Best Luxury Hotels in France
France – sometimes dubbed ‘l’hexagone’ due to its six-sided shape – is home to what is arguably the most romantic city in the world, and the glitziest rivieras in Europe. The varying climates here will suit all types of traveller – from the cooler north to the sun-soaked south, balmy interior regions and snowy Alpine reaches. Our European neighbour is just a ferry hop, Eurostar ride, tunnel drive, or short flight away. And it provides internationally acclaimed gourmet foods, indigenous cheeses and fine wines – so much so, that French gastronomy has even been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.
France, Champagne - Ardenne
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa
Book one of 47 suites at this sleek former coaching inn that’s pet and family-friendly. Here you can swim in an infinity pool overlooking vineyards during the warmer summer months and a 25-metre heated indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling windows year-round. Treatments at the spa incorporate the region’s signature tipple, with rooms for couples’ therapies. Its restaurant, Le Royal, is renowned with bookings required far in advance. Under the leadership of chef Jean-Denis Rieubland it achieved a Michelin star and uses produce from the property’s own garden. There’s also a brasserie, Le Bellevue, and the Abysse bar for bubbles.
Brittany, Saint Malo, Sillon
Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes
Ideally located beside the bay, this five-star resort has amenities for those of all ages: a kids club, water sports, hair and beauty treatments, a boutique, outdoor and indoor heated saltwater swimming pools and four restaurants. Designed in the Belle Époque style it has plenty of original features and panoramic sea views. The Thalasso Spa is perhaps Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes’ highlight, with sea-themed treatments, a hammam, sauna and a toasty seawater labyrinth which can be walked or swum through via 194 underwater jets, currents, counter-currents, showers and bubble baths.
Languedoc-Roussillon, Puissalicon
Château St Pierre de Serjac
This enchanting 19th-century Chateau Pierre de Serjac is the first word in luxury and style and boasts eight elegant rooms for guests to choose from nestled in a traditional wine estate. The city of Montpellier can be found just an hour away and for people who want to be surrounded by nature while enjoying first-class amenities such as a spa and outdoor infinity pool, this is the perfect place to stay. Guests will be able to spend their days cycling through the countryside or playing tennis on the onsite court before enjoying fine dining in the hotel’s restaurant.
Champagne - Ardenne, Sacy
Château De Sacy
Indulge in a opulent break at this hilltop boutique hotel set in a village among the vineyards of Champagne, a 20-minute drive from Reims. Each of its 12 individually designed rooms are named after iconic historical figures and take on a Napoleonic style with antiques and chandeliers. Outside, you can take in the views as you dine on the terrace, soak in Norwegian hot tubs, or work up a sweat in the sauna. Inside the glamorous chateau, is the Les Vignes bar and restaurant, with cheese, charcuterie and lighter bites delivered to rooms on request.
Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Lille, Lille Centre
L’hermitage Gantois, Autograph Collection
Stay in a restored 15th-century building, transformed from a hospice into a five-star hotel in 2003. It’s just a few minute’s stroll from a metro station and handy for city attractions. Dine on northern French cuisine at restaurant l’Hermitage, eat Flemish food at its brasserie, l’Estaminet, or order room service at any time of the day or night. 88 rooms are arranged around an inner courtyard, with original features like stone walls and period fireplaces, bathrobes, air con and minibars. Take some time out, with access to the Spa by Hermitage Gantois, with its indoor swimming pool and hammam.
Centre, Saint-Patrice
Château de Rochecotte
Want the chance to enjoy fine dining at its best while taking in enchanting views of the Loire Valley you will be sure to love staying at Chateau de Rochecotte. There are several dining rooms to choose from, each serving classic French dishes from the region with a few modern touches. Each of the spacious rooms and suites are sumptuously decorated in French Renaissance style and boasts huge picture windows overlooking the formal gardens, while the outdoor swimming pool is the perfect place to unwind.
Burgundy, Beaune
Hostellerie Cèdre & Spa Beaune
Overlooking Beaune’s ramparts, this 40-bedroom hotel places an emphasis on well-being and good food. Its refined Michelin-starred restaurant, Clos du Cèdre, is housed in the adjacent 19th-century wine grower’s mansion with original decor and an outdoor terrace. There’s a lounge bar with an imposing fireplace, games, a piano and library, as well as a cigar cellar beneath ground. And there’s the Nuxe Spa, located in a stunning vaulted stone cellar with a jacuzzi, hammam and chic treatment cabins. Bedrooms are colourful yet serene, with reverse cycle air conditioning and Nuxe bath products.
Rhône-Alps, Grenoble
Park Hôtel Grenoble – MGallery
This four-star hotel is across from Paul Mistral Park, in the Quartier Exposition-Bajatière, just a short stroll from the city centre. Single rooms through to king-sized suites are available to book, with soundproofing, minibars, room service on demand and balconies. Provided by Sofitel, the property accommodates 40 bedrooms, a hammam, an indoor pool, a sensory shower, a fitness suite and a guest lounge. Valet parking is provided, with complimentary seasonal shuttles to the main ski areas. Meals are served in Le Zebre, a quirky and contemporary drinking and dining venue with easy chairs and sofas — perfect for an evening’s reclining after a day’s Alpine activities.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Crillon-le-Brave
Hôtel Crillon le Brave
Just outside Avignon lies this charming village-like hotel complex. Eight restored stone houses are connected by a series of alleyways and courtyards, including a vaulted terraced restaurant, bistro with pretty views of the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux and an outdoor heated pool with sundeck. Rooms feature Provençal features such as exposed beams, terracotta floors and antique furniture. The on-site Spa des Ecuries offers restorative treatments using dreamy Bamford products, from its converted stable home. It’s also pet-friendly and has a superb fine-dining restaurant La Madeleine.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Lauris
Domaine de Fontenille
Boasting an elegant yet simple style, Domaine de Fontenille is set in palatial grounds with several different gardens for guests to explore at their leisure. A number of walking trails wind their way through the grape vines, while the area is also set with a large swimming pool, a boules pitch and a spa that comes complete with a Turkish bath and massage room. Guests can take their pick from 18 luxurious bedrooms and suites, each of which faces the gardens and is decorated in a classic French style with plenty of decadent touches.
Savoie, Val Thorens
Le Fitz Roy, Val Thorens, a Beaumier Hotel & Spa
Soak in the astonishing panoramic views of Europe’s highest ski resort while the winding lifts and stretched-out slopes melt around you in true Alpine style at Le Fitz Roy, a Beaumier Hotel & Spa. A paragon of luxury and refined hospitality, elegance has never been this easy to reach.
Situated at the heart of the breathtaking Val Thorens village, this ski-in, ski-out hotel draws in the lovers of the slopes where they can find comfort and refinery at their fingertips after a full day of activity. With 72 rooms across their space, they boast a refuge adorned with softness to help you feel at home during your stay. You can choose the room that best suits your needs while customising it with the view you desire – village or slopes.
During your visit, you can press pause on life’s responsibilities and unwind with the variety of amenities and experiences on offer at Le Fitz Roy. Recharge your body and mind with their very own yoga classes, leave your body’s tension at the door with the sauna and specialised spa menu, or indulge in the tastes of Savoy with fresh Alpine produce prepared into gastronomic delights at their very own restaurant. Its immersive experience makes Le Fitz Roy the ideal base for your next trip.
For that extra spoonful of pleasure during your next encounter with the beautiful snowy slopes of Val Thorens, choose what you deserve – a stay in Le Fitz Roy, a Beaumier Hotel & Spa.
Bourgogne, Levernois
Hostellerie de Levernois
A charming riverside hideaway, Hostellerie De Levernois is a rustic white mansion, surrounded by six hectares of parkland and century-old trees. Ingredients from its vegetable garden are used in the creation of Bistrot du Bord de l’Eau’s dishes, all of which are cooked in the original 18th-century kitchen. Choose wine from a selection of around 1000 bottles, kept in the property’s cellar. Rooms boast period features such as wooden beams and exposed stone walls, complemented by upmarket French country chic decor. The Relais & Château property is just three miles from the station and minutes from the highway, yet feels wonderfully secluded.