John O'Ceallaigh, The Daily Telegraph, September 18, 2013
In terms of covetable ski season extras, Switzerland’s Tschuggen Grand Hotel has come up trumps by allowing its guests private use of a mountain this winter.
The hotel is located in the town of Arosa, which is in the Schanfigg Valley and has access to a network of more than 225km of pistes. Guests staying at the property in late November will have exclusive access to the slopes of the Grisons Mountains for one day – on November 29 – before the ski season officially commences on November 30 and the slopes are opened to the general public.
With 130 rooms, the hotel could ultimately provide access to the mountain for 260 or so skiers, should it reach 100 percent capacity and with everyone staying there wishing to participate, and access on the day will be dependent on weather conditions. Should skiing not be to guests’ liking, or should conditions make it unfeasible, it will be possible to access the hotel’s 5,000sq metre Tschuggen Bergoase spa or to participate in other activities such as hiking, Nordic walking or hot-air ballooning.
Prices for the experience start from 930 Swiss francs (approximately £631) per person, which includes three nights’ accommodation on a half-board basis, participation in the Private Mountain event on November 29, a ski pass for November 30, jazz brunch on the Sunday and admission to the hotel spa.
The package is one of a number that have recently provided travellers with exclusive access to popular attractions or experiences. Among them is a ‘best of British’ weekend break which provides visitors with exclusive use of London’s 45 Park Lane hotel, private use of the London Eye and an after-hours visit for two to the Tower of London, among other extras. The cost per couple: $1.6million (£1million).