Upon my arrival to the Engadin/St. Moritz region of Switzerland the first hotel I stayed at was the super chic Nira Alpina. This is a swanky new property recently taken over by some of the best hoteliers. I know this is a place I will return to often in my life. The hotel is surrounded by the Swiss Alps. It is next to the famous Corvatsch Mountain and nearby glistening Lake Silvaplana. For months now I have been gawking over the online gallery of photos for this ski in/ski our resort. The Nira Alpina seamlessly blends luxury with hip, cool, quirky fun! Please join me for a virtual tour of my experiences there….
Summer and Winter Fun
As a hard core skier it was tricky to decide if I wanted my first visit to this region to be in the winter or the summer. Cows with bells had me sold on summer…
For my first trip to Switzerland I chose the freedom and flexibility to explore the St. Moritz region easily on foot and mountain bike. I am passionate about active luxury travel. I live for my adventure sports, but at the end of the day I want the unique refinements that this hotel delivers.
I woke every morning to these grand views at the Nira Alpina ~ I loved my huge balcony!
Corvatsch Mountain
Just so you know, I WILL be back in the winter.
It thrills me that they are very kid & family friendly at the Nira Alpina. Their unique location right on Corvatsch mountain makes it simple to whisk the kids to and from ski school. It is difficult to manage ski gear and to walk in clunky ski boots with little ones. There is easy access with a covered bridge from the hotel that leads to the gondola.
The mountain is challenging with plenty of room for beginners and experts to get their ski thrills!
Corvatsch also has the highest mountain restaurant in the Eastern Alps perched at 10,826 feet (3300 meters.)
The Engadin region is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been too. The Nira Alpina is perfectly situated for fun in any season.
Lake Silvaplana
Lake Silvaplana is a 10 minute walk downhill from the hotel. I love the contrast of winter and summer!
What I love about this resort is it getaway from it all vibe. Everything you could possibly need is located in the hotel. Should you wish to explore, there is the option of heading into St. Moritz which is only a few kilometers away. In the summer it is a lovely walk. In all seasons there are also regular buses and shuttles.
The weather in this region is dry and sunny most of the year. This makes it easy to be outside all the time!
I loved these views each afternoon as the famous Maloja winds blow in.
Lake Silvaplana is used heavily for sports, such as kitesurfing and windsurfing in the summertime. In the winter, once it freezes, the lake is used for cross country skiing, walking trails & kitesurfing on snow. The famous Engadin Skimarathon crossing the lake annually.
Art, Design + Spaces
Trendy art and design makes this property unique and fabulous. Fashion photography by Amedo M.Turello decorates all of the walls. I think I need to intern with him. He is SO talented!
My room was well appointed, very spacious and would be perfect for people traveling with children. I stayed in a Alpine Juior Suite.
This is a huge room that is prefect for families or couples wanting extra space. It is also great for just me! My kids would seriously love this place. I showed them my room on Skype and they were freaking out! The amazing wifi connection in the resort made it very easy for me to work and stay in touch with my family.
There are many community spots (with great views!) in the hotel that invite conversation and socializing…
Families & Kids
The Nira also has just started their Kids Club so the littles are well entertained while you can enjoy adult time in their fine restaurants or the wonderful Nira Spa.
When we travel with our kids we like things very easy and accessible, kids programs are great for the adults and the kids. That way everyone can keep good and busy. Time together and apart is always a great thing.
In the winter the Nira Alpina will provide ski lift tickets, per night of stay for each paid guest. That is an awesome deal! In the summer there are inclusive transport cards that allow access onto 13 cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts in the Engadin St. Moritz area. No excuse not to explore! You can take a look at their packages here.
Another reason to bring the kids – they would love the swiss cows too. Moo.
My obsession lingers with the cows with bells. I woke before them each morning and I was delighted to hear their bells upon sunrise…
Nira Spa
The Nira Spa invites ultimate relaxation. Just so you know Nira means pure. The Nira Spa experience is all that and more. Isn’t that so pretty? Just the color alone settles the mind.
I indulged in a deep tissue massage that was one of the most relaxing experiences I have ever had. I was rubbed down with elegant, organic aromatherapy creams. I asked for a deep tissue massage. The pressure was perfect and my lovely masseuse used a wooden rolling pin kinda thing to make it all the more perfect!
There is also a wet area open to all guests of the hotel. It has a sauna, whirl pool, steam room, aromatherapy room, enchanting relaxation lounge and a super cool red fridge with herbal teas and cooling towels.
Couples and Romance
There are plenty of cozy spots to get away from it all and be alone on a romantic getaway.
The Nira Alpina is the perfect place to enjoy as a couple too. It would be the ultimate romantic spot to celebrate an anniversary, honeymoon or special getaway.
Culinary Experience
There are a few dining options to choose from at the Nira.
Each morning I treated myself to breakfast at the Bakery (traditional Swiss Bircher Muesli) and a few steamy cups of the perfect espresso from my in room best friend.
For a quick bite the Bakery (above) is perfect. The sandwiches with pretzel bread are a great option to fuel skiing and high altitude hikes! All of the baked goods are homemade in the bakery each day.
In the evening I enjoyed the restaurant Stars. The premise of this restaurant is to bring the art of inspirational small plates to a region typically not used to this kind of dining. Ethnic and traditional flavors combine to delight the senses. Sharing is encouraged to promote thought, creativity and the art of socializing. Guest chefs are brought in from around the world to insure the authenticity of worldly flavors.
Chef Wildenhain is the executive chef and he believes in using the highest quality of seasonal ingredients. The flavors shine in each and every bite! The meal begins with this simple presentation of vine ripe tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil and exotic sea salts…
We then moved on to a delightful courses of fresh flavors inspired by regions around the globe…
I was able to enjoy the protein rich, veggie filled meals that I love best!
When asked if we wanted dessert I requested something very light. Perfectly ripened strawberries were to do be dipped in the finest little cup of white chocolate.
The Nira Alpina is in the prestigious Design Hotels group. This group prides themselves on carefully hand selected “Originals.” “All “Originals” stand for the individual, aesthetic and service-driven experiences that their hotels provide.” This hotel is certainly an original! Whether you have the opportunity to visit in winter or summer there is adventure and nature for everyone to enjoy.
If you would like to learn more about the Nira Alpina, their super friendly and knowledgable staff can help you plan your vacation no matter what time of year. Nira has two other hotels that I must to check out some day too. There is Nira Maurice (situated on the Indian Ocean) and Nira Caledonia in Edinburgh, Scotland.
By the way, the Nira Alpina is on the 2012 Hot List at Condé Nast Traveler as one of the Best New Hotels in the World ~ now that is HOT!
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~ Marla Meridith
