"What was your first impression when you arrived?Grand and glamorous. It's hard to miss the resort complex 500 meters above Lake Lucerne—even more so if you arrive via boat at the Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock pier, where the Bürgenstock Funicular will bring you slowly up to the top. Who else did you see at the hotel?Wellness-centered pairs looking for an escape, with no expense spared. What are the rooms like?There are several complexes within this resort, but all of its restaurants, bars, and common areas are accessible to everyone, no matter if you're staying in the most affordable room or the most expensive. Rooms in the Bürgenstock—with refurbished wood, stone, and other natural materials—are tranquil, much like the spas, and are some of the priciest. (Bathe while taking in the beauty of Lake Lucerne below? Yes, please.) At the Waldhotel, designed by famous architect Matteo Thun, contemporary suites rule, while rooms at the 19th-century Palace Hotel have been reimagined as a more casual version of elegant. Taverne 1879 is both a traditional Swiss mountain restaurant and 12-room residence (think "bijou with alpine charm"); the resort's ten private Lakeview Residences are arguably its most top-of-the line product. What else should we know about this place?Bürgenstock has not one, but three, spas: the Alpine Spa (with steam baths, saunas, and a "serenity" room); the Private Spa with three available treatments; and the "Waldhotel," which offers individual treatments based on the resort's "Healthy By Nature" concept. As an all-encompassing wellness resort, the hotel offers rehabilitation and therapeutic services. So, worth it?The area has been popular since the hotel was first built here in 1873, so much so that Audrey Hepburn married in its chapel in 1954, and Sophia Loren and husband Carlo Ponti lived in a chalet here for some time. After a £440 million ($626 million) renovation unveiled in 2017, the appeal still holds: You'd be hard-pressed to find a better true wellness resort at the nexus of luxury and location." - CNT Editors
