B2 BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND SPA IS ZURICH'S LATEST AND HIPPEST HOTEL. I STAYED THERE AND HAD A COOL TIME AS THE TRAM AND BUSES ARE A FEW MINUTES WALK AND IT BOASTS A DIRECT LINK FROM TRAIN STATION STRAIGHT UP TO THE HOTEL VIA A DEDICATED LIFT!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
B2 BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND SPA AT HURLIMANN AREA, BRANDSCHENKESTRASSE 152, 8002 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
+41 44 567 67 67
WWW.B2BOUTIQUEHOTELS.COM

B2 used to be a beer factory and the rooms are located inside the former Hurlimann beer building dating from the mid 19th century. 

There are 60 rooms and suites, 2 boardrooms with state of the art infrastructure and direct access to thermal baths and spa with steam rooms for hotel guests.

The 33,000 books at Library Lounge offer fine meals, fine wines and a fine read!

Rooms start from an affordable 300 Swiss francs (RM 900) and all the way to 1,600 Swiss francs. 

When you check in, ask for GM Katrin Wolf and say you are my friend and she will ensure you have a special stay. Then again, even if you are my enemy, she will ensure you will also have a special stay!

The service is wonderful and sincere and not at all snotty. When I arrived at the train station, I phoned the hotel which instantly sent a minion I mean a staff member running down to escort me to the hotel lobby! That was nice since labour is so expensive in Europe.

B2 also enjoys direct access via a lift that links it to the railway platform below. So you can arrive by train from Zurich Railway Station almost to the doorstep of B2 Boutique Hotel and Spa!

I love oranges and took some from the reception desk. To my surprise and amazement, the next day there was a bowl of oranges on my desk! The staff noted my greediness and without asking, made sure I had my favourite fruits in my room daily thereafter! I only experienced similar services at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok but the rate there is around US$ 1,000 (RM 3,200) a night compared to around RM 950 at B2!

On my departure to Montreux again someone from reception offered to lug my suitcase down to the railway station!

It must be said B2 is not located next to the shops as you need to walk 5 minutes to the road to take the tram or bus. But transport is SUPER efficient in Switzerland and waiting time is 8 minutes max before the bus or tram you want roll into sight.

FOYER---I LOVE THE STACKED BOOKS BUT I THOUGHT WERE IMPRACTICAL SINCE THE BOOKS COULD TOPPLE EASILY

CLOSE UP OF BOOK TABLE

THEN I DISCOVERED ALL THE BOOKS WERE RIVETED TOGETHER AND COULD NEVER FALL OFF! SO INGENIOUS!

THE BOOKS WERE BOUGHT AT ONE GO, ALL 30,000 OF THEM!

I LOVE THE CHANDELIERS!

EACH CHANDELIER IS MADE OF BEER BOTTLES WITH BULBS INSIDE! AWESOME!

COOL CAFE FOR MEALS AND BREAKFAST

BEER BOTTLES MAKE UP THIS CHANDELIERS!

THIS IS THE LIBRARY LOUNGE WITH 11 METRE CEILINGS

COSY CORNER

THE LIBARY LOUNGE HAS 11 METRE HIGH  CEILINGS

NOTE THE BOOK STOOL

THE LIBRARY LOUNGE LOOKS LIKE IT IS FRAMED

STUNNING AND UNIQUE CHANDELIER FROM BEER BOTTLES STILL IN USE BY HURLIMANN BEER!

KATRIN WOLF, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF B2 BOUTIQUE HOTEL AND SPA

KATRIN WOLF BY MY FAVORITE BOOK STOOL

THE JAMES BOND MEETING ROOM ON FIRST FLOOR

A MOVIE CAN BE SHOT HERE

OR A TOP SECRET MEETING

VIEW OF LIBRARY LOUNGE BELOW FROM MEETING ROOM

SO STUNNING AND IMPRESSIVE, I LOVE THE CHANDELIERS!

PART OF THE ORIGINAL WALL WHEN IT WAS A BEER FACTORY

MY FEET ON OLD PICTURE ON FLOOR!

THE GREEN GRASS ARE ACTUALLY BROKEN SHARDS OF GREEN GLASS BEER BOTTLES!

CLEANING THEM IS A HASSLE!

NOT GREEN GRASS BUT GREEN GLASS!

PENTHOUSE SUITE

LIMIT YOUR SEXUAL POSITIONS AS YOU CAN FALL DOWN THE STAIRS!

WASH BASIN OVERLOOKS LIVINGROOM

LIVINGROOM BELOW BEDROOM

BED WITH BATH NEARBY!!!! I LOVE THEM!

WITH MIRROR TO REFLECT!

A SHORT WALK FROM BED TO BATH!

KATRIN WOLF POINTS TO BATH

ALL YOURS!

THE BEER FACTORY SPACE

KATRIN WOLF AND VIXEN KEE HUA CHEE

KEE HUA CHEE THE LAMB AND KATRIN THE WOLF

YEAR END HOLIDAY IN ZURICH, SWITZERLAND IS MAGICAL AND SUPER GLAM!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

SWISS CHRISTMAS MARKETS RULE!

Christmas markets are a mostly Germanic and eastern European tradition and even the traditional Christmas tree was not a Dickensian invention but introduced into England by Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. The German prince hankered for his childhood Christmas tree decorated by him and brother Prince Ernst and recreated one for his children in England.

In 1848 The London Illustrated News published pictures of the Royal Family in Windsor Castle next to their gaily decorated tree. The aristocracy and middle classes were enamoured and quickly emulated this new fangled custom. This was followed by the novel notion of gift giving to children and exchanging presents between adults.

Hence none is surprised when the world acclaimed Zurich Christmas market is dominated by the world’s biggest Swarovski Christmas tree towering over 16 metres.

Installed inside Zurich’s Main Railway Station, it glitters, glows and gleams with some 5,000 to 6,000 Swarovski crystal ornaments, depending on who you ask--- even the Zurich Tourist Board gives conflicting numbers but who is counting?

I could hardly see the tree for the decorations which are entirely in white and Swarovski wasted no time in flaunting their expertise. Showcases encircle the tree, filled with expensive and unique examples of works of art seemingly geared at the Chinese market---golden, coiling dragon, pair of leaping auspicious carps, running tiger and rearing horse in honour of 2014 Year of the Horse. Should the urge to buy them overwhelm you, the Swarovski shop is conveniently located just across the street!

Zurich’s Christmas market, now into its 20^th year inside the cavernous hall of Hofbahnhof aka Main Railway Station is the world’s biggest indoor market with a carnival, festive atmosphere plus sensational scents of mulled wine, gingerbread and steaming chocolate.

Over 150 stalls (they call them ‘chalets’, so cute) fill the hall, brimming with the usual chocolate, candy, toys, glass ornaments, dresses, shoes, bags, accessories, jewellery, household/kitchen utensils, handmade candles, baked goodies and the obligatory mulled wine to fortify against the cold and wind outside.

I saw some rustic Nativity scenes made of wood and bits and pieces but no elaborate, lavishly embellished figurines of Virgin Mary, Jesus, angels, cherubs or carved religious icons. Then I remembered Zurich (as well as Geneva, Berne and Basel) is Protestant and even the interior of the 13^th century Grossmunster, Zurich’s biggest church is sparsely, spartanly decorated unlike Catholic cathedrals. As I stared at the bare surroundings, a priest rushed to tell me photography was forbidden, prompting me to indignantly but politely (since he was a man of the cloth) protest there was nothing much inside to photograph!

Remarkably, I saw several stalls selling, of all unchristian stuff, statues of Buddha and Buddhism’s pantheon of deities in Zurich’s Christmas market. A few booths sold artefacts from Bali and silk blouses from China while one specialised in ‘blooming flower’ teas, displaying transparent glasses of tea balls which had swelled and unfurled into miniature floral bouquets.

Cafes and restaurants lined both sides so you could sit and watch the world glide by without shivering.

Prices are reasonable and the most expensive items I saw were sword replicas under a thousand ringgit. Most products were around RM 50.

If rustic charms are not your cup of tea, directly in front of the railway station is Bahnhof strasse. It is one of the world’s most expensive shopping street, loaded with designer fashion boutiques, watch shops and high-end jewellery stores like Gubelin, Bucherer and Turler, Switzerland’s tripartite of the most prestigious multi-label havens of dreams.

Five minutes’ walk on Bahnhof strasse is Zurich’s smallest Christmas market with just 10 stalls. Its claim to fame is the ‘Singing Christmas Tree’ ---a pyramidal platform resembling a huge Christmas tree filled with up to 50 children singing carols and popular Yuletide songs. Dressed as Santa Clauses, the kids belt out lustily to the great appreciation of onlookers and admiration of parents and relatives!

A tiny market is at Niederdorf in Geneva’s Old Town. I find it particularly charming as the openair stalls are festively decorated while the shops sell local products and most boutiques sell made-in-Zurich apparel with nary a Zara, H & M, MNG or big multi-national in sight. The cobbled streets mean high heels are a threat to life and limb.

YOU KNOW ZURICH IS RICH WHEN THERE IS A TOM FORD BOUTIQUE! TOM FORD SHOPS ONLY OPEN IN RICH, HIGHCLASS AND SOPHISTICATED CITIES SINCE A DRESS AVERAGES RM 7,000 AND THAT IS FOR A SIMPLE BAJU! 

I COULD HARDLY SEE THE SHOP DUE TO THE DECORATIONS!

THIS IS A CHOCOLATE SHOP!

JUST ADMIRING THESE GOODIES PUT ME IN A GOOD MOOD

THE CHOCOLATES ARE LURKING HERE SOMEWHERE

PERFECTION

GOODIES GALORE

 ROSY CANDLES

 TINSEL TOWN

 CATTY LURES

 THIS IS HOW TO DECORATE YOUR BORING FLOWER POTS

 THERE IS A MAN SOMEWHERE HERE

 INTERESTING IDEA FOR AN INSIPID POT!

 CANDLES GALORE

 A BUDDHA AT CHRSTMAS!

 NICE BLING

 SEASONAL DECORATIONS

 SO CUTE AND ADORABLE

 KEE HUA CHEE AND ESTHER GROB OF ZURICH TOURISM

 INSIDE ZURICH MAIN RAILWAY STATION

 SWAROVSKI XMAS TREE AND ARTY WINDMILL

 5,000 SWAROVKSI CRYSTALS HERE

 INSIDE ZURICH RAILWAY STATION

 INDOOR MARKET

 HUGE HALL

 I HAD A CHOCOLATE DRINK HERE WITH ESTHER GROB

 LOVE THE DECOR

 CHINKY ATTIRE

 HEAVENLY SCENTS

 I LOVE THESE WOODEN UTENSILS

 WOODEN YOU LOVE TO HAVE THEM IN YOUR KITCHEN?

 EERIE THESE BODYLESS HEADS!

 WARM AND COSY

 SITTING ON SHEEPSKIN KEEPS YOUR ASS WARM!

 COMFY

 CAN YOU SEE THE SELLER

 AN ORIENTAL TOUCH HERE

 CLARION CALL

 AUSSIE RATTLES

 FROM BALI

 SEALS WITH A KISS

 HUGE KALEIDISCOPE!

 FUNKY KALEIDOSCOPES

 YUMMY

 CUTE OR WHAT THESE TAPE HOLDERS

 PRICEY TREATS

 SWEET ANGELS

 INDIAN DELIGHTS

 THESE ARE QUITE CHEAP!

 STARS GALORE

 INDOOR MERRY GO ROUND

 OOOOH

 DIZZY

 SPINNING BUT IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE SLOW

 FUN FOR KIDS

 LIGHTS AND FUN

 NICE

 SWAROSVKI XMAS TREE IS BIGGEST IN WORLD

 5000 CRYSTALS MAKE UP THIS TREE

 COUNT THEM!

 SWAROVSKI TIGER

 MICKEY AND MINNIE SWAROVSKI

 GOLDEN SWAROVSKI DRAGON FOR THE CHINESE!

 STUNNING

 I LOVE THIS DRAGON

 MOTHER OF ALL CRYSTAL XMAS TREES

 FROM SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS

 READY FOR YEAR OF HORSE 2014

 YEAR OF HORSE 2014 IS COMING!

 FOR THE CHINESE MARKET NOW SO IMPORTANT

 2 AUSPICIOUS CARPS FOR THE CHINESE MARKET

 THE CHINESE ARE NOW THE BIGGEST BUYERS OF LUXURY GOODS

 DRAMATIC

 WOW

 IMPRESSIVE

 PICTURESQUE

 STUNNING DECORATIVE ITEMS

 I COULDN'T RECOVER FROM THIS CHRISTMAS, CRYSTAL TREE!

 LOOKS LIKE FROZEN ICICLES BUT THEY ARE SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS

 NICE HORSE

 ZURICH INDOOR MARKET

 DRAGON AMID THE SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL TREE

 DRAGON RULES!

 THIS REPLICA WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM ON SALE, AROUND RM 1,300

 WESTERN DRAGON

 ORIGINAL  SOUVENIR FROM SWITZERLAND!

 AMAZINGLY THERE ARE MANY STALLS SELLING BUDDHAS SINCE THE SWISS LOVE SUCH SERENE FIGURINES!

 BUDDHAS FOR CHRISTMAS? SO SUPER SUITABLE AND COOL!

 COLOURFUL COASTERS

 NATIVITY

 NATIVITY

 HORSES FOR 2014 YEAR OF THE HORSE!

 I LOVE THESE GAILY HUED STUFF

 EVER CHANGING SCENERY FRAMES! TURN EACH UPSIDE DOWN AND THEY FORM INCREDIBLE, ALWAYS CHANGING SCENERY!

 RUDOLF THE WHITE NOSED REINDEER

 LOVE AND KISSES

 CHINESE FLOWER TEAS

 SO PRETTY

 I LOVE THEM

 MORE BUDDHAS

 FLYIN COCKS?

 LOVELY DECOR

 CHOOSE ONE OR ALL

 HE QUITE DISHY

 NATIVITY

 NICE

 LARGE ANGEL

 HANDIWORK

 TOY SOLDIERS

 SO SWEET

 NICE AND WISE

 I LOVE THIS

 AND I LOVE THESE TOO

 THESE BIRDS ARE BRILLIANT

 EACH CRYSTAL BALL CONTAINS A FIGURINE INSIDE!

 GLASS ANGELS

 LOOK AT WHAT IS INSIDE EACH CRYSTAL BALL!

 THERE IS A SMALL FIGURINE INSIDE EACH CRYSTAL BALL! SO STUNNING

 I NEVER SEEN SUCH BALLS BEFORE

 GLASS ANGELS

 PRETTY BIRDIES

 MAGICIAN'S WALLET ON FIRE

 PUPPETS

 BLOOMING GARDEN

 THE SELLER IS HERE SOMEWHERE

 ZURICH MAIN RAILWAY STATION IS OPPOSITE BAHNHOFSTRASSE THE WORLD'S MOST GLAM SHOPPING STREET!

 BAHNHOFSTRASSE IS WHERE LUXURY LIVES

 ZURICH RAILWAY STATION IS IN THE HEART OF TOWN

 SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL PILLAR IN THEIR SHOP OPPOSITE ZURICH RAILWAY STATION

 THAT'S A CLEVER REFLECTION!

 BAHNHOFSTRASSE IS WHERE THE BIG NAMES ARE

 I AM NEVER OVER ZURICH!

 BUT NOT ALL SHOPS ARE PRICEY AS THESE ARE CHEAP! NOT ALL SWISS ARE MILLIONAIRES!

 ILLUMINATIONS HERE SO STUNNING

 WELL LIT AND WELL DONE!

 THE TRAM PASSES THROUGH

 THIS IS A BOUTIQUE!

 BURGER JEANS NOT TO BE EATEN

 ANGEL CLIMBING TREE

 I LOVE BAHNHOFSTRASSE

 LAVISH LIGHTS

 STUNNING

 THE SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE

 BUT I CAME TOO LATE AS THE KIDS HAD LEFT

 NOW THIS IS A GOWN TO CROW ABOUT!