The town consists of one main street, a charming town square complete with a rushing river carrying the season’s snow melt to lower altitudes, and a handful of charming cafes and traditional restaurants.

The skiing is some of the best in The Alps due to the high altitude and above average snowfalls, but be warned: the mountain is a steep one and beginners are limited in their selection of trails unless they learn quickly and the hard way!

This winter, Andermatt’s sleepy nature completely changed when The Chedi Amdermatt opened its doors. The exterior of the Chedi emulates the peaks of the mountains, while incorporating some of the traditional elements of Swiss ski chalets.

The Chedi Andermatt is equal parts drama and serenity. Through the front door is a sanctuary of dark woods, low-lighting, and modern and plush furnishings with hints of Asian inspiration.

Glass fireplaces bring a warming contrast to the wintry conditions outside and floor to ceiling walls of glass create an affinity with the alpine surrounding.

The 104 guest rooms and suits are generously sized, with the smallest measuring 52 sq meters.  The rooms are equipped with the latest high tech gadgets, managed from an iPad issued to each guest at check in.

You can draw the blinds, light the fire, put on some music and dim the lights all from the comfort  of your bed, which comes with a pillow menu for the fussy sleeper (I opted for buckwheat, but traditionalists will rest easy on the goose down option).

Bathrooms are equally luxurious with a dark slate finish, rainfall showers, soaking tubs and top-of-the-line Aqua di Parma toiletries.

The in-house ski rental area is the most luxurious I’ve ever seen – plush leather couches and roaring fires set the scene while you are fitted out with the latest ski gear and loaded up with snacks and drinks for the day by the incredibly helpful and polite ski rental staff.

One of Andermatt’s two ski areas is located across the street from the Chedi and you can be on the slopes within 5 minutes of picking up your skis.

The area has very good skiing, but the facilities will need to catch up to match those at The Chedi if Andermatt hopes to draw the crowds from the likes of Courchevel and Verbier. The mountain is currently for serious skiers, not scene-sters.

After a hard day on the slopes, the return to the Chedi is a warm and welcome one.  There is a lovely après ski bar with plenty of open fires to warm frozen toes.

There is also an outside area with a fire pit and a bar constructed from cubes of ice, but this was unfortunately not in use during our stay and would have added a much needed external space to soak up the last rays of sunshine.

If you are more of a fair weather skier like me, the spa at The Chedi will be your favourite place in the hotel.

Spread over two floors, there are four plunge pools each of a different temperature ranging from ice cold to nearly boiling, two saunas and two steam rooms ranging from mild to hot, there is a dramatic glass covered pool and enough sofas and lounge areas to find a cosy corner to curl up in.

A hard day of fresh mountain air and exercise is bound to build up an appetite, for which the Chedi has the perfect cure.

The Restaurant is a collision of East and West with a selection of modern European, traditional Swiss, Indian, Chinese and Thai dishes; this may seem overwhelming at the start, but it works, and the food is of a very high standard.

The only disappointment was the cheese board which had great promise based on a devoted cheese cave being positioned in the middle of the restaurant, but failed to deliver with the selection and presentation.

The Chedi is one of the best new ski hotels to open in recent years, and with a stunning design, fantastic spa and high quality restaurant, the hotel is undoubtedly going to attract both serious skiers and jetsetters alike.

Did you like this review? Then read our review of Le Portetta in Courchevel.

If you want Bon Vivant to plan your next ski trip with access to free upgrades, free breakfast, hotel credits and VIP amenities, contact us now for our free travel planning services.

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