Thursday, December 12, 2024

Arrivals on your own in Zurich, Switzerland. Get settled into the new Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich hotel, which is located in the old town. An early evening welcome reception and chocolate class will be held at the Lindt Home of Chocolate museum so you can meet our team and your fellow bakers.

Friday, December 13, 2024

Wake up refreshed and enjoy breakfast at your leisure. We’ll divide into two groups of 10 bakers for the day’s activities. One group will bake holiday breads with Heddi Nieuwsma of Cuisine Helvetica. The other group will explore a Zurich bakery with editor-in-chief Brian Hart Hoffman. Enjoy the afternoon and evening on your own.

Saturday, December 14, 2024

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, the groups will switch to do the activity they didn’t participate in the day before. The afternoon and evening will be on your own to explore Zurich.

Sunday, December 15, 2024

We will travel as a group to the Alpine village of Arosa and check into the lovely Tschuggen Grand Hotel. This five-star hotel is nestled on the mountainside and offers ski-in, ski-out experiences.

After settling in, we will divide into two groups for the day’s activities. One group will head to the nearby town of Chur for Swiss cookie-baking with Andie Pilot of Helvetic Kitchen. The other group will enjoy fondue in the Alps with editor-in-chief Brian Hart Hoffman. Enjoy the evening on your own.

Monday, December 16, 2024

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, the groups will switch to do the activity they didn’t participate in the day before. The evening will be on your own.

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Return to Zurich for departures. If you would like to extend your stay in Zurich at the Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich, reach out to our team for availability.

Travel to and from Zurich

Guests are responsible for getting themselves to Zurich and to the Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich hotel on Thursday, December 6, when the retreat commences. Guests will be responsible for getting themselves from Zurich to their departing airport or next destination on Tuesday, December 11.

Guests are responsible for getting themselves to Zurich and to the Mandarin Oriental Savoy, Zurich hotel on Thursday, December 12, when the retreat commences. Guests will be responsible for getting themselves from Zurich to their departing airport or next destination on Tuesday, December 17.

The Bake from Scratch team is at your disposal to help you navigate travel. Email events@bakefromscratch.com for assistance.

Booking

Half of the retreat cost (50%) is due within 48 hours along with a signed travel waiver and cancellation policy acknowledgment to secure your reservation. The second half of the retreat cost (50%) is due July 1, 2024. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Amazon Pay. Trip prices are in US dollars.

Costs

The price of the trip includes all hotel accommodations, all baking classes, some meals, all scheduled retreat activities, and transit to/from scheduled retreat activities and Arosa. Single-occupancy, double-occupancy, and baking participant plus non-baking guest rates are available.

Your credit card will be charged by Hoffman Media, the parent company of Bake from Scratch.

Cancellation

Since the trip is nonrefundable, we suggest buying trip insurance.

If you don’t purchase travel insurance, you agree to indemnify us against any charges that might otherwise be covered by your insurance. You further agree that we are not responsible for any costs of cancellation or costs related to travel interruptions or COVID-19. Due to COVID-19, there may be limitations relating to activities. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result of changing circumstances. Please know that we are working closely with our partners to plan and execute a safe baking retreat for our guests, but there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 when traveling. By booking this baking retreat, you acknowledge and assume these risks associated with travel. 

We reserve the right to cancel this retreat if fewer than 20 participants have signed up by September 1, 2024. We will send an email confirmation to all participants when this number has been met. If Bake from Scratch initiates the cancellation, we will refund all payments.

Have a question about this baking retreat? Email events@bakefromscratch.com.

What airport do I fly into to begin the retreat in Zurich?

There are daily US flights that arrive at Zurich Airport (ZRH). This airport is located about 20 minutes from the hotel.

Can I extend my stay at the hotels?

If you’d like to inquire about additional nights in Zurich or extend your stay in Arosa, email events@bakefromscratch.com. Some guests like to book a room for the night before their arrival, so it is ready after all-night flights from the US.

Can I upgrade to a suite?

Upgrades are available based on availability. Email us at events@bakefromscratch.com for more information.

Is breakfast included?

Daily breakfast is included.

Are children able to attend this retreat?

All participants must be 18 years old or older to attend this baking retreat.

What should I plan to wear during baking classes and on the retreat?

For baking classes, activities, and travel, the dress is smart casual. Tennis shoes are recommended for standing in baking classes and walking on cobblestone streets. In Switzerland and around Europe, athletic wear is not frequently worn.

Are the baking classes hands-on?

Yes, all baking classes are hands-on.

If I book a double-occupancy package, will the hotel room have two beds?

Due to the uniqueness and European charm of the hotels, double-occupancy rooms do not have two beds. If you are traveling with a friend or adult child, you can request two sets of linens on one bed.

Is this retreat better suited for professionals or home bakers?

Our retreats are geared for passionate home bakers, but professionals are always welcome. Whether you’re a beginning baker or someone who’s been baking for years, our baking classes and culinary experiences offer immersion into local baking cultures, so there’s always something everyone can learn.

Will we have any free time?

You will have some free time in Zurich and Arosa to explore the areas on your own. We will equip you with our list of our favorite bakeries, restaurants, and activities.

I want to bring my travel companion, but they don’t want to participate in the baking classes. What can they do?

We offer a baking participant plus non-baking guest package for this very reason! This package allows you to bake and participate in all retreat activities while your travel companion explores on their own. As a part of this package, hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, welcome wine reception, fondue in the Alps, and transportation between Zurich and Arosa is included for your non-baking companion.

To reserve your space, email events@bakefromscratch.com. You will be required to pay your deposit within 48 hours and sign a travel waiver and acknowledgement of cancellation policy via DocuSign. Reservations will be taken in the order in which we receive emails.