Honeymoon Hotel near Lake Geneva
 

After getting some great responses to helping figure out where to go for our honeymoon, I thought I would break off a request for hotels near the current leading choice, near Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

We are looking for somewhere pretty luxurious (it is our honeymoon, after all), that is withing walking distance to a bunch of restaurants / cafes / shops. Not necessarily in a big city, but a small city / large town that has some things going on (more than just the local cafe & restaurant), but isn't as busy as a larger city (we are going to Paris after, so that will get the large city out of the way).

Some places that I looked at so far that I thought looked interesting were:
Grand Hotel du Lac
Hotel des Trois Couronnes
Astra Hotel
Beau-Rivage Palace

Any axperiences with those places or other suggestions would be great!

Thanks in advance!

H

By far, I like the first two on your list best for their location on the lake-front promonade in Vevey. I have not stayed at them but walked by many many times.

Astra is a business hotel by the train station in Vevey, not on the lake. Hardly romantic imho.

Beau-Rivage is in Lausanne & I strongly prefer Vevey/Montreux for their smaller size and "more Swiss" atmosphere.

There are some interesting places in Montreux, let me see if I can find those names. And hopefully others will chime in.

I saw your other post too so know your basic plan. I have stayed at the Trois Couronnes and would very much recommend it. Very good location on the lake, nice spa, indoor pool, good restaurants. Their outdoor restaurant/bar is great, and in May should be quite usuable. Very lovely public areas. Rooms are a good size. Basically in the old town so easy to get to everything. You would be quite happy there, IMO. Of course get a lake view with balcony if possible!

Other hotels to consider would be:

L'ermitage
Rue du Lac 75 - CP 345
Clarens- Montreux
Tel: 21 964 44 11
http://www.ermitage-montreux.com/

Very charming hotel right on the lake front in Clarens, known also for its restaurant which is excellent (and people travel to this part of Switzerland to eat there). Some people on this site have commented on noise from the restaurant when staying in the rooms which I could see happening on warm evenings when doors and windows are open (there is no air-conditioning that I am aware of). Clarens is next door to Montreux, and you can basically walk into Montreux; but you are outside the main noise of Montreux itself.

Le Mirador Kempinski, Lake Geneva
CH-1801 Mont-Pèlerin (Vevey)
Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: (41-21) 925-1111
Fax: (41-21) 925-1112
http://www.kempinski.com/en/index.htm

This hotel sits high above Vevey in the vineyards with absolutely stunning views. Lovely rooms (some are quite small so go for the larger rooms in the older wing), great indoor and outdoor pool, a gym with those endless views, nice spa, a Michelin 1-star restaurant, great service, good walking in the vineyards right from here. A little bit out of things if you wanted to be in town, but perfect if you want a more quiet atmosphere, and want to do walking and get to vineyards; and the views really are quite unbelievable. You can take a funicular down from the hotel to town, so access to town is easy, albeit a bit time consuming. The hotel also has parking and can arrange taxis into town and the train station.

I think you are more interested in Vevey or Montreux, but in Lausanne, you might consider:

Lausanne Palace & Spa
Grand-Chêne 7-9
1002 Lausanne
Tel: (+41-21) 331-3131
Fax: (+41-21) 323-2571
http://www.lausanne-palace.com/

Great views, service, rooms, excellent spa (one of the very best I have been to ever), indoor pool, good food. Good location on the hill near the old town, but further away from the waterfront, but there is a cute little underground funicular to take you down to the waterfront. Lausanne has a very interesting old town.

The Lausanne funicular, La Ficelle (The String) does not exist any longer and has been replaced by a subway (Line M2).

Of course, I had forgotten that.

I've only had dinner at l'hermitage, not stayed there, but it is a lovely place.