Gstaad Palace

The Gstaad Palace's fairy-tale turrets have crowned the hill above the village since 1913, and the hotel has been run by the Scherz family for three generations — a continuity that shapes everything from the greeting at the door to the famously loyal clientele. Gstaad built its reputation as the alpine resort of royals, stars and boarding-school dynasties, and the Palace has always been its social centre.

Winter revolves around the Saanenland's ski slopes, sleigh rides and the hotel's legendary GreenGo nightclub, whose seventies interiors remain gloriously intact; summer flips the script with alpine walking, tennis and one of the most beautiful outdoor pools in the Alps, set against the Bernese peaks. The spa is extensive, complete with a private spa suite and a hammam ritual, and the indoor pool looks down the valley.

Rooms favour warm alpine classicism — carved wood, toile, open views — over design statements. Dining runs from the grand main room, where jackets appear at dinner, to a rustic fondue hut in the grounds and the seasonal Le Grill. The Palace is expensive, clubby and proudly unchanging; that is precisely why its guests return every year.