Is it worth traveling 14 hours for a bath and a massage? If your destination is architect Peter Zumthor’s modern spa in the Alps, yes

The outdoor pool at 7132 Therme and Hotel, designed by architect Peter Zumthor Therme Vals

At Some Point in our journey—most likely after the hourlong taxi trip, eight-hour flight and first of three train rides—the notion flashed through my head: “There are easier ways to get a massage.”

It was, I admit, an ungrateful thought.

To celebrate my birthday, my husband, Drew, had arranged a surprise trip to a spa in the Swiss alps. When he broke the news as we approached the gate at New York’s JFK airport, I was thrilled and impressed.

After all, he’d had several challenges to navigate—not least of them the pressure of planning an itinerary for a travel editor like me. It was a big birthday, so the getaway had to feel special. We both needed a break from work, parenting and urban life, but had never been away from our 2-year-old son overnight. Since I was pregnant, extreme adventure and wine-country jaunts were off the table. And, our budget (sad to say) was not limitless.....Continue Reading

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