The 1912-built Le Grand Bellevue is as classic as it gets, but the walls behind its grand entrance are anything but dated and evoke the feeling of being in a timelessly eclectic townhouse, with a better backdrop. It’s nestled in the Vaud Alps, a fairytale region whose architectural regulations have ensured that the postcard-perfect landscape will remain unchanged. Its wellbeing offering is the star of the show, and fitness facilities include everything from a light-filled Pilates studio to a SensoPro trainer, though it seems crazy to spend a second of cardio time inside. Luckily, the hotel’s Heli-hiking, padel court and exclusive access to the Swiss Open tennis centre court give guests many ways to break a sweat beyond the sauna. In an era of “the next best thing”, what makes Le Grand Spa different is an unapologetic yet unstubborn homage to tradition. As the only Swiss Butterfly Mark-certified hotel with 100 per cent hydropower, Le Grand Bellevue is forward-thinking in the areas it should be – but pays a beautiful tribute to Alpine practices, albeit by using tried and tested brands of the zeitgeist, through a spa where the past, present and future coexist calmly. Tamara Southward
Address: Untergstaadstrasse 17, 3780 Gstaad, Switzerland
Price: Rooms from around £860 per night.