a wide variety of child-friendly options at an affordable price. Meanwhile adults can visit Après-ski in the Rooftop Bar or enjoy a romantic dinner for two.
V.M.: I think you are right, this dinner can truly be called romantic, because the view from the top floor of the hotel is charming! Then imagine the situation: tourists came and the weather turned bad (avalanche, blizzard, or conversely, warming, everything started to melt and so on.) What can you offer for tourists as entertainment outdoor or indoor activities?
C.P.: So that our guests do not dare to be bored during bad weather, we offer various tastings of alcoholic beverages, namely wines, whiskey, as well as gin & tonic. Our wine, whisky and gin & tonic tasting experiences, hosted by expert staff in our fabulous Rooftop Bar, are perfect for couples or smaller groups. There you can learn about different types of wine, find out how to pair wines with different foods and discover a new side to your favourite drink. In the Rooftop Bar we offer an exciting whisky tasting activity, both for those who love whisky and those who are new to its delights. Different variations of gins will enlighten your taste buds. Prices for all drinks tastings start at CHF 45.00 per person. Moreover, we also work with “Glattfelder” which is a company located in the town of St. Moritz and they sell caviar. It is possible to do a caviar tasting at their place and on request they can also do this at the hotel.
V.M.: It sounds very tempting, I believe that adults will not refuse such an offer! Okay, but tell me, will the guests be able to warm up and relax somewhere?
C.P.: Our Nira Spa by Pure Altitude boasts a truly relaxing haven in the midst of the Swiss Alps. Let your tensions disappear, sink into refreshing warm waters, and enjoy the panoramic views over the snow-capped mountains. Our relaxation room with steam room, sauna, vast whirlpool with underwater relaxation bed, and five large treatment rooms will leave you refreshed and rejuvenated. We also offer a fully equipped gym for you. Nira Spa by Pure Altitude has a number of offers and packages to suit every taste. We can offer a selection of facials, signature body treatments, and beauty treatments, all using the finest natural and organic ingredients.
V.M.: Wow, this is definitely heaven on earth! Visitors will surely leave pacified and satisfied. What about special events or evening entrainment?
C.P.: Nira Alpina is part of the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival. For more than a quarter of a century, the St. Moritz Gourmet Festival has been bringing together selected stars and icons from kitchens all around the world. Visitors can note these nine enjoyable days in their diary for the beginning of the year: From Friday 11th to Saturday 19th January 2019, top level guest chefs, together with the equally distinguished executive chefs at the partner hotels, will offer culinary highlights in front of the sublime backdrop of the snowclad mountain panorama of the Upper Engadine.
V.M.: And finally, our readers are very interesting and important, tell me, what are the best means of transportation to reach the hotel from main airports and railway stations?
C.P.: The most convenient is to arrive by car or train. 2.5 hours to get to the hotel from the airport Zurich ( but 3 hours by train), Innsbruck(3 hours) and Milan (2.5 hours) and Engadin Airport (15 minutes). From the train station we offer a free shuttle to the hotel.
Interview was prepared by Manager of ski web portal skitours.com.ua Teslenko Andrew