Everyone knows evian® as a water brand. But did you know it is also a town and a remarkable resort? The Evian Resort encompasses two hotels, a championship golf course, a concert hall, and much more. We stayed at the Hôtel Royal, the five-star Palace flagship, and it quickly became one of our favourite family-wellness destinations in France.
The view alone is worth the trip
The Hôtel Royal sits high above Lake Geneva, facing Lausanne. Many of our clients tell us they want the sea, but the lake offers the same sense of vast, shimmering water. It's peaceful, luminous, and endlessly beautiful. From the Belle Époque Suite (our personal favourite), the panorama is breathtaking at every hour of the day.
The best kids' offering in France
This is, quite simply, the finest children's programme we have encountered at any luxury hotel in France.
- The Baby Club welcomes infants from just 4 months with a dedicated team.
- The Kid's Club is so good that children genuinely prefer it to spending time with their parents. From age 3, they can enjoy treasure hunts, tennis lessons, a large indoor pool, and even lunch and dinner with their new friends.
- The Teen's Club offers its own space with tournaments, music workshops, and evening outings.
In winter, the hotel arranges ski lessons and the children come back beaming with their first star. In summer, there are tennis and golf courses. The kids' clubs are complimentary for hotel guests.
A paradise for active holidays
Do not miss booking a mountain hike with Virgile, who knows every trail and will tailor the difficulty to your level while revealing breathtaking panoramas.
The resort also offers a fully equipped gym, several pools, and complimentary daily classes in yoga, Pilates, and strength training. When the weather allows, Lake Geneva becomes a playground for water skiing, kayaking, sailing, e-surfing, and even open-water freediving.
In summer, you can try white-water rafting, canyoning, and via ferrata.
There are also three tennis courts, two padel courts, and pickle ball. The championship golf course is directly accessible from the hotel.
The evian®SPA, a wellness revelation
The evian®SPA has designed a new wellness concept built around the life cycle of evian® natural mineral water. The treatment rooms are superb, and full of natural light, which I love.
I was particularly impressed by the Celestial treatment: an complete experience that began with a hammam session, followed by a body wrap with a scalp massage, then a soothing bath, and finally a full-body massage. Fabulous.
Christophe tried the Mineral treatment, a talc-based ritual, and emerged positively radiant.
Full multi-day wellness programmes are now available for an even more immersive stay, along with a dedicated Mother & Baby break for postnatal recovery and rest.
And there is more
The breakfast deserves a mention. It's generous, delicious, and beautifully presented.
The food offering across the resort is varied and really improved in the recent years, except at the Michelin-starred Les Fresques which was always amazing. In the summer, the poolside Oliveraie restaurant is really nice.
I'm a great fan of the outdoor infinity pool, overlooking the lake, it is stunning, a great spot to take some sun even in Spring or Autumn. There is also a small jacuzzi on the side.
The rooms are spacious and beautiful. They have been thoughtfully adapted for families, with bunk beds for the little ones.
The gardens are magnificent, it's a true park where you enjoy walking, meditatively, taking your time.
And perhaps most importantly, the value for money, for a Palace hotel of this calibre is genuinely outstanding. Whether in summer or winter, midweek or weekend, the feeling of space, warmth, and generosity never changes.
A full in-depth review is coming soon. In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out. I would love to help you plan your stay at the Royal Evian with exclusive benefits, and the best wellness program for your objectives..