The Alps

Zermatt, St. Moritz, Courchevel, Lech and the Dolomites each have their partisans and we know them all well enough to argue. In winter, the question is whether you want a chalet with a chef and a ski butler or a grand hotel with a proper spa; both can be arranged and both need to be booked by September for the peak weeks. In summer, the mountains empty of skiers and the lakes come into their own: Braies, Como, Lucerne and Bled. Hiking, cycling and a glass of something cold on a terrace at three thousand metres. We can also arrange a helicopter from Zurich or Geneva so the transfer takes twenty minutes rather than four hours.