With its panoramic views of Lake Geneva and luxurious spa, The Hôtel Royal, Évian-les-Bains will make you feel totally zen...
Location, location, location…
Overlooking Lake Geneva, you’ll find this swish resort on the lake’s southern French side. Only 28 miles from Geneva International airport, it’s an easy and picturesque car journey (plus your phone will alert you that you have arrived in Switzerland and then quickly buzz again to let you know you’re now in fact, in France which is always thrilling) or you can take the Evian One Boat, which zooms you across the lake in 45 minutes. You can stroll to the famous Évian-les-Bains in under 20 minutes to sample Evian water at its very pretty source, or hop on the free funicular railway that runs from May to September.
The vibe….
With the most incredible views of Lake Geneva and the French and Swiss Alps, plus the only noise being the gentle lap of water and against the shore or chirpy birdsong, as soon as you step onto the resort’s grounds your tense shoulders are guaranteed to immediately drop about an inch. Originally built in 1909, The Hôtel Royal was given a full revamp in 2015, and cleverly manages to fuse its original historical features with more contemporary touches. With 5-star Palace status, the Hôtel Royal, is luxury personified, but with its chic design (think immaculate marble flooring, pops of colour by way of squashy sofas, alongside modern artworks) plus friendly and chatty staff it manages not to feel in anyway dated or stuffy.
The rooms…
150 rooms including 32 suites are spread over six floors and every room has a view of either the lake or forest which ups the zen vibes. With plush carpet, an extensive pillow menu, fresh flowers and cosy branded white robes and slippers, you’ll feel like a total A-lister, sipping your morning herbal tea on your private balcony. The head-to-toe marble bathrooms are also total Instabait with double-sinks, Fragonard products, giant rainforest showers and deep sunken baths.
What to eat…
If you’re feeling a little meh, try out one of the hotel’s dedicated health programmes with various wellness weekends offered throughout the year. I tried out their Rebirth programme in Spring which alongside a fitness and spa routine (more on that later) features a wholesome and nourishing menu. Think superfood granolas, zingy salads and plenty of oily fish. Plus of course, litres and litres of Evian water.
The resort also boasts the Michelin star Les Fresques restaurant where the crayfish, freshly caught from Lake Geneva and morello cherry soufflé (flambéed at your table) are must-orders. A digestif in Le Bar with its floral frescoes is the perfect way to finish off the evening.
Spa time…
A private lift on each floor of the hotel will whisk you to the Spa Evian source. Here you’ll find an outdoor hydro circuit which feature a trail of pools, from bubbling hot tubs to icy water jets which are all said to boost circulation and increase well-being and definitely leave you feeling invigorated. The spa uses La Praries products as standard and the Royal Caviar body scrub plus a full body massage will leave your skin-feeling baby soft. Elsewhere, there is also a medical spa programme featuring a wide rang of Evian-water based treatments which are recognised by the National Academy of Medicine.
How to book…
Double rooms start from £379 in low season. For more information on this plus its seasonal wellness weekends and to book click here.