Hotel Meisser
Guarda, Switzerland
By Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell

No wonder Hotel Meisser boasts seventy-percent repeat business, comprising clients who Ralf Meisser says, “Come for hiking, relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the countryside.”
 

For the ultimate, out-of-the-way holiday that can inspire travelers to believe they are the lone sojourners in the world, few places can hold a candle to Hotel Meisser. Actually, candlelight dinners and romantic rendezvous that stretch well into night are the fashion in a setting perfect for a romantic historical novel!

Couples seeking to celebrate an anniversary, honeymoon, second honeymoon, engagement or simply to rekindle a relationship can create their own storybook memories. Nestled in the heart of the Switzerland village of Guarda, totaling 175 inhabitants, high above the lower Engadine Valley, the hotel’s main building has stood since 1658.

Located in the same valley as prominent St. Moritz, international travelers can reach this remote getaway region by auto train from the Zurich Airport, approximately 2 1/2 hours away. Hotel Meisser’s complimentary shuttle transports guests from the train station to its two-acre haven. The architecture alone is worth the visit. The fourth and fifth generations of the Meisser family continue to preserve the inn’s unique style contained in three Engadine houses, 17th-century old farmhouses. The overall design mirrors the village’s architecture, protected under the government. The Engadine style includes thick stone walls embellished with scafito ornamentation carved into the façade.

The great grandfather of innkeeper Ralf Meisser opened the main hotel in 1893, gave it the family name and jumpstarted tradition. “In 1969, I returned home from my training years around the world and took over the hotel from my parents. It was almost too small, after all I’ve seen outside this little village. By that time, the hotel only existed of one building. Because of the good location, I decided to work on it. Two years later, I married my wife Kathryn and together we developed the property,” Ralf explains. (After Ralf’s 32-year stint, his son Benno and his girlfriend Maya, began running the hotel since 2000 with a staff of 15.)

As fate would have it, Ralf eventually met travel writer Karen Brown who included the hotel in her Switzerland travel guidebook. “Pretty soon American people came walking into the hotel with the book under the arm, asking for room number 15, which is a room with a wonderful view and very quiet; so the Meisser and Guarda became known to American tourists and since then we were, for a long time, the only hotel in the region having English-speaking tourists. My wife and I had the big advantage of speaking English; which at that time wasn’t common,” Ralf also elaborates.

The above-mentioned guestroom 15, along with 16, in the main inn affords panoramic views enhanced by private balconies. A total of 20 different-sized guestrooms occupy these quarters, each exuding a charming old-world flavor to modern-day travelers. Amenities include a shower or bath/WC and mini-bar. In the winter, central heating along with a fireplace in the main building assures comfort. In the summer, Ralf says that there is no need for air conditioning in Guarda since the village is 1650 meters (5413 feet) above sea level.

Across the street, the Chasa Pepina has five luxurious suites. Ralf describes them, noting, “They are made out of original old rooms in wooden panels with luxurious bathrooms and living areas.” Bar-Sepan, a lounge and smoking room, is housed in the building as well. Visitors discover things like a wine cellar, billiards and darts to keep them engaged.

Additionally, guests can expect a delicious European-style buffet breakfast, consisting mainly of fresh products from the region, with cereals. Interestingly enough, Ralf’s great grandfather converted the dining room in the main building from a hay stable—look for two exposed pillars in the middle of the room brimming with gothic-style elegance, crystal chandeliers, wood paneling and wooden floor.

Other culinary delights are presented throughout the day and night in admirable surroundings at Hotel Meisser. In the main house, two restaurants join the dining room. La Veranda is an a la carte dining experience known for its gourmet meals and seasonal specialties, such as Venison de Grison, jugged venison with spätzli, brussels sprouts, red cabbage and pears cooked in white wine. The over-sized windows tempt diners to linger long after dessert—banana split, anyone? The Ustaria-Ursin is a smaller-scale, comfortable restaurant with fireplace, where patrons can get a taste of local-style dishes like barley soup. For the most spectacular view of the valley, Guarda garden restaurant, dubbed the “finest terrace in the Engadine” is the place to relax over grilled foods, snacks and ice cream.

No wonder Hotel Meisser boasts seventy-percent repeat business, comprising clients who Ralf says, “Come for hiking, relaxing and enjoying the beauty of the countryside.” This is not just a lovers’ nirvana. Families with children are welcome. A four-season treasure, hiking is also a preferred pastime—with trails in Guarda that can take up to 9 hours to hike. (Not to mention other nearby activities like golf, river rafting, skiing, tennis, horseback riding.) The Swiss National Park gives guided tours of the idyllic area full of animals and natural wonders. With “the beauty, the silence, the place for Yoga, pure, dry air,” as Ralf identifies, Hotel Meisser is your own personal mountaintop.

In the main house, two restaurants join the dining room. La Veranda is an a la carte dining experience known for its gourmet meals and seasonal specialties.