Holiday Gift Ideas: Experiences Over Goods
Jewelry, luxury accessories, fine wine are the staples of traditional gift-giving. But material goods are increasingly making way for meaningful experiences as the most luxurious gifts. finews.com highlights seven Swiss ideas.
Shoppers are swapping retailers for meaningful experiences in their holiday gift-giving – and science tells us that doing something memorable beats material goods for satisfaction.
High-end consumers have long flocked to Switzerland as a hub for luxurious hospitality and shopping. But how is the alpine nation set up for experience gifts? finews.com compiled seven suggestions.
1. Freeride With the Pros
The Swiss alps are a skiing playground like no other – and a paradise for free-riders (off-piste, ungroomed powder). Some pros like Sam Smoothy (skiing) offer private rides – if you know the right people. The advantage? Seeing and experiencing the mountain as one of the world’s best free-riders would, and watching how they «pick a line» to ride.
2. Sommelier's View
The terraced vineyards of the Lavaux were awarded UNESCO heritage status in 2007. At less than 900 hectares, the Lavaux’s output is limited. Swiss drinkers quaff virtually all of it – and the best way to do your part is on a private sommelier-guided tasting of wine cellars and vineyards. Perched over Lake Geneva, the sweeping vistas are most impressive during the autumn harvesting season.
3. Inside Luxury Watchmaking
The art of Swiss watchmaking goes back to the 16th century – and is still going strong today. Iconic brand Audemars Piguet opens a 6,300-square-meter Z-shaped «Hôtel des Horlogers» in Le Brassus, in the heart of watchmaking valley, in 2021. Another scion of the dynasty, Olivier Piguet, offers a two-day class on watchmaking. VIPs learn how to dismantle, then reassemble a mechanical watch, and manufacture their own «skeleton» wristwatch to take home.
4. Beat the Ski Lift Lines
A helicopter firm in Zermatt offers the world’s fastest ski lift: 20 minutes to get from the Rhone Valley (638 meters above sea level) to Zermatt-Cervinia, the linchpin between the two major ski resorts at 3,500 meters. The 1,665 Swiss franc price tag for a group of five is surprisingly mild compared to renting a (winter-proof) car, or even train fare. Besides priceless views, the heli-taxi includes a ski pass for the day and equipment rental (on request).
5. Craft Luxury Chocolate
Pascal Beschle (pictured above, at right) is the fourth generation to run with his brother Dominic Beschle the 121-year-old Swiss chocolate-maker Beschle. He is also responsible for opening up the family’s Basel atelier to workshops where participants can taste and learn about chocolate production – and make their own personalized chocolate bar. Drinks and «riche» snacks afterward can be arranged for private groups. A special Christmas version of the workshop offers children the opportunity to mold their own chocolate Santa.
6. Snowy Train Luxury
Eight hours on a train? In Switzerland, it is the length of the flagship Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz. A new «excellence» category includes a five-course lunch featuring smoked trout, beef tenderloin, warm chocolate cake – and of course a cheese platter. The «slowest fast train in the world» features concierge service for the trip, which crosses 291 bridges and travels through 91 tunnels as it snakes its way from pastoral alpine landscapes up to 2,033 meters above sea level.
7. Chalet Love
A newlywed couple invited 15 of their closest friends on their honeymoon: a five-star chalet experience in Verbier. Swiss-based concierge Chris Southwell organized surprises including an exclusive picnic on a remote snow-capped mountainside: guests could either ski or helicopter to the lunch spot (caution: highly weather-dependent).
