Boasting snow-capped Alpine peaks, buckets of fresh air, glittering lakes and stylish cities, Switzerland is any tourist’s dream destination offering unlimited outdoor adventures and cosmopolitan urban breaks.

Its top ski resorts, Gstaad, Zermatt, Verbier and St Moritz provide the most wonderful winter ski conditions and when the snow melts they provide a picture perfect setting for summertime hiking, horse riding and other outdoor activities too.

The country’s historical capital Bern is the must-see destination for culture vultures, while Zurich leads the way in arts, design and nightlife with everything from theatre and opera to buzzing bars and nightclubs.

If you’re planning a trip, why not consider a stay at one of the chic retreats below:

Gstaad Palace, Gstaad
Located in the Swiss Alps in southwest Switzerland, Gstaad is simply stunning in all seasons offering 250 km of ski slopes, a wide variety of outdoor activities and renowned music festivals, gourmet and sports events. Ever since its opening in 1913, Gstaad Palace has been the star attraction of this ultra-glamorous village. Owned and run by three generations of the charming and gracious Scherz family, this legendary grand dame is a magnet for high society, rock stars and celebrities; just about anyone who’s anyone heads here. If you’re looking for some TLC head to its recently refurbished 1800sqm spa, which boasts eight treatment rooms, a unique hammam experience and relaxation areas with incredible views out over the Swiss Alps. Divine.

Tanya’s Travel Tip – There’s nothing more magical than travelling in a horse-drawn sleigh on a star-filled night in the Alps, especially if you’re heading to Café du Cerf for its delicious fondue and raclette.

Cervo, Zermatt
A rustic retreat, Cervo is a cross between a hunting lodge, hotel and chalet. Just a short elevator ride away from the buzz of the village it offers all the advantages of a rural hideaway and after a day on the slopes nothing can rival its stunning views over the Matterhorn and the open fire at its outside bar. Starting life as a private chalet in 2009, Cervo has its own exciting and unique design concept and now comprises a collection of five newly built guest chalets, heavenly spa and newly opened restaurant.

Tanya’s Travel Tip – The Papperla Pub is the main après-ski party bar. Between 5pm and 7pm you will find crowds spilling onto the street. It is very much the place to be and also serves warm bar snacks if you feel you are starting to fade… it often has live bands too which add to the atmosphere.

Baur au Lac, Zurich
For more than 165 years this elegant hotel has been top of the luxury list in one of Switzerland’s most demanding and fastidious cities. Visitors to Zurich know that it prides itself on its civility and service – both of which are hallmarks of this hotel. Yet both the city and the hotel have evolved into the very models of modern metropolitan style and sophistication. The Baur au Lac boasts one of the best settings, overlooking the lake, nestled in parkland and set against the nearby Alps. No wonder it has welcomed the discreet, discerning and decidedly demanding traveller over the last century or so…

Tanya’s Travel Tip – The hotspot in Zurich is 0815/2 which transforms throughout the day from café cool breakfast to lavish lunch, divine dinner and finally hip bar as the night falls. Absolutely everything is truly scrumptious… including the staff

For more information on Switzerland visit www.MySwitzerland.com, call the Switzerland Travel Centre on 00800 100 200 30 or e-mail info.uk@myswitzerland.com

SWISS operates 35 daily flights from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham International, Manchester and Dublin to Switzerland. Fares start from £89 return, including all airport taxes. www.swiss.com/uk

If looking for a complexion-boosting spa after the party season has taken its toll, the newly opened Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie at Hotel Le Bristol in Paris should be top of the list. Partially bathed in natural sunlight, looking out across the interior garden, the spa boasts a gentle and refined atmosphere and offers some of the finest treatments by the prestigious Swiss beauty care brand.

For a truly organic experience The Nam Hai in central Vietnam offers an impressive selection of organic treatments as well as an assortment of traditional Vietnamese rituals. The treatments focus on luxury and use only pure botanical ingredients such as organic seaweed hand-harvested from the ocean, wild-grown argan oil and wild crafted vegan nail products, chosen for their spiritual attributes as well as their physical and emotional benefits. And while at the resort, why not take cookery classes and learn about the cleansing benefits of Vietnamese cuisine, which is full of fresh herbs and vegetables from the resort’s own organic farm.

Escapism and a new approach to life is the order of the day at Ananda in the Himalayas and its newly introduced programmes take this destination spa to another level. One of the new programmes is Ananda Renew, a wellness programme designed for spa enthusiasts of 60+ years keen on healthy lifestyles. The programme provides a safe and effective way to revive and rejuvenate the body and mind while offering a customised approach based on the individual requirements of the guest. For the perfect getaway for single lady travellers, mothers and daughters, couples or groups, the new Ladies Spa Getaway offers a harmonious female escape and includes a sacred Indian ceremony, Ayurvedic cooking class as well as a host of spa treatments.

For an expert approach, choose the Tuscan retreat of Castel Monastero whose spa, has been created by Urban Retreats, Europe’s largest and most renowned wellness salon brand, offering exclusive cutting-edge treatment programmes in the field of preventative medicine overseen by Doctor Mosaraf Ali, an expert in ayurvedic medicine and naturopathy with a holistic vision. One of the most popular programmes is the Seven Day Detox, which is designed to free the body of the toxins that accumulate due to intense, irregular lifestyles and an unsuitable diet.

If you know a spa or detox holiday is required but the finer details are undecided, specialist spa tour operators can offer the perfect remedy for those booking decisions. Wellbeing Escapes is one of Mason Rose’s recommended spa specialists that prides itself on searching for the rare, the wonderful, the best kept secret and the ultimate escape. We especially like its Singles Spa Holidays, which let single travellers experience a break that is truly focused on their own rejuvenation of body and soul without the single traveller premium.

Sanctuary Spa has a highly experienced team that is focused on creating a tailor made luxury spa holiday within a chosen budget. Choose from one of their many spa categories including Destination Spa, Thermal Spa, Ayurveda Spa, Thalassotherapy Spa, Hotel Spa, Relaxation & Pampering Spa, Yoga Spa and Detox Spa.

And if January detox and weight loss is this New Year’s resolution, Essential Escapes has a great selection of options and a team of experts to find the perfect fit. Try weight management in Thailand, Thalasso slimming in Greece or a Dukan Diet detox in Tunisia. Their in-depth knowledge of each spa hotel and passion for luxury spa holidays means travellers are in fantastic hands.

For further information, please contact Mason Rose on +44(0)20 7201 8050

The award-winning Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas and Spa is offering guests and visitors the opportunity to relax and unwind with a unique Signature Sound Therapy treatment.

Created for guests this special treatment incorporates the use of gongs, cymbals and Tibetan singing bowls and uses the vibration of sounds to balance and restore the body’s natural energy centres.

While the sounds waves work on the chakras, the logical mind is silenced in the alpha or theta mind state. The treatment is performed on a heated water bed with built-in colour therapy that enhances its effectiveness, rebalancing the flow of natural energy.

Other unique treatments include Rhythm Massage, Elemental Massage Therapy and Rasul Chamber.

The Saxon Spa and Studio combines treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy area and is unique in offering outside treatment rooms as well as boasting an outdoor heated pool, indoor jacuzzi and cold plunge pool. Colour therapy is a common theme throughout the spa and is also a visual component of the steam room. Its flotation pool, hydrocapsule and Rasul Chamber combine therapeutic treatments for a relaxing multi-sensory experience.

Nestled in the exclusive Sandhurst suburb of Sandton, The Saxon makes a world-class statement of ethnic African elegance, combined with personalised attention to detail. Once home to Nelson Mandela after his release from prison, it was here that he found the serenity to edit his acclaimed autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.

The Saxon boasts 53 suites of various sizes, including 3 new villas located within the property’s lush indigenous gardens. Each suite incorporates a strong element of African art, with state-of-the-art facilities and stunning views over tranquil gardens or the breathtaking pool terrace, excellent business amenities, world-class cuisine and a leading spa and fitness centre.

The Saxon Executive Traveller Package offers prices from R9,800 (£860) for a double suite per night including return transfers, accommodation in an Egoli Suite, breakfast and use of Spa facilities.  For booking and information, contact www.saxon.co.za / T +27 (0) 11 292 6000

For further information, please call Mason Rose on:
T +44 (0)20 7201 8060      E: nadia@masonrose.com

I opened the balcony door, pulled back the shutters and admired the view from our apartment over the rooftops and church steeples of Madrid. Having been to Budapest and Berlin on our previous annual winter weekends away, my girlfriends and I were excited to discover sunny Madrid, Spain’s capital and largest city. We began by placing ourselves on the map and set out to find something to eat in the local area of La Latina. There was no doubt that we expected to indulge in delicious tapas and traditional Spanish cuisine, but we hadn’t quite realised our long weekend away would revolve pretty much only around food!

Our first stop was a little cafe overlooking the church and square of San Andrés – Spanish omelette, melted cheese and caramelised onion hotpot, grilled goat’s cheese on a bed of mixed sautéed peppers were just some of our choices. We were in need of walking it off and spent our afternoon wandering through cobbled side streets, lined with charming buildings and intimate cafés and bars. We found ourselves right in the heart of the city in Puerta del Sol, a large square with numerous shopping streets branching off from it. Spoilt for choice, we went from one shop to another admiring leather shoes and bags and little market stalls selling local handicrafts. We couldn’t have planned our trip at a better time as we watched the Christmas markets and lights being set up in the famous Plaza Mayor and Plaza Santa Ana, where we spent our first evening. Our love for dancing, led us to Villa Rosa restaurant where we savoured chicken and seafood paella, fried calamari and grilled garlic prawns, whilst watching a captivating and intense flamenco show. We weren’t able to leave until we’d digested our meal over a shot of baileys, courtesy of the hospitable waiters.

Not to miss is Chocolatería de San Gines – the hot spot of Madrid for churros and porras with decadent hot chocolate, which we couldn’t resist stopping at the next morning. Satisfyingly, we left with boxes of their hot chocolate to take home. Whilst walking around the area we came across the mercado of Plaza de San Miguel – with eyes bigger than our stomachs, we viewed the endless counters of mouth-watering cheeses, olives, hams and chorizo, mussels, fresh juice, pasta, baguettes,  fish and much more. It was no surprise that we walked away with a selection of our traditional favourites, which later became a relaxing picnic by sunset in beautiful Buen Retiro Park. It soon felt cold, so we took a stroll towards Plaza de la Independencia and realised there is something magical about viewing the historic illuminated buildings of Madrid at night – Cibeles Palace, El Prado art museum, which I wish we had had time to visit, and then across town to view the Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena and Palacio Real, official residence of the King of Spain. Absorbing the buzzing nightlife of the city, we picked the atmospheric Taberna Pompeyana restaurant to have late night tapas and pizza, which again ended in generous complimentary drinks on the house.

As we had covered most of the central area of Madrid, we took the opportunity to visit Toledo, a world heritage site by UNESCO, rich in history and 30 minutes away by fast train. I am not one to take tourist buses, but the driver at the station promised us a ‘vista preciosa’ – and the panoramic breath-taking sight over the walled medieval city and Tagus River did not disappoint! We tried to follow the map we were given but enjoyed getting a little lost amongst the maze of alleyways – to see what awaited us around each corner – from stunning cathedrals, monasteries, mosques and synagogues to fortresses, museums and souvenir shops.  For lunch we fancied something light so salads all round at the restaurant Gambrinus, but not without some tempting accompaniments of patatas bravas and grilled octopus! And dessert to follow at the Nun’s Café, displaying an exquisite selection of homemade cakes, puddings, biscuits and churros with hot chocolate – we picked the latter of course!

Sunday is the day of El Rastro, said to be one of the largest flea markets in Europe, where locals and tourists gather in the La Latina area; so we fitted in one last bit of shopping until we’d had enough of the crowd and took the metro to Gran Via – one of Madrid’s principal shopping streets characterised by intricately decorated grand buildings. We discovered a beautiful view over the city from the 9th floor of El Corte Inglés shopping centre – our last look out over the city before heading to the airport. And just when we thought we’d had enough food, we couldn’t resist buying some Spanish manchego, hams and olives to take back with us!

By Haifa Brewer, Marketing Manager