Tag Archives: holistic therapy

Touring Spas of Switzerland – First Stop, the Spa at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel

victoriajungfrau hotel 764206 Touring Spas of Switzerland First Stop, the Spa at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand HotelTouring Spas of Switzerland – First Stop,the Spa at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel
by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

Landed in Zurich, rented a car and drove with Peter and his son, Nicholas, to Interlaken where we checked into the historic Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel. (It took us under two hours, which included a stop for my much anticipated first Swiss café latte.) I soon learned that the Victoria-Jungfrau was built in 1865 and used to be two hotels – one the Victoria, the other the Jungfrau. They were later connected. It appears to me that the contemporary arched space which now connects them (effective although unexpected) was also carried into the architecture of the new spa, which was added five years ago.

We are traveling through Switzerland this week as part of preparations for next May’s Global Spa Summit 2009 which will take place at this beautiful hotel. I had been to Interlaken before – with my twin sister post-high-school-graduation – and, no, we did not stay at the Victoria-Jungfrau. In fact, I don’t remember where we stayed, as our budget back then surely must have put us someplace quite forgettable. I do remember thinking that Interlaken was the most beautiful place I had ever seen! (I was 18.) I also remember that we did the full day trip up the Jungfrau and also the trip which takes you to the Shilthorn where you have drop dead gorgeous 360 degree views and where the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed.

victoria jungfrau spa 220x342 745706 Touring Spas of Switzerland First Stop, the Spa at the Victoria Jungfrau Grand HotelThis time around I learned that Interlaken is known for more than just these Alp excursions. It is an ideal place for adventure-seekers (something I wasn’t then, nor am now). Indeed, Nicholas (who had done his internet research before our trip) was already signed up for sky diving! It all sounded so outrageous when he first told us about it back in New York, but when we got here and stood on our balcony overlooking the park where we saw a bunch of paragliders land in front of our hotel room, it kind of went with the territory.

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Skana the Spa at Turning Stone – Surprises

lodge02 740172 Skana the Spa at Turning Stone SurprisesPeter and I drove up to the Lodge at Turning Stone for the Presidents’ Day weekend so that we could try out the Skana Spa there, about which I had heard quite a lot since its opening five months ago. The concierge had suggested that we take a quick Jet Blue flight instead of driving, but we love driving, because it is a quiet time for us to talk and enjoy the countryside. It took less time than we thought – just a little over four hours. Later I heard about the Jet Blue fiascos over the weekend and was even more glad that we passed on the flight.

We expected a 98-room lodge but instead pulled up to the front of a high-rise tower with what looked like hundreds and hundreds of rooms. It was buzzing with people – valet cars were lined up three deep to be taken to the garage. Josh Groban was appearing in the theater that evening, and scores of people were either checking in or going to the casino pre-event. A few minutes later we found out that we were in the wrong place – this was the Tower at Turning Stone; the Lodge was around the back.

Nice surprise – as the Lodge was more upscale, the entire building smoke-free, and the spa was located a short distance from our room.

I realized later that Turning Stone encompasses a casino, a tower with 700+ rooms, a conference center, an event arena, the 98-room Lodge, and the new Skana spa! Plus a nightclub is being built, as well as a dome for tennis and racquetball. Three golf courses are also part of the resort. Everything is interconnected. And the entire area – every part of it – is alcohol-free. That was another surprise.