The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland Review, Photos, Video

Review: The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland

This Review of The Chedi Andermatt is part of our 2019 Switzerland trip report. The Chedi Andermatt opened in December 2013, amazing both residents in tiny Andermatt (population of ~1400) and avid skiers, since then as now there was nothing remotely comparable in Andermatt and environs. The owner, Egyptian billionaire Samih Sawiris, had ambitious plans to develop Andermatt, which struggled economically after the Swiss military left in the 1990s. There's a new sleek two-stage ski lift with gondolas that ascend nearly 2000 feet in six minutes that now connects Andermatt with Sedrun, a golf course, and, for those who can't afford the 5-star luxury of The Chedi Andermatt, a Radisson Blu about a 12 minute walk away.

For prior reviews, please see:

Review: Dolder Grand, Zurich

Park Hyatt Zurich Review

Review: Restaurant Focus Vitznau, 2 Michelin Stars

Park Hotel Vitznau Review

The Chedi Andermatt Location and Check-in

The Chedi Andermatt is located in the tiny town of Andermatt, with roughly 1400 in population, a popular ski resort town–in fact, SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun is the largest ski resort in Central Switzerland. Andermatt is 90 minutes-2 hours by car from Zurich, or ~2.5 hours by train, although a couple of changes are needed.

Pascal Rast of Swisspecial dropped us off, after our private tour with him (many of his guests stay at The Chedi Andermatt) and we attempted to check in. While initially there was a problem finding our reservation, the hotel was apologetic for the trouble and kindly upgraded us to a Deluxe Suite.

View from Deluxe Suite at The Chedi Andermatt

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TravelSort Clients enjoy these Virtuoso benefits at The Chedi Andermatt:

  • Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability (No upgrades from Deluxe Suites to Grand Deluxe Suites / Grand Deluxe Suites to Gemsstock Suite / Gemsstock Suite to Furka Suite)
  • Full Breakfast daily served in The Restaurant (included in the room rate)
  • $100 USD equivalent Spa Services credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full, only applicable towards treatments)
  • Authentic Swiss Chocolate Platter served with a bottle of Champagne
  • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi

Deluxe Suite, The Chedi Andermatt

We were in a Deluxe Suite on the 2nd floor of the main building, accessed by elevator near The Restaurant. 51 of the hotel's 123 rooms and suites are Deluxe Suites, making it the largest single category. By comparison, there are just 31 Deluxe Rooms, 13 Grand Deluxe Rooms and 4 Junior Deluxe Suites.

Deluxe Suite, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Deluxe Suite, The Chedi Andermatt

The table held welcome amenities for us: some fresh fruit, a bottle of Pinot Noir, and some chocolates for our son.

Fruit Welcome Amenity, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Fruit Welcome Amenity, The Chedi Andermatt
Wine Welcome Amenity, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Wine Welcome Amenity, The Chedi Andermatt
Kid's Welcome Amenity, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Kid's Welcome Amenity, The Chedi Andermatt

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Deluxe Suites are large, at 1130 square feet (110 square meters). The space is handsome, if a little dark with all the wood, as you'd expect for ski chalets. Unfortunately, although called a suite, and despite the size, there are no doors separating the living area from the bedroom. Instead, it's entirely open plan, just with a fireplace and flat screen in the middle. That's great for a couple who wants plenty of space, but not good for families, who generally want to be able to put the kids to bed and read or watch a movie in the bedroom–impossible here, given the lack of doors.

Deluxe Suite, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Deluxe Suite, The Chedi Andermatt

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The King bed had a high quality Swedish Hastens mattress, however it was too firm for us, so we asked for an additional mattress pad, which made it more comfortable.

Deluxe Suite King Bed, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Deluxe Suite King Bed, The Chedi Andermatt

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The bathroom similarly doesn't have a door to it, and the light could disturb a sleeping partner. There are, however, glass doors to the large rain shower and to the toilet chamber.

Deluxe Suite Soaking Tub, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Deluxe Suite Soaking Tub, The Chedi Andermatt
Bathroom Sink, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Bathroom Sink, The Chedi Andermatt
Rain Shower, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Rain Shower, The Chedi Andermatt
Acqua di Parma Bath Products, The Chedi Andermatt

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When entering the bathroom, on the right hand side was a large walk-in closet. It had plenty of space to hang and store clothes, great for guests staying for a week or more of skiing or cycling.

Walk-in Closet, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Walk-in Closet, The Chedi Andermatt

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Here's our The Chedi Andermatt YouTube Video Review:

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Pools and Spa at The Chedi Andermatt

In addition to the outdoor pool in the courtyard pictured above, which is better to sunbathe next to than swim in, there's a heated indoor lap pool that extends to the outside. See the above video for photos of the spa and fitness center.

Heated Lap Pool, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Heated Lap Pool, The Chedi Andermatt
Heated Outdoor Pool, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Heated Outdoor Pool, The Chedi Andermatt

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Breakfast at The Chedi Andermatt

Breakfast is served in The Restaurant, the hotel's all-day dining restaurant, from 7-11am daily.

Breakfast Buffet at The Restaurant, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Breakfast Buffet at The Restaurant, The Chedi Andermatt

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The buffet had a good selection of juices, pastries, and fresh fruit, including fresh blueberries, although not nearly the array of the much smaller but more luxe The Park Hotel Vitznau, which had offered more types of berries, red currants, and even mango and fresh passion fruit.

Breakfast Juices, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Breakfast Juices, The Chedi Andermatt

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There was smoked salmon, cold cuts, and a small hot buffet of scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, mushrooms and the like, although unfortunately eggs cooked to order is *not* included, and only available at additional cost, unlike at the other three Swiss luxury hotels we had just come from.

Smoked Salmon, Breakfast at The Chedi Andermatt Review
Smoked Salmon, Breakfast at The Chedi Andermatt
Breakfast Scrambled Eggs, Mushrooms, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Breakfast Scrambled Eggs, Mushrooms, The Chedi Andermatt

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On the other hand, a highlight is the 16 foot tall cheese room. There's a changing selection of alpine cheeses available for breakfast on the cheese board, which we greatly enjoyed sampling.

16 Foot Tall Cheese Room, The Chedi Andermatt Review
16 Foot Tall Cheese Room, The Chedi Andermatt
Breakfast Cheeses Table, The Chedi Andermatt Review
Breakfast Cheeses Table, The Chedi Andermatt

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The Verdict

The Chedi Andermatt is architecturally striking, with its blend of ski chalet chic and Asian touches, due to GHM Hotels' Asian heritage (Chedi is the Thai word for stupa, a Buddhist dome shaped temple). Rooms and suites are very spacious and beautifully appointed, although a key thing to know is that Deluxe Suites, as large as they are, are open plan, with no doors separating the bedroom from the living area. For this reason, we strongly recommend Grand Deluxe Suites, with 2 bedrooms that have closing doors, to families or anyone who wants full separation between bedrooms and the living area. In the Deluxe Suites, there's no door to the bathroom either, and only a semi-transparent door on the toilet chamber.

Service was very good; a room service dinner for our son came promptly, as did Housekeeping when we requested an extra mattress pad for our bed to make it softer. And we were very appreciative of the staff who took us in the hotel's courtesy car all the way to Sasso San Gottardo (and picked us up there) where we were able to view underground military bunkers developed to protect against a potential attack during World War II.

Dining was good, although not as sublime as at the Park Hotel Vitznau. The breakfast buffet was fine, but unlike at the Park Hotel Vitznau, Dolder Grand, and Park Hyatt Zurich, only the pre-cooked eggs on the buffet were included; eggs cooked to order incurred an additional charge. Our dinner at The Japanese Restaurant was very good; see our separate review.

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