The first thing to say about St Moritz is that it has five 5-star hotels and nine 4-star hotels, so it is not the place to be looking for a bargain bed. One way to keep the cost down when staying in an expensive resort like this is to self-cater and the best bet for this is to book through the tourist office or an agency such as Interhome. Whilst St Moritz is dominated by hotels there are still 3,500 tourist beds to be found in apartments.
The main hotels are based around two distinct parts of the resort. The chic Dorf (village) sits above the lake and is the place to stay if you want to be seen with the majority of the glitzy hotels such as the famous traditional Badrutt’s Palace, as well as good restaurants, bars and shops. There is direct access to Corviglia, the largest local ski area, and several bus stations for the free shuttle service to the other mountains. About five minutes’ drive further west, beside the lake, is the less prestigious Bad (spa) which offers smaller, more affordable hotels with good après ski for all tastes. You will also find the Kempinski here with great views and a lovely spa. What links both areas, perhaps surprisingly given the resort’s reputation is the lack of alpine charm; the architecture can tend towards ugly and blocky. However, the spectacular setting beside the frozen lake, the panorama of the surrounding mountains and the brag factor in the name alone will more than compensate.
