For a Ramadan break, head to Zurich

Switzerland isn’t normally a country you’d associate with Ramadan, but one Swiss hotel hopes to change that.

From Middle Eastern food to Arabic television stations, the Dolder Grand in Zurich is reaching out to the region’s residents with a slew of amenities catering specially to Muslim visitors marking the holy month.

“The Dolder Grand is open for many different cultures. Our intention is to meet the needs of our guests whenever possible. We understand that Ramadan is a very special time of the year for a Muslim – a time we are happy to give our best so that the guest feels at home when staying with his family at our hotel,” Mark Jacob, Resident Manager and Director of Rooms Division at the Dolder Grand, told Emirates 24|7.

Some seven per cent of total visitors to the hotel each year come from the Middle East, he adds. “The Dolder Grand reopened after a four-year renovation in April 2008.  This is only our third season. Since the reopening we have had a strong and steady build up of our customer base out of the Middle East with a lot of loyal patrons returning over and over again. We expect this trend to continue in the future, as many guests return home with positive feedback about the hotel,” he says.

From the moment they arrive, he says, visitors will be welcomed in traditional style, with a delicate tea traditionally brewed in a samovar and accompanied with dates and nuts.

Throughout the month, the hotel will tailor its services to meet guests’ specific needs, respecting prayer timings, particularly at the important Maghrib and Fajr prayers. Dates and water will be available to break the fast and traditional Middle Eastern foods such as hummus, tabouleh and hammour feature on this special menu.

Guests can either choose to break their fasts in the privacy of their balconies while enjoying panoramic views of the lake and the Alps or indulge themselves in a sumptuous iftar meal at one of the hotel’s award-winning restaurants, he adds. And the hotel’s concierges are also well briefed to advise guests on Islamic prayer facilities in Zurich.

And for those who can’t tear themselves away from the special television programmes that are an entertainment highlight of the season, the hotel offers a variety of Arabic television stations so fans can tune in to their favourite shows.

For those who would like to explore the surroundings, the nearby city of Zurich boasts a variety of activities, ranging from exclusive shopping to a variety of leisure activities such as boat tours on the lake. Switzerland is a wonderful place to enjoy Ramadan, says Jacob. “Switzerland is a calm and peaceful country. The climate in summer is very pleasant and invigorating. The Dolder Grand is located up the hill surrounded by forest and with a marvellous view. It is an ideal place for a retreat either as a couple or as a family.”

Special deals

And what would Ramadan be without a special deal? While pricing at the hotel is the same throughout the year, Ramadan this year coincides with the summer holidays, so the hotel has rolled out a series of offers for the Middle East.

Among its most popular, says Jacob, is a special deal that offers four nights’ accommodation for the price of three. It is priced at CH2,100 (Dh7,430) for one or two people in a superior double room.

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