The just-finished season of the ABC series The Bachelor, resulting in the on-again-off-again engagement of wine-maker Ben Flajnick and model Courtney Robertson, certainly had its share of controversy. But there’s no doubt about one particular aspect of the two-part finale: the incredible scenic beauty of Switzerland.
The country most associated with the majestic, snow-capped Alps hosted Ben and his final three Bachelorettes (Courtney, Lindzi, and Nicki) in two of its most famed mountain hamlets: Interlaken, which sits between two alpine lakes, and Zermatt, with its incomparable views of the Matterhorn. Here’s a look at the five-star hotels where they stayed and played (with a memorable rail journey in between) and at a special Bachelor-inspired package for travel to both destinations – plus a sweepstakes that you can enter to win a week-long stay.
Interlaken: A sense of history melds with soaring alpine splendor in this charming town and at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, which opened in 1865 and features 212 romantic rooms and suites. A modern redesign complements its original Belle Epoque design, and there are four restaurants as well as a 60,000-square-foot wellness wing (where spa delights for two are on tap). The hotel is offering a “Bachelor’s Rose” package throughout 2012, which includes three nights in a Bel Air Junior Suite in the Spa Wing (shown at right), a bouquet of red roses, three romantic breakfasts in bed (or in the restaurant), a candlelit dinner for two in the Salon Rouge (including a bottle of champagne), a five-star picnic basket for a romantic hike, a couples massage followed by two hours in the private spa suite with sauna/steam and bath, and limousine transfer to/from Interlaken train station. The package starts at $2,049 per person and can be booked via e-mail at reservations@victoria-jungfrau.ch
Zermatt: Romantic by nature, this car-free resort town (elevation 5,314 feet) is renowned for being the place to admire the one-of-a-kind, 14,692-foot Matterhorn (unless you count the mini replica at Disneyland). Ben and his final two ladies, Courtney and Lindzi, were hosted by the luxurious, 84-room Grand Hotel Zermatterhof (shown at left), where Ben’s mom, Barbara, and sister, Julia, met them for the first time. Rooms and suites at the hotel, which opened in 1879, feature balconies where you can gaze at the famed peak for hours on end, as well as the wellness-centric Viti Borni spa. The hotel is offering “The Bachelor Experience,” featuring a horse-drawn carriage transfer upon arrival and departure, two indulgent nights in a Chalet Suite, a bottle of Dom Perignon and red roses, a lavish buffet breakfast, a helicopter flight around the Matterhorn, and free steam/sauna, whirlpool and Alpine grotto access, from $3,429; bookable until April 22, 2012.
Bachelor Romance Package: See both towns and stay at both legendary hotels with RailEurope’s “Bachelor Romance Package,” bookable March 12 to July 12 for travel June 15 to September 15. The package includes a total of four nights’ accommodations split between the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken and the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof in Zermatt, plus a scenic rail transfer between the two, from $2,696 per person.
The Bachelor’s Ultimate Switzerland Getaway: Or if you are feeling lucky, enter by March 19, 2012 to win the Bachelor’s Ultimate Getaway Sweepstakes for a seven-day/six-night trip for two to Switzerland that includes round-trip economy airfare, three nights at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa with breakfast and dinner for two, one spa treatment for two, VIP tickets on Jungfrau Railways, three nights at the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, a spa treatment for two, three day passes for mountain railways and cable cars, and first-class Swiss Passes for use on the Swiss Travel System.
See our Switzerland destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rate on flights, hotels, packages and more travel deals.
