If you think of nature, tranquility and at the same time plenty of opportunity for all kinds of activities, then you are in the right place in Laax and Flims, where I went on a workout. Laax is a town in the Swiss region of Graubünden, part of the district of Surselva. It is located on the right side of the country, close to Italy.
On workstation in Switzerland
The other day I was traveling to Switzerland for the first time, on workstation. It is so close and yet I had never really been there before. Driving through it on transit doesn’t count I think. For this workation I was going to spend a week exploring Switzerland. That certainly worked out, and how. It is a beautiful country, with impressive nature, hospitable people and a lot to do. No less than 4 languages are spoken. Very nice when you sit on a terrace and hear all kinds of languages around you; German, French, Italian, English and then also the local languages and dialects.
Activities in Laax
There is just a layer of snow in March, allowing you to ski and snowboard to your heart’s content. We could have done that, but we opted for sledding. That’s definitely not just for kids, we sledded down the mountain at full speed. After a hard day’s work, it was great to expend some energy on the slopes. A great way to switch from work to leisure.
- Outdoor activities
No matter what time of year it is, you can go for beautiful walks, bike rides and enjoy nature to the fullest in this area. In winter, you can put on snowshoes and grab a fatbike with special tires. It’s a nice change from the “work” part of the workout. As soon as you get out into nature, you already forget that you worked that day. You breathe in the fresh mountain air and clear your head. Whether you go for a relaxing hike or mountain climbing for an adrenaline rush.
- Swiss lakes
If you look at pictures of Switzerland you will come across many lakes besides the mountains. And they are beautiful! We were completely surprised by the clarity and bright color of the water of the Caumasee. It almost looked like it was fake. If you take a hike you will undoubtedly come across one, because there are almost 1,500 lakes in this country. In the summer it is wonderful to take a dip here.
- Wellness
The statement work hard play hard you can do well here. Nothing better than enjoying wellness at the end of your working day. Many hotels have their own spa and otherwise there is always one nearby. If you stay in a hotel with a spa, you can use the wellness pass. This pass gives you access to the wellness of the partner hotels (9 hotels) in Flims and Laax. Our apartment in the Rocksresort also had a wonderful steam room.
- Culinary
Say Switzerland, you say cheese! They love it there. Raclette, cheese fondue or making your own cheese, you can do it anywhere. We ourselves enjoyed a delicious cheese fondue in Laax at Casa Veglia. A typical Swiss restaurant in the country atmosphere completed the experience.
Sustainability in Switzerland
In the mountains of Switzerland, you can literally see the effects of climate change. Global warming is causing glaciers to melt. Where previously the mountain was completely shrouded in a layer of snow, you now see patches of green on the mountain. Locally, they are also facing problems such as water shortages.
That they take sustainability very seriously here is reflected in The Greenstyle Book “how to run a sustainable alpine destination”. This shows how active they are about energy, water, zero waste, consumption and biodiversity. In this region, they are thinking about the future of Switzerland and want to be an example for other ski resorts around the world.
Wifi everywhere, even on the slopes
Region Flims-Laax-Falera is way ahead of its time with free Wi-Fi connection in all villages and surrounding areas. Whether you are in a workspace or are on the slopes, you have connection everywhere.
Remote workstations
We stayed at the Rocksresort in a beautiful apartment, overlooking the slopes and gondolas. You feel totally in the winter sports vibe. But before you start doing fun activities at the end of the day, there’s work to be done. You can do that in your own apartment, but Laax is bursting with fine workplaces and fun cafes.
Secretly, this is my favorite place in Laax. It’s an industrial urban vibe with lots of creativity. Again, you can see that sustainability is important and has continued throughout the concept. The workspace has large windows and a high ceiling, making it feel like you’re sitting among the trees. In the summer, it also has a nice terrace.
This beautiful hotel has a creative hip bar where you can sit very nicely. The restaurant also offers more than enough space to unfold your laptop. Especially nice is the terrace. Surrounded by nature, and a white mountain next to you in winter, this is a fine place to work.
In the unique workspace category, The Galaaxy wins. This workspace literally sits atop the mountain. If you take the gondola to the top, you will find The Bridge, the workspace, at the very highest point. After your workday you can ski right down the slopes here. Here events are held but you can also rent a workspace for a day. This is not very well known yet, but is very promising for the future.
To be honest, we’ve seen a lot more great cafes to work at, such as rockslounge, but didn’t have enough time to visit everything. I guess we’ll just have to go back again then. 😉
Transportation in Switzerland
If you spend some time at your computer, it’s nice to get some exercise after your workday. That can be an activity, but it is also already nice to go out for a walk in the neighborhood. The nice thing is that public transportation is very well organized here. Almost every hotel you book in Switzerland comes with a pass for free public transportation. Also in Flims-Laax-Falera the bus is free.
My workation in Switzerland was more than successful. I loved getting out into nature after my workday. Whether on the ski slope or in the forest, with or without snow. It provides instant relaxation. Something that is more difficult to achieve at home in your own environment. There really is something for everyone here. Another nice thing to mention by the way for remote workers with kids, there is free childcare for guests of the Signinahotel and the Rocksresort between 5:00 and 9:00 pm. Take advantage of it during your workation 😉
Want to know more about Switzerland? Then read more here more workation inspiration in this country.
