Switzerland is an extraordinary country with world-class hotels in leading tourism destination. But is there a lesser-known area with a hotel that can deliver the highest level of hospitality excellence? We have found it in an unexpected place, nestled away high up in the Swiss Alps. Let us tell you more about it!

Arriving at The Chedi Andermatt

Our journey takes us first along the majestic Lake Lucerne and then high up into the mountains. We come to realize that today's modern, winding roads are a luxury. Back in the 13th century, when people first started to pass through this region in Central Switzerland, this journey was long, exhausting and even dangerous. Today, the iconic Devil's Bridge across the wild Schöllenen Gorge just below Andermatt reminds one of these adventurous times.

Just a couple minutes after passing the spectacular bridge, we arrive in the mountain village of Andermatt. Here, we check in at The Chedi Andermatt. Opened in December 2013, it is a modern five-star deluxe hotel that embodies an authentic yet unusual liaison of Alpine chic and Asian expression. 123 spacious, elegant rooms and suites await guests coming here from all over the world. Over 200 dedicated employees ensure that guests are taken care of in the most professional yet familiar way possible.

Upon entering The Chedi, guests dive into an Alpine / Asian world that will be hard to leave again when checking out. A modern interior design with dominant elements like dark wood, soft leather sofas and gentle colors creates a unique atmosphere that feels warm and cozy thanks to over 200 fireplaces scattered all over the hotel.

Another thing that immediately catches our eyes is the library concept. Wine, cigars and even cheese are not stowed away in a dark cellar but displayed proudly. The Chedi offers more than 1,000 different bottles of wine and has dedicated a distinct library for the carefully chosen bottles. That's the way we like to choose our wine for dinner!

Diving into a timeless oasis

As we step into our room, we notice how spacious it is. All rooms at The Chedi are at least 52 square meters in size. Large picture windows invite guests to spend time looking out over the magical mountain landscape.

Luxurious bathrooms, inspired by Asian architecture, feature large bathtubs and wonderful natural stone floors. Separate rain showers entice guests to enjoy moments of relaxation while being enveloped in the fine fragrance of The Chedi Andermatt, pampered with the top-flight products from Acqua di Parma.

While the bathrooms in the rooms are already close to a spa, The Chedi offers extensive wellness & health facilities. Here, we immerse ourselves in a world of calm and relaxation. The Chedi is regarded as one of the most attractive wellness hotels in Switzerland. Indeed, we are impressed with the generous 35-meter indoor and 12-meter outdoor pools as well as with the sauna area. There is even an authentic Tibetan Relaxation Lounge and a variety of Far Eastern treatments are offered to suit everyone's personal needs.

During the months of May and June 2020, guests can enjoy a 20% discount on bookings during the week. Free access to the golf course is even included! If you are interested in this offer, then click here.

Sustainable gastronomy concept

The gastronomy at The Chedi Andermatt is extraordinary. Chosen by GaultMillau as Hotel of the Year 2017, its cuisine makes a clear statement. Five different exquisite offers are available to guests for them to indulge in the world of perfect taste. Also, a big focus is put on sustainability. Many ingredients are sourced locally. A big cheese humidor holds cheese sourced within a few kilometers in the Swiss Alps. Also, they have teamed up with a local farmer to breed local Wagyu beef. Amazing, right?

At The Restaurantan innovative concept awaits guests. Here, we get to enjoy a variety of wonderful dishes prepared right in front of our eyes. Chefs prepare both Asian and European dishes in a total of four open kitchens. The menu is based on several dominant ingredients to choose from. Afterwards, the guest can decide if the dish should be prepared in a Western or Asian way. We enjoy this concept a lot!

Besides The Restaurant, they also have something very special to offer: The Japanese Restaurant! With 1 Michelin Star and 16 GaultMillau points, it is one of the leading Asian restaurants in Switzerland. Top-flight authentic Japanese dishes are served here. Modern five- to ten-course Kaiseki menus ensure an unforgettable experience because they are on the lines of Western haute cuisine. Combining the taste, texture, form and colors of the foods at the highest level, you will find a perfect harmony here!

A sushi and sashimi bar can be found here as well. Plus an extraordinary choice of sake to discover all the facets of the culinary world of Japan. In fact, The Japanese Restaurant has the most extensive sake selection in Switzerland with its own dedicated sake sommelier!

Guests continue to be amazed when heading over to The Bar. A sustainable concept with biodegradable straws and creative ways to minimize food waste was implemented here. For example, syrup is made from leftover champagne or shrub is made from fruits for delicious cocktails. This mindset has led the barmen and -women to develop a very innovative and creative mindset. They serve cocktails with a wide variety of spirits and ingredients. For some, even old cigars are used to create smoky flavors!

Besides cocktails, the bar offers an incredible selection of whisky. Scotch, Bourbon, local gems and Japanese whisky can be ordered here. They also stock some extremely rare bottles. For example a Nikka from the Barrel. Definitely one of our favorites at The Chedi Andermatt.

Experience The Chedi Style in the Cigar Library

By now we have had a delicious multi-course dinner, we enjoyed an amazing cocktail at the bar and are ready for another treat before going to bed. So we head over to The Cigar Library for the last highlight of the day. Here, we get to browse through the largest selection of cigars of any Swiss hotel.

Competent and passionate staff assist us in finding the right cigars. The help is much appreciated because it can get quite complicated to navigate through the impressive collection of 400 different cigars from the most exotic corners of the earth. They are all stored well-visible in a stylish walk-in humidor. It holds hard-to-find rarities and special editions from 15 countries including Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba and Dominican Republic. Cigar enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that the hotel offers most cigars at normal retail prices. Here, guests are invited to dive into the fascinating world of cigars and to discover new treasures!

Upon request, Marie Gerber, hostess of The Cigar Library, will do a signature cigar pairing with guests. We couldn't resist the temptation and signed up. Because we are whisky-lovers, Marie prepared an extraordinary pairing with 2 cigars and 9 whiskies from Scotland, Japan and the US. We learned how different whiskies are recommended for every third of a cigar. It was truly inspiring to share experiences and views with Marie during this extensive and relaxing cigar pairing. We can definitely recommend this!

By the way, make sure to follow The Chedi Cigar Circle on Instagram in case you want to know more about the cigar culture at The Chedi Andermatt!

Paradise for car & outdoor enthusiasts

After a good night sleep and a nice swim in the pool, it is time for breakfast. It gets served at The Restaurant. Here, guests can choose from many à la carte dishes such as Eggs Benedict and a big buffet. Platters with local charcuterie, cheese and other diary products let us enjoy an authentic Swiss breakfast - including Birchermüesli of course.

Now that we are full of energy, it is time to explore the mountainous surroundings of The Chedi. Since the holiday region of Andermatt is situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps, it is surrounded by eight breathtaking mountain passes. A journey over the passes is a wonderful experience in itself, but for those who make time for a few stops along those famous roads, a whole host of experiences awaits. You can explore diverse and varying landscapes. From lush, blooming meadows to green forests. From intimidating rock formations to towering stretches of mountains and glaciers. All that can be found up here!

For those who enjoy driving on winding mountain roads, The Chedi has prepared a Road Book with useful information. We definitely recommend checking out the historic Tremola road or the new pass road, the legendary Gotthard Passwhich connects the Ursern valley to the southern canton of Ticino.

Another road we recommend for a gents drive is the Furka Pass. The region's discovery as a travel paradise goes back to the 19th century. Even today, the numerous historic hotel buildings along the route remind of those times. A special treat awaits James Bond fans. Some scenes of the iconic movie Goldfinger with Sean Connery were filmed here! Can you tell a difference between him and us?

In case you are more into golf than cars, you will be fully satisfied at The Chedi as well. Their golf course`s outstanding offering has been recognized across the international golf scene: The World Golf Awards have voted it the Best Golf Course in Switzerland for three consecutive years. For 2020, The Chedi has even a special offering for golf enthusiasts. Check it out here!

The scenic drive up and down the Furka Pass marks the end of our stay at The Chedi Andermatt. A wonderful and relaxing time comes to an end. We are happy to have discovered this gem high up in the Swiss Alps. In case you want to unwind Chedi Style too, click here and benefit from a 20% discount on your booking during the week until the end of June 2020.

If you prefer holidays in the city, read this blogpost about The Dolder Grand in Zurich. Enjoy!

When thinking of classy places to visit, many come to mind. But is there a place that combines classy elements with rough nature and offers incredible indigenous craftsmanship? We found it in Scotland. Let us tell you why we think this northern country is the ultimate destination for gents!

Vibrant coffee culture in Edinburgh and Glasgow

As we land in Edinburgh after an early morning flight from Geneva, we want to go straight to a coffee shop. Luckily we arranged a car pick up directly at the airport. For this road trip we chose a versatile yet sporty car and found the perfect model: Jaguar F-Pace SVR. But now, off to get coffee!

In recent years, Edinburgh has developed a vibrant coffee culture. Many small, independent coffee shops have opened. Moreover, the Scots have discovered the fun in roasting their own beans! This resulted in a number of new micro roasters all over Scotland.

Eventually, we decide to visit the lovely coffee shop Strumpets in the West End district. Owner Ingrida is preparing the delicious flat whites and espressos herself! She managed to create a warm coffee shop atmosphere with a nice interior design and a cozy outdoor seating area.

Here, we settle down for a bit in order to make plans for our trip ahead. The flat white tastes great and we can't help ourselves but order another round! Ingrida is a very welcoming host and she shares with us many insider tips that are super useful for our planned journey.

Unfortunately, we don't spend more time in Edinburgh because there would be more great coffee shops around. For top notch barista coffee we can recommend The Milkman, Leo's Beanery or Söderberg. Find the complete list here!

The next day, we wake up in Glasgow. Scotland's cultural hub is just a one hour drive away from the capital city. Here, we stop at East Coffee Company in the up and coming Dennistoun district. They recently opened a second outlet just around the corner from their original store.

Here, at 30 Hillfoot St they also roast their coffee beans. We love how this gives the location an artisanal and crafty touch! First, we enjoy a round of fresh flat whites and talk about watches from Jaeger-LeCoultre.

Personally, we love to wear the iconic Reverso. More specifically the Reverso Classic Large Duoface Small Seconds. With two time zones on both dials, this watch is both classy and useful! We love how the proportions of the dial are adhering to the famous golden rule and embodies the Art Deco style. What are you thoughts about it?

But now back to the café. Here, a wonderful brunch gets served. The kitchen crew is extremely creative and offers re-interpreted breakfast classics like pancakes, pain au chocolat or banana bread. We are blown away by the fusion flavors that the pancakes with rhubarb and ginger offer!

Other good coffee shops in Glasgow include Wilson Street Pantry, Steamie Coffee Roasters and Papercup Coffee Company. Find the whole list here!

Road trip through the Highlands

After two days in Scotland's largest cities it is time to head up north. After all, the Highlands are the main reason why we came to Scotland. Incredible landscapes, wonderful drives, wild animals, Scotch whisky and local delicacies. All that is awaiting us!

First, we drive from Glasgow through the Loch Lomond National Park. The scenic drive along the Loch Lomond would already be worth this trip. However, our goals is the iconic Glen Etive near the town of Glencoe. Here, some sequences of the final scene in Skyfall were shot. Cool, right?

Also, wild and majestic stags can be spotted right from the narrow road if you get lucky. We did!

After a night in Fort Williamat the foot of Scotland's tallest mountain Ben Nevis, we continue our drive up north to Skye. On our way, we get to see stunning scenery and experience wildly changing weather. From sun, to rain, to snowfall in only a couple of minutes!

Because our stay on the Isle of Skye was so memorable, we dedicated it a separate blogpost which can be read here.

After a night on Skye at The Three Chimneys and The House Over-bywe set out for a long drive. Our destination is the iconic region around the Dornoch Firth. On our way there we have to once again battle adverse weather conditions. Luckily we did not run into any issues with our reliable Jaguar F-Pace SVR!

What distilleries to visit?

Since we are whisky enthusiasts, we recently started publishing articles about the topic. Our love to Highland spirits was also one reason why we decided to take this trip! Now, when it comes to Scotch, the island of Islay is a hotspot for great distilleries. Two of which are Laphroaig and Lagavulin.

However, there is also an excellent distillery on Skye. For now it is even the only one on the island! Talisker crafts a rather smoky and rich whisky in a very scenic location. Just next to their production premises, Caora Dhubh Coffee Company has opened a small takeout store a while ago. Now you can get properly prepared for your distillery tour by having a delicious flat white!

As mentioned before, we drove all the way from Skye to the Dornoch Firth region. Here, a high concentration of world-class whisky brands can be found. Two of which, we will be visiting!

Just as the sun sets, we arrive at the charming Tarrel Farmhouse, situated right at the coast. Jennie and Joe are lovely hosts and make us feel very comfortable. We are happy to have found a cozy place for a good night sleep after a long drive.

The next morning we get an early start. After a delicious breakfast with home-made, barista-style coffee (!) we head to the nearby Glenmorangie House. This wonderful estate has a long history in the region. Moreover, lots of the Barley Glenmorangie uses for their whisky, grows just around the property.

Next, we go on a distillery tour at Glenmorangie. The brand is one of the most iconic Scotch producers in the world and we hence dedicated a whole blogpost to our experience there. Read it here!

Since Glenmorangie is a rather big brand, we also wanted to visit smaller company. In Balblair we found the ideal distillery! It is situated just a couple miles away in Edderton. Here, people have been distilling since 1790. It is not surprising that the people working at Balblair are very proud of that long tradition.

At Balblair they only operate two stills. However, their whisky is incredibly smooth and quite rare because of the small quantities they produce each year. We highly recommend reading this blogpost we published about Balblair if you want to know more about this fascinating brand.

After two days at the Dornoch Firth, we head down south again. On our way we stop in Wilkhaven to see the Tarbat Ness Lighthouse and then in Cromarty again to have a coffee at the wonderful Slaughterhouse Coffee. Here, you can enjoy a clean flat white right at the waterfront - wonderful, isn't it?

This is where we end our travel report from Scotland. Do you agree that Scotland is the ultimate destination for gents? Leave a comment with your favorite place in this magnificent country!

If you want to read more about road trips in the UK, we recommend you to read this blogpost about Southern England.

We got the opportunity to drive both the Jaguar F-Pace SVR and the newly launched Land Rover Evoque for a long weekend. It was quickly decided that we wanted to take the two SUVs to the beautiful Lake Como!

A challenging road ahead

Getting from Biel/Bienne to Como is not that easy. Especially if one decides to take a mountainous route. Since we want to test the two cars we take them all the way up to the Simplon Pass. We enjoy driving up the winding road while catching a glimpse of Switzerland's beautiful nature!

The next challenge awaits upon arrival in the city of Como. The roads are narrow and congested. We need to manoeuvre carefully!

Finally, we arrive at the gate of our villa that is beautifully located righ at the board of the lake.

Dolce Vita

Even people who have never been to Italy might be familiar with the easygoing lifestyle of the Italians. They know how to live the "dolce vita", a sweet lifestyle! We have come to Como to experience exactly that! Hence, we start our stay by opening a nice bottle of wine by Terravigna on the terrace of our villa. The marvelous view let's us enjoy a great glass of red even more!

Two things we had to bring along were Swiss chocolate by Läderach and smoky whisky by Ardbeg. We could not go on holidays without having a classy gents night doing whisky and chocolate pairing! Usually, we talk about watches and cars during these gatherings. Vasco just got a beautiful Longines Legend Diver Watch so this was the talk of the night!

Exploring Como

Como is known for its stunning lake, the many ancient villas and the beautiful old town.

We enjoy driving our cars through the narrow allies of the town to get a strong espresso in the morning.

After spending some time shopping and sightseeing, we drive along the beautiful lake on a winding road. This ride is pure pleasure with vehicles like the Jaguar F-Pace SVR or the new Land Rover Evoque. However, keep in mind that the narrow roads require advanced driving skills!

The many magnificient villas along the lake offer great locations for lunch dates or relaxing afternoons at the pool. One such place is the Villa Lario.

Situated on the right board of the lake in the commune of Pognana Lario, the property has several small villas and an incredible infinity pool to offer. Honestly, the pool might be one of the most beautiful in the world!

We enjoy a nice evening having an apéro with a glass of Dom Pérignonwhile taking in the stunning view over the Lake Como.

How did the two cars compare in Como?

As car fans we love the Jaguar F-Pace SVR with its 5.0 liter Supercharged V8 engine and top speed of 286km/h. The sound is loud and deep from the F-Type inspired variable valve active exhaust system. You would not expect an SUV to be this sporty. Yet there was still enough space for all we bring allong on this trip, which came in handy! Furthermore, we really loved the thrilling acceleration while driving on the winding roads around the Lago di Como.

Unlike the F-Pace SVR, the Range Rover Evoque was just launched recently. It was awaited by all fans of the smaller model line of the British SUVs. The result is a stunningly looking smaller version of the Velar, a car we truly love for its design and driving comfort. An important detail we admire about the Evoque is that it has been designed to be 85 percent recyclable/re-usable and 95 percent recoverable at the end of the vehicle's life.

In comparison, the Evoque was better to get around town due to its size and driving comfort, while the F-Pace SVR was more fun to drive on the roads around the lake because of its acceleration and sound!

Are you looking for more road trip ideas? Read about our trip through South England here!