As we opened the door to our SPA cottage, we entered a truly magnificent space, complete with all the amenities you would ever need in over 750 ft² of private, spa bliss. We relaxed on the lounge chairs, brewed a fresh pot of Moroccan mint tea, and slipped into the soft, pillowy bathrobes. We could hop in the large sauna, or perhaps take a dip in the hot tub. Maybe enjoy a treatment in our private treatment room or just zone out on the leather upholstered waterbed, gazing at our very own water fountain.

Were we in shangri-la? Close. Switzerland.

We spent a recent weekend at the Park Weggis, an elegant hotel nestled along the banks of the beautiful Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. We went specifically to get away, decompress, and soak in the views of the Alps and the pristine lake. We wanted a little pampering, a splash of luxury and indulgence for a weekend. We got that and more at the Park Weggis.

The hotel is a blend of history with a flare for the modern. The original building dates back to 1875, but has been altered dramatically in the last ten to fifteen years when it was gutted and completely refurbished. The space is bright and airy, with most of the focus on the views, the lake and the mountains dominating from almost every room, restaurant, or bar.

The Sparkling Wellness spa and the Adara suites are a more recent addition, including the six private SPA cottages, and an event space, which is hard to miss at night when the multi-colored LED lights illuminate the structure.

And yes, there is a Japanese garden, with bonsai trees imported directly from Japan, at no small expense I’m sure.

We were booked into an Adara Junior Suite, one of ten suites in the very, modern building connected to the Sparkling Wellness spa. The suites are spacious, averaging around 750 ft²,  decked out with beautiful wooden floors and walls, a soft king-sized bed enclosed by electronically-operated curtains with Swiss-made linens, and a quarry’s worth of marble in the bathroom.

There are even a few touches of whimsy, like the round, bright orange sofa in the middle of the living room, adding a splash of color and flair to the suite.

What set the room apart for me were tiny details that I discovered over the weekend. For example, I appreciated that the room has two wine fridges, one for red, one for whites, at different temperatures (I know, I’m a bit of a wine geek). I loved the shower and bath area, encased in glass (with curtains if you want to retain some privacy, which I also appreciate), with direct views of the lake. The ceiling mounted rain-head shower was one of the best showers I’ve ever seen in real life, which meant long, hot showers with a view of the Swiss landscape all weekend.

The terrace was ideal as well, as we sat outside in the comfortable deck chairs, and enjoyed a nice bottle of red wine while taking in the beauty of Switzerland that enveloped us.

The SPA Cottages at Park Weggis are a truly unique and innovative amenity. While I am a big spa person, Julie can generally take it or leave it, but even she was blown away by the SPA Cottage experience.As Julie discussed in her post about our anniversary, our two hours flew by. We left feeling utterly relaxed and refreshed.

We rarely ventured outside the hotel during the weekend (other than a quick side trip to Liechtenstein!), so we dined at the hotel for most of our meals. They have two restaurants, Sparks and Park Grill (though Sparks will be transitioning to Le Brasserie in the coming weeks), both of which are fine dining. Park Grill is a classic steakhouse, featuring beef from around the world, and a predominantly American wine list, while Sparks is more modern European, with its own encyclopedia-sized wine list including a surprising number of hard to find cult wines. The staff was friendly and accommodating at both, seamlessly alternating between English, Swiss German, and French for the international clientele around us.

After dinner, we retired each night to the Lalique Bar, with its obscene collection of rare whiskeys. They even stock a bottle of Remy Martin Louis XIII Rare Cask, costing an eye-watering $630 per ounce. Our weekend was indulgent, but not quite that indulgent!

We stuck to wine, a bit of Scotch, and I savored a cigar in the heated, enclosed patio, with views of the lake, of course.

The Park Weggis is the kind of property that you check into, then don’t leave until checkout. That magical combination of clean Swiss air and the always interesting nature show out our windows is a holiday in itself. Sure, you can take a ferry directly from Weggis to Lucerne, or go for an alpine hike on the one of the nearby mountains. But the Park Weggis is a place to relax and disconnect.

For a couple of seriously devoted techies, you’ll be surprised to know that we happily stayed away from the screens for nearly the entire weekend. We truly relaxed, took our time at meals, walked around the property and took in the views of the lake.

Thank you, Park Weggis, for inspiring us to turn off our phones. Much appreciated!

It’s worth noting that this sprawling property has lots of nooks and crannies that are worth wandering through. A staircase in the spa leads to a underground labyrinth, featuring the hotel’s very own art collection. A designated wine area, Vinothek, includes two private tasting rooms, completely encased in stone, surrounded by walls stocked with some of the finest wines from around the world.

Our visit to the Park Weggis was during the off season, so all of the hotel’s activities around the lake, like boat rides, canoeing, the private beach, and the lake front bar, remained closed in the chilly, early spring weather. However, starting in April and running through the summer, the hotel is hosting the ‘Taste of Saint-Tropez’, a season of dedicated events around the lake, like sunset parties once a month with a DJ. Even the bar will be turning into the ‘Lounge Perrier Jouet’, which sounds like exactly where I would be hanging out. Nothing better than some bubbles on the water!

Thank you to the Park Weggis for providing us with accommodations, meals, and the SPA Cottage. All of the opinions are our own, but frankly, how could you not enjoy yourself at such a magnificent hotel?