Hi Everyone,
Having been away from my Hubby for 2 weeks the romantic package weekend at Hotel Belvedere Locarno was the perfect way to reconnect and catch up on all the news we had to tell each other.
Locarno is just over a 2.5 hour drive from Zurich and the weather is often much warmer and sunnier than in Zurich. In fact a trip to Ticino often feels a lot more like travelling abroad than simply going to another part of Switzerland. So it certainly is a great place to escape to during the colder months November through to January and the Hotel Belvedere-Locarno is one of the few hotels in Locarno that remains open all year.
The Hotel Belvedere Locarno romantic package includes:
• two nights in a double room with balcony and lake view
• a romantic gift in the room
• the rich breakfast buffet or breakfast served in the room
• a dinner for two with a 4-course romantic menu, beverages excluded
• a relaxing 50-minute candle massage per person in a cosy couples setting
• access to the OASI BELVEDERE Spa including saunas, swimming pool, relaxation rooms and fitness
• Ticino Ticket for free public transport tickets and discounts at many tourist attractions
The Hotel Belvedere-Locarno Romantic package is bookable here
Keep reading for the full pictorial account of “Romantic Weekend at Belvedere Locarno – Such a Great Gift Idea!”
Romantic Weekend at Hotel Belvedere Locarno – Such a Great Gift Idea!
Day 1:
Our room:
From the moment we were greeted at reception and then later stepped into our room with its sweeping balcony view over the Lake Maggiore, the weekend already felt like a dream.
Imagine sitting on the balcony whilst sipping bubbles and soaking in the views… then you know exactly how we felt – smile!
The Spa
Of course the spa was next on our agenda…
I particularly enjoyed the indoor/outdoor pool and was particularly amazed to find myself enjoying the sun outside so late on in the year. BTW – I wasn’t the only one, other guests were also soaking in the sun outside in their robes.
The inside relaxing area of the spa is also super nice with full views over the lake.
We had a quick look inside the fitness room. However as it also had great views and was superbly equipped, I was careful to drag Mr FunkyForty away as fast as possible. He is a bit of a fitness addict – smile!
The bar:
As the afternoon turned into evening it was time to change and head down to the bar for pre dinner drinks.
We had great fun examining the walls filled with grand Locarno film festival personalities. Mr FunkyForty especially enjoyed quizzing me on who is who. I am really hopeless at that game and decided concentrating on my strawberry flavoured bubbles was a much better use of my time.
4 – Course romantic dinner:
The delicious 4-course romantic dinner is designed by Chef Rosario Stipo who recently took over the position of Head Chef at the restaurant La Fontana, Belvedere-Locarno. I have heard him explain that he likes to start with a few select and recognisable elements to achieve harmony, (as per ticinowelcome.ch).
Both Mr FunkyForty and I definitely agreed that harmony was reached. Check out what we ate:
From top left to bottom right:
Prawns with thyme and cream of yellow cauliflower; rosemary gnocchi with parmesan cream and black garlic; polenta crusted perch with baby corn and purple potato mash, trio of chocolate cream with hazelnut praline.
Day 2:
Breakfast:
The breakfast buffet is beautiful and extensive with anything your heart desires for breakfast. However it doesn’t just stop there. Breakfast options continue into the open kitchen area where fresh pancakes and egg dishes are made on request.
Madonna del Sasso: The sacred mountain:
Belvedere-Locarno has its very own funicular stop going up to the Madonna del Sasso. However having eaten what seemed like a whole house (smile), at breakfast, we decided to walk instead.
The Madonna del Sasso guards the city of Locarno from above. The views from here are so spectacular that I couldn’t stop myself from taking a ton of photos.
Somehow the aura of the place also seemed very calm. Dating back to 1487 the Madonna del Sasso is an important pilgrimage destination. Read here for more information.
Back at the hotel:
Back at the hotel we both decided that bubbles and cake were well deserved. The sun was also so inviting that we happily planted ourselves in the pretty restaurant courtyard…
Super delicious cake which we then decided also needed to be walked off…
Locarno Winter Wonderland:
…so we strolled into town to check out the Locarno Winter Wonderland.
There’s even a zip line here. I tried really hard to get Mr FunkyForty to go on it but he was having none of that. In fact he even refused to photograph me if I went on it. So sadly I missed out. Mind you this was probably the right decision as temperatures had dropped somewhat by that stage… plus of course Mr FunkyForty is always right (he says 😉).
Day 3: Leaving day:
Couples Massage:
Saving the best for last we decided to have our couples candle massage on the morning of our departure…
We both enjoyed our massage so much, making it easier to start the new week feeling refreshed and full of energy… My masseuse for sure seemed to have magic hands and was able to be strong but gentle all at the same time – bliss!
Finishing our spa morning with a visit to the saunas too…
Time to say goodbye for now:
We enjoyed our romantic weekend so much that I am certain we will return. What we really noticed was just how much at home all guests seemed to feel. We all had to laugh one evening at the bar as a cheerful group of guests arrived, greeting the barkeeper as though they were stepping back in their own living room.
To top it all off, just before we left Hotel Director Michele Rinaldini, (who has now decidedly become a dear new friend of ours), explained some of the hotels history. The Hotel Belvedere-Locarno carries over 400 years of heritage and one story stood out – the fountain in the courtyard where we enjoyed our bubbles. It originally belonged to the hotel, was later sold and moved, and has now been lovingly brought back home.
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The Belvedere-Locarno Romantic Package really is the most wonderful gift you can give someone for Christmas, Birthday or any other occasion…
Hotel Belvedere
Via ai Monti della Trinità 44
CH-6600 Locarno
Tel. +41 91 751 03 63
Fax +41 91 751 52 39
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