THE ALPINE EDIT & mountain hopping

White Line Hotels – the collection of more than 40 indie hotels, has introduced the cool concept of Mountain Hopping through a selection of creative boltholes; The Alpine Edit – the insider guide to hotels, ski chalets, retreats and lodges from across Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy.

We don’t list many places, just those that capture the soul of the Alps for those aficionados who seek accommodation that echoes of the setting. Abstract wooden elements of the chalet marry with the contemporary, aged components relish designer furnishings whilst others are simply Alpine being a tapestry of naturalness.

Whether you are a ski junkie, a carver or a boarder, or someone who gravitates towards the slow lane, you can soak up the holistic of the snowy and sun decked Alps.

Hop through our edit of diversity, that the line smartly draws together – each very different, each very much like-minded.

Enough words have a gander through The Alpine Edit and get yourself off – just click on each place to book.

Your Ski Holiday Just Went Underground

There’s no escaping that inevitable question on any ski holiday: What do you do when you’re not on the slopes? It’s certainly a dilemma that falls into the category that a dear friend of mine calls — with all due gratitude for being lucky enough to have  this kind — “posh problems”, but a question to be answered nonetheless. If cozy chairs near flickering fires still hold their appeal, but this year you find yourself dreaming of something slightly less usual, it’s time to take your holiday down-time underground. Into Bad Gastein’s healing caves.

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BEYOND DAILY STRUGGLE

Not “beyond” in the sense of “way more than”, but rather in “stepping past” — and when the words following that “beyond” are “daily struggle”, you can be beyond happy in the former sense that this time it’s meant in the latter — White Line Hotels edit Hotel Miramonte is offering an inviting series of retreats this September to help you break out of the box of your daily routine for a freer and happier life. They’re coming up fast, but even if you can’t run away on such short notice this time, be sure to check in with their special offers again soon; you just know their next offers will be every bit as exciting.

From the 16th until the 18th BEYOND DAILY STRUGGLE – TRANSFORM STRESS INTO VIGOR offers practical exercises and lifestyle coaching for a more stress free and happier life for everyday life led by Leela Isani and Frank Weckesser of the SELF Empowerment Company, who have specialized in wellness and lifestyle retreats. Outside of group sessions, a special cook will provide for the physical welfare under the motto “Soul food”, and plenty of personal time allows the chance to take a treatment at the Aveda Spa. Where could be better than isolated mountain beauty of Bad Gastein to withdraw in order to renew?

The week after, from the 22nd to the 25th, YOGA MEDITATION AYURVEDA will teach beginners as well as more experienced practitioners methods and techniques that can easily flow back into your everyday life. Guided yoga programmes in the morning and evening (90 min.) are complemented by outdoor walks, and of course the incredible food and views you can expect anytime from Hotel Miramonte. Experience how to be in balance, increase your vitality without pressure, stress reduction through mindfulness, to be in contact with inner joy.

Don’t forget to feel the exhilaration of standing at the base of the Gastein Waterfall, and if you’re lucky maybe you’ll get to test your inner peace by meeting with an Alpine cow.

Deadlines, the Other Mother of Invention

Whoever said “necessity is the mother of invention” — and seriously, we mean “whoever” because it’s one of those sayings that seems to have been invented without a mother, if you’ll pardon the bad joke… — probably brought that expression into the world before deadlines existed, so we’ll cut the anonymous author some slack and just update it for him/her: “necessity and deadlines are the mothers of invention.” If you consider that deadlines are indeed themselves a necessity, then we’re back at square one with no need for the update on the old adage, but a step further in explaining that TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ENTER THE WHITE LINE HOTELS ALPINE EDIT CONTEST.

Will inspiration strike before midnight?

Photo of the Mothers of Invention record sleeve taken from the fabulous www.sleeveface.com

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Just a reminder: only 5 days left to enter White Line Hotels’ Alpine Edit contest to win 4 nights of alpine summer lushness. You can check out the competition, or vote for your favorites, on our facebook page.

Countdown clock photo: Steven Depolo