Your North East Wedding - Jan/Feb 2020 (Issue 36)

S W I S S M A R V E L Claire Muffett-Reece discovers why Switzerland is the perfect summer honeymoon destination W hen I was offered the chance to visit Switzerland in July I’ll admit it wasn’t a season I’d initially choose as my preference. The Alps are typically known for their ski season, and it was hard to envisage a trip that didn’t involve an abundance of snow. How very wrong I was about to become... My destination for three nights was none other than Suvretta House, a five-star hotel in the heart of St Moritz that’s welcomed the Kennedys, Eva Peron and the Emperor of Japan through its doors. Built in 1912, this Art Deco wonder is nestled in the Alpine landscape of the Upper Engadine, on the Chasellas plateau in Suvretta. With Suvretta itself being 1,850 metres above sea level, your honeymoon starts the very minute you touch down at Zurich airport, as the scenery you’ll encounter on the three-hour train journey to St Moritz is some of the most romantic you’ll ever see. I’d taken my laptop with the idea of working on the journey, yet constantly found myself rushing from one side of the train carriage to the other, snapping glacier blue rivers and snow-capped mountains as we climbed higher and higher to our destination. Upon arrival at the train station we were greeted by the hotel’s vintage green bus, which took us straight to Suvretta House for a delicious afternoon tea. Suitably stuffed after far too many sandwiches and scones, I was given a key (a proper key, none of the problems of your key card locking you out of your room!) to my Junior Deluxe Suite, a huge room complete with walk- in wardrobe, large bathroom with separate shower and panoramic view of the mountains and lakes of the Engadin. I could happily have spent my time lounging around in this magnificent space, but after a quick change it was down to dinner in one of the hotel’s off-site mountain restaurants, Chasellas. 88