Words: Violet
Rarely has a hotel opened to as much international fanfare as W Hotel Verbier. In London, the W Verbier took over the W Hotel Leicester Sq during November where you could have an ersatz W Verbier experience. Apres-ski cocktails were necked, accompanied by tapas from the W Verbier’s new menu; they even staged a democratic Search for a Resident DJ competition.
Helped by ‘Verbs’ being shot into the limelight since Prince Harry and Cressida, with just one piste-bound kiss earlier this year, unwittingly made it the stage on which they revealed their relationship to the world, W Verbier seems to be on a lot of people’s lips.
With 123 rooms, there’s plenty to choose from, and they’re impressively kitted out. Each has its own fireplace, and the rooms range from a £207 double to a 187sq m £6,915 e-WOW penthouse suite with Jacuzzi. (Some even have pet beds, for those dogs who just won’t be left at home alone.)
As if the slopes weren’t enough of a work-out, there’s a fitness centre, with a spa for winding down afterwards. I’m pretty attracted by the indoor/outdoor pool – the soft version for those who’ve always fancied some outdoor Alpine swimming but haven’t got quite the nerve to take the icy plunge.
Laidback luxury is the cultivated vibe here. “Whatever, Whenever” is the W brand’s philosophy towards their guests – they’ll try to find a smart solution to whatever you want to do while you’re staying with them. One can’t help but feel this is a ski residence for the tech generation, who care more about doing cool things than dining off menus they can’t understand. Even the room names are down-to-earth, so you know exactly what mood of luxury you’re going for when you book: choose from the Cozy Room, the Wonderful Room, the Fabulous Room or the Spectacular Room.
Location-wise, you’re not going to get cooler in Verbier than the W, sitting on Place Blanche in the Medran area; it’s ski-in, ski-out for maximum ease.
Frankly though, if you’re staying at the W, you’re already at Verbier’s coolest destination – why go out?
You’ll dine finely in their in-house restaurant, headed up by Michelin-starred Spaniard Sergi Arola serving a new type of fusion cuisine – Alpine-style tapas. There’s also a straight-up tapas bar, and two cocktail bars to make it to before Carve, their club, which will take you through to 4am.
Barely open for 24 hours yet, the first W Hotel Verbier review is still up for grabs. For a pretty plugged-in hotel, the tech sphere has been unusually quiet – something tells me its first guests are having too much fun to bother bragging about it to the rest of the world.
For more information visit W Hotel Verbier
By Charlotte Beale
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