The elegant St Moritz Hotel in Cornwall comprises an eclectic mix of rooms, suites, apartments, and holiday villas.
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St Moritz Hotel occupies a secluded spot in a hamlet, Trebetherick. The elegant white building set in extensive grounds that houses the St Moritz Hotel is in the style of the original house on this site, built in the 1930s. This private house, large enough to be used as a boarding school for evacuees during the Second World War, was converted into a hotel after the war.
The owners named their hotel the St Moritz Hotel, inspired by a visit to the town of the same name in Switzerland, a renowned centre of culinary excellence. Adopting the high standards of the Swiss the hotel soon built up such a good reputation it attracted many famous guests including Queen Elizabeth II.
A stunning Art Deco-inspired building has since replaced that hotel as part of a new development completed in 2008.
Who For
This hotel is ideal for anyone from single travellers to large family groups seeking a relaxing holiday in beautiful surroundings. The proximity of the South West Coastal path means it is ideal for walkers, it is also good cycling country and water sports are available from the beaches nearby as well as swimming in the hotel’s outdoor pool.
Accommodation
The St Moritz Hotel comprises an eclectic mix of rooms, suites, apartments, and holiday villas offering guests a wide range of choices.
Unusually all the rooms, apartments and villas on this stunning location are privately owned. But booking and services here are seamless as these are undertaken by the hotel. However, the interior design and decoration vary according to the taste of each individual owner but a very high standard is maintained throughout – all rooms feature a television, telephone and Cowshed toiletries.
The smallest hotel rooms, the Cosy Rooms provide ample space for a couple. King or Twin include their own beach hut with a sea view. The End King or Twin rooms are slightly bigger and suitable for a family. All the rooms, suites and apartments on the first floor and above either have a sea view or are sea-facing. Suites can be combined to form large apartments.
The hotel deals with the bookings for all these accommodations. There are also several rows of holiday villas that are looked after by the self-catering manager.
I stayed in a garden suite and enjoyed the experience of having a pretty private garden accessed through the patio doors in both the bedroom and the sitting room. The path beyond the back gate of this garden led to the outdoor pool and a large grassy area furnished with sun beds and overlooking the beautiful Cornish coastline.
The hotel has two accessible rooms for less able guests and two dog-friendly rooms.
Food and Drink
Shorecrest is the main restaurant and is on the first floor above reception with a terrace outside. This restaurant incorporates the hotel bar and offers an all-day menu and a separate dinner menu each evening. The former includes great fish and chips.
Breakfast is served in the main restaurant and this meal was exceptional. It includes a fresh fruit buffet, a continental buffet, cereals, croissants, delicious pastries and hot dishes from an extensive menu. Service for this meal was impeccable – Petra and Emma welcomed us and took our orders while Chef Dan Carley cooked our breakfasts.
During the summer season the Seaside Café beside the outdoor pool offers an alternative venue for drinks, snacks and meals.
Facilities
St Moritz Hotel has a gym, two swimming pools (outdoor and indoor), sauna and steam room. The outdoor swimming pool is a good size with a separate shallow area for children. It is also heated.
The Cowshed, the hotel spa, offers a good selection of treatments and massages. It is the only Cowshed Spa outside of Soho House properties and also incorporates a small shop selling beauty products. There is a small bar in the corner of the reception area that is available for users of the spa.
A free courtesy bus is available to take guests to Polzeath, Daymer Bay or The Rock. Out of season it runs on demand. During the summer season it runs to a timetable.
What’s Nearby
St Moritz Hotel occupies a secluded spot in a hamlet, Trebetherick that boasts just one restaurant/café. A large grassy area overlooks the mouth of the Camel River that flows into the Atlantic Sea around mouth of the Stepper Point just beyond the hotel. The South West Coastal Path wends its way along the cliff top just a few yards beyond the back garden of the hotel. Take a right turn a twenty-minute walk along this path leads into Polzeath. In the other direction this path goes to Daymer Bay and then on to The Rock.
It is a very pleasant stroll from the St Moritz Hotel along the South West Coastal path to the extensive Polzeath Beach which is a popular venue for surfers. The village of Polzeath has shops, restaurants and a Spar supermarket (handy for those in self-catering accommodation).
The popular seaside town of Padstow is on the other side of the Camel River Estuary and is easily accessible via the ferry from The Rock which makes the crossing every fifteen minutes. Padstow has a small museum and the fascinating National Lobster Hatchery.
Getting there
Own car is the best option as the hotel is not served by public transport. The nearest train station is Bodmin and then take a taxi to the hotel (it is recommended to pre-book your taxi).
How Much?
The best room-only rate at St Moritz Hotel for a Cosy Room is £110 per night and for a King or Twin Room is £230 but rates are flexible according to occupancy.
Verdict
The St Moritz Hotel is a very special place offering everything a person needs for a relaxing stay in gorgeous surroundings while being looked after by the highly trained, efficient, and friendly staff.
