In 2006, FTF’s 9th annual Top 10 survey of award-winners honored Evian Royal Resort, Evian-les-Bains, France as a Top Luxury Spa. Whether a high-end vacation is a matter of course for you and your family or a treat reserved for a special occasion, this year’s awards focus on the latest travel segment to embrace young guests: the super luxe resort. Here’s a look at the Evian Royal Resort today.
Evian Royal Resort
South Bank of Lake Geneva
74501 Evian
Les-Bains, France
33 (0) 4 50 26 5050
It’s no secret that Europe has lagged behind the Caribbean and the U.S. in catering to families with children, but its top properties have always known a thing or two about taking care of luxury travelers. On occasion, we find properties that do both, and the Evian Royal Resort near Geneva, Switzerland is one such exception.
Comprised of two hotels, the lavish Evian Palace Hotel Royal and the more countryfied Evian Hotel Ermitage, the resort offers Old World charm tucked between the mountains and the lake. Think part chateau and part manor house, add 42 acres of park-like landscaping, a luxurious spa, championship golf, nearby skiing, gourmet dining and the je ne sais quoi of meticulous service, and you can see why this property made our list.
Because of its prowess in big name golf — the 18-hole, par 72 Evian Masters Golf Club has hosted a whole menu of championship tournaments — golf fans would probably vote to place Evian in the Best Golf Resort category. But because this is Evian, after all, home of arguably the most famous mineral water in the world, we felt the Termes Evian Spa deserved a special nod. Water plays a part in the hydrotherapy treatments guests can enjoy, and each of the two hotels also offers a host of other treatment options. The Evian Royal Spa focuses on such treatments as massages and facials with seaweeds, mud and special clays to programs especially designed for expectant and new mothers. At Maison les 4 Terres, guests can try Tellutherapy or treatments inspired by ancient civilizations and crystals, stones, clays and earth as active ingredients. There is even a spa restaurant where guests can dine virtuously on gourmet but healthful meals, followed by a dip at the serene infinity pool.
A uniquely full-service feature for families here is the huge children’s playhouse, which boasts so many attractions that — if you really want to — we think you’ll have trouble wooing your children away. The building has its own glassed-in pool, a theater and adjoining costume room for every kind of dress-up, a dance studio, an inflatable Moonwalk, computers, a kitchen for baking and cooking, art facilities and — in case all these activities fail to please — pony rides into town. The bilingual Evian Royal Kids program is free-of-charge and operates in age-appropriate groups for kids aged 2 to 5 and 6 to 11, and the Fun Club is for teens aged 12 to 16 with skateboarding, roller blading, rock wall climbing and mountain biking. Off-resort outings to ski at the Porte du Soleil resorts that straddle France and Switzerland – including a Star Studded snow program for the younger set – and white water rafting also are available.
Photos Courtesy of Earth Check, Hotel Preference, and Luxury Hotel Experts.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
