The Omnia, in Zermatt, Switzerland, is right on trend in its efforts to both be one with the local environment and scenery and its stand-out architecture. And despite the fact that Zermatt as a whole is incredibly overpriced (we thought we’d find a cheap meal at a hole-in-the-wall — literally! — creperie, but paid $14 for just one crepe!), The Omnia manages to provide chic and beautiful living arrangements for the right price ($280/cliff-view room including breakfast for two). You enter the Omnia through an underground cliff as the hotel itself is built into the side of the mountain. A glass elevator (with striking views of Zermatt!) takes you to the lobby and a series of glass elevators ascend throughout the hotel, showcasing the property’s intriguing architectural angles. Prices here and elsewhere in Zermatt surely go up in the winter (yet even in the summer, an iced latte will set you back US $17 at the hotel), but in general, if you’re worried about your pocketbook, I’d avoid Switzerland altogether. Even in this global recession, it’s one of the most expensive places I’ve ever visited! That said, if Zermatt is the place to be, The Omnia is the place to stay.
Cold Mountain Collective 