Hôtel Nendaz 4 Vallées & Spa, Nendaz, Switzerland

Winter sports tourism demands a certain amount of exertion, but that doesn’t have to come at the expense of comfort. Hôtel Nendaz 4 Vallées & Spa, set within the pretty alpine resort of Nendaz, is the perfect base for exploring the 4 Valleys, the largest ski area entirely within Switzerland.

The hotel’s grand facade dominates the mountainside but its architecture takes inspiration from traditional wooden chalets and is still very much in keeping with its surroundings. The blanket of snow lying on the rooftops for much of the year only adds to its chocolate box look.

Inside the hotel, a warm fire and an even warmer welcome await. Wood, slate, and other natural materials are complemented by large windows letting in the bright winter sun, and staff hover with drinks, snacks, and – as importantly – smiles. The design of the property is such that it never feels crowded; there’s always a quiet place, a cosy nook or balcony, to retreat to and enjoy the mountains in peace.

Who for

Families and couples looking to ski or snowboard by day and then enjoy the hotel’s spa facilities and Nendaz’s après ski offering after dark.

Accommodation

At Hôtel Nendaz you will find 62 guest rooms and suites plus five well-equipped apartments suitable for families and larger groups. The best rooms have mountain views, so when you stand in front of the French windows or step out onto the balcony you can admire the snowy panorama before you.

The hotel is built almost entirely from wood and the timber-lined rooms make it feel like you are sleeping in a traditional alpine log cabin. Photos of the surrounding landscape hang above the king size beds, further enhancing the sense of place. In the en suite bathrooms there are good-sized baths and separate showers, and the wardrobes are large enough to hang all the ski wear you need, plus a few more glamorous outfits for the evenings.

Food and drink

Arrive in the lobby bar of Hôtel Nendaz in the evening and you might well be serenaded by a pianist, the live music the ideal accompaniment to a cocktail or a glass of wine from the surrounding Valais region. There are stools at the bar – ideal if you’re drinking alone or waiting for a friend – but as the evening wears on it is more convivial to relax in an armchair by the fire.

At dinnertime, there is a choice of two different restaurants within the hotel. At Le Carnotzet l’Aigle you can taste Valais specialities. Cheese and cold meats feature prominently, all of which are locally sourced, and if you have had a hard day on the slopes you can certainly justify feasting on raclette, fondue, and croûte. Chef Thierry Verdonck prepares more refined cuisine upstairs in Le Clos des Cimes: the beef tartare with Thai spices and the roulade of veal are a particular treat for the palate.

Facilities

Hôtel Nendaz’s calling card is its magnificent spa, which is just the thing to warm up and soothe your tired, aching limbs after a day skiing and snowboarding. Spa des Bisses takes its name from Valais’ traditional irrigation channels and the combination of indoor and outdoor areas, streams, and use of wood certainly reminds you that you’re on the mountainside. Hotel guests can use all parts of the spa, including the 15m long outdoor swimming pool (which is thankfully heated to almost bath-like temperatures), the Finnish sauna and steam room, jacuzzi, and flotation basin.

Car parking is built into the slope behind the hotel, and so too is the storage room for skis and boots. This is incredibly convenient as it means you can take the small funicular across from the ski lift straight to the hotel, change your footwear and drop off your equipment, and be inside the hotel a few moments later.

How much?

Double rooms at Hotel Nendaz start from CHF 309 / £278 in low season, rising to CHF 534 / £476 in high season.

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What’s nearby?

Hôtel Nendaz is a stone’s throw from the ski lifts in Nendaz, and once you are on the gondola you can reach the entirety of the 4 Valleys. Nendaz sector includes Mont Fort (3,330 m), the highest peak in the ski area, where a new viewing platform was constructed in winter 2022/23; and also the 1,400 m Mont Fort Zipline, which has a terrifying top speed of more than 100 km per hour! Later in the year, once the snow has melted, there are options for hiking and biking, plus gastro tourism in the Rhone Valley below the resort.

VERDICT: Staying at Hôtel Nendaz is a luxury, but the prime location, the hospitality of the staff, and the superb restaurant and spa make it well worth the spend for your next ski trip in the 4 Valleys.

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