Hotel Royal - Evian Resort ★★★★★

My love and appreciation for nature has only grown throughout my life, leading me to places like Evian-les-Bains. This commune is set just over the channel in France, yet close enough to explore other European natural paradises like Switzerland and Italy. As I began looking at the pictures of Evian-les-Bains, it was clear that this was the perfect place for my husband and I, and the cherry on the top was finding The Royal Hotel, part of the Evian Resort.

The car wove its way along the country roads up, down and over verdant hills with signs pointing to Evian’s well-known wellness and spa centres, which I would be sure to test out during our few days here. We arrived at the front of the large and regal looking manor in the half-dim light of the evening, whilst the façade was gently lit by warm yellow lights in a welcoming hue. The reception, or the more appropriately named Grand Hall, was no less majestic than the exterior; a glittering chandelier hung from the high ceiling just before a grand white staircase adorned with elaborate banisters. Although this antique manor house has been redeveloped, the grandness of its former days has completely been preserved, so that we really did feel like nobility retreating to the country.

Our room was cosy, and we had a little balcony where we could admire the stars from, and during the day the freshness of the air and the sweet smell of leaves would float through the open balcony doors. The bathroom was clad in a pretty white marble, fully-equipped and kitted-out with toiletries. The bedroom had a large bed, a television for winding down in the evenings, or keeping up with the news from home, and a desk for any last minute emails that needed to be answered, though I was planning to keep far away from any technology! Arriving at dinner time meant that we had avoided a dreaded early flight. However, by this point, we were quite hungry, so we abandoned our unpacked suitcases and headed off to find a suitable restaurant to satisfy our ever-growing hunger.

Les Fresques, the hotel’s top of the range restaurant in decadent surroundings, was our next stop. My eyes were drawn directly to the beautifully frescoed ceiling, whilst a waiter led us to our table for two. We sat by one of the delightfully large arched windows, whilst dining on inevitably fine French cuisine. We ended the night in the equally decadent bar, which boasted a slightly more modern touch. Minimalistic and chic, there was definitely an interior designer to praise for the innovative reformation of this former palace, which managed to retain all of its majesty through renovation into modern majesty on the other side.

However, it was not just the décor that this place could boast about, but also its array of services, even though it is set apart from the main town of Evian. Whilst my husband chose the manicured golf courses as his daytime activity, I resided in the spa, wandering between swimming pool, hammam and sauna in a relaxing daze. On the first day, I finished the spa trip with a visit to the outdoor infinity pool. Not to chance a dip – I am not that brave – but to delight in a refreshing drink at the poolside bar, for which my husband joined me.

The great thing about Evian is its location. Right by the Alps, it boasts a range of sports to be taken up over winter, such as snow-shoeing, skiing and husky-sledding. In warmer seasons, there’s climbing, mountain biking and all sorts of adventurous activities. My husband and I opted for some water-sports. Not adrenaline-pumping options like water-skiing or white-water rafting, though those are readily available, but a relaxing cruise on the Lac Leman.