
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.
Rhône-Alps, Menthon-Saint-Bernard
Palace de Menthon
(4 stars)Overlooking Lake Annecy, nestled in the verdant mountains, the Palace de Menthon offers unique and sophisticated 5-star accommodation in a scenic setting. This one-of-a-kind hotel boasts 66 well-appointed rooms and spacious suites as well as a private waterfront villa. There is an on-site restaurant serving gourmet cuisine in a stunning Art Deco style setting with panoramic lake views from the bay window. The restaurant offers an exceptional wine selection to enhance your luxurious experience while you can opt to reserve this location for an unforgettable private dining experience. There is a cocktail bar for guests to enjoy and the seasonal La Plage area for alfresco enjoyment. The relaxing spa and wellness facilities feature a Hammam, swimming pool and waterfront solarium while there is also a fitness centre. There is a host of sophisticated event spaces on offer to host any type of gathering, be it for a professional seminar or an extravagant wedding celebration.
Rhône-Alps, Talloires
L’Auberge du Père Bise – Jean Sulpice
(5 stars)The delightful L’Auberge du Père Bise – Jean Sulpice sits along the scenic shores of Lake Annecy and invites guests from across the globe to soak in the surrounding landscapes while indulging in the culinary offerings of the chef after whom the hotel is named. The hotel, situated in the bay of Talloires, offers luxurious accommodation in the form of lavish and modern guestrooms and suites featuring the spacious Master Suite and its private outdoor terrace and Jacuzzi. There are two exceptional on-site dining options including the gourmet, 2-Michelin-starred Jean Sulpice Restaurant and Restaurant The 1903, preparing unique flavours and an intimate gastronomic experience that you won’t find elsewhere. The hotel offers guests access to the spa with exquisite wellness facilities including a Hammam, sauna and indoor swimming pool with floor-to-ceiling windows which allow you to take in the views and let your stress melt away all year round.
Rhône-Alps, Annecy
les Tresoms
(4 stars)Les Trésoms offers luxurious accommodation in the stunning setting of Annecy. The hotel has been decorated with a unique combination of contemporary style and 1930’s Savoyard elegance. There are 52 guestrooms and suites including Attic Rooms with views over the Lake Annecy as well as lavish villas nestled between the lake and the Alps. The hotel offers two room types – lake side offering spectacular views of the lake and forest side rooms with chic Art Nouveau portraits on display. Guests can opt to indulge in the Michelin-starred La Rotonde des Trésoms Restaurant where gourmet dining is taken seriously. There is also the on-site L’Atelier Restaurant and a relaxing atmosphere at The Bar des Trésoms. On-site spa facilities include a Balneotherapy pool and Hammam in addition to an array of blissful treatments. There is also an outdoor pool and relaxation area.
Rhône-Alps, Sévrier
Black Bass
(5 stars)The Black Bass Hotel is a magnificent 5-star escape by the shores of Lake Annecy. The hotel is in an ideal location for exploring the surrounding areas, taking in endless views of unspoiled scenery or simple escaping from day-to-day duties. There are 25 comfortable and contemporary rooms and suites on offer with expansive windows boasting spectacular lake and forest views. The Lake View Suites are complete with spacious terraces and panoramic vistas. There is an excellent on-site restaurant serving a delightful lunch and dinner and a bar which overlook the lake in all its glory. The hotel’s blissful spa and wellness facilities include an indoor swimming pool and a rejuvenating Hammam. Guests are also invited to take advantage of the fitness centre. There is also an outdoor swimming pool with remarkable lake views. This hotel is pet friendly.
Corsica, Propriano
Miramar Corsica
(5 stars)A quarter of an hour’s stroll from the centre of Propriano, the Miramar is found surrounded by lush greenery. Many of its 26 bedrooms have sea views — choose between a penthouse apartment, a villa and a deluxe king room. Families are well looked after with toys, board games, a play area and children’s meals provided in the Deck Lounge restaurant. A member of Small Luxury Hotels, the property has a spa with a pool (heated during the cooler months) on the upper level. Le Deck Rooftop is the place to lounge and socialise, with a bar and eatery sheltered by glass balustrades and providing sweeping views across the coastline.
Corsica, Bonifacio
Hotel and Spa des Pecheurs
(4 stars)This hotel is located within the Lavezzi archipelago on the small, privately owned Cavallo Island. Its architecture blends into the beautiful natural surroundings with rustic stone walls and pastel shutters. Suites have terraces suspended over the water and sleep up to four guests (double and single rooms can also be booked). There’s an outdoor pool with a sun terrace, perched beside a marina and an indoor pool within the spa. Dine at the hotel’s waterside Restaurant des Pêcheurs with views of the Straight of Bonifacio, or at the new Antica Pesa Mare with a focus on sustainable seafood.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Cannes
JW Marriott Cannes
(5 stars)In a prime position right on the promenade (Boulevard de la Croisette), the JW Marriott faces onto the beach. Bedrooms pay homage to the city’s Hollywood heritage, with black and white photographs of big screen icons from the golden era of cinema, along with Bvlgari products, spa baths and hi-tech gadgets to ensure you too feel like a star. There’s a grill restaurant, a lobby lounge and a rooftop bar and cafe to take in those views over a snack. You can rent a bicycle from the hotel for a greener way of exploring the locale, swim in the pool and workout in the Marriott fitness centre.
Ile de France, Paris, 1st arr.
Le Roch Hotel & Spa
(5 stars)For those who prefer elegant, contemporary styling, with a refined, casual, homely ambience, the 37 room, five-star boutique Le Roch Hotel and Spa, will meet all your requirements. Situated in a quiet part of old Paris, between the Opera, Louvre, and Place Vendôme, the hotel offers a unique Parisian atmosphere, combined with the technological needs of modern living. Rooms and suites are a good size, with pleasing, modern styling by native Parisian, Sarah Lavoine. Along with its innovative restaurant, the hotel also boasts an excellent, well-stocked bar, pool, spa facilities, and pleasant sun terrace to enjoy an early evening aperitif.
Ile de France, Paris, 16th arr.
The Peninsula Paris
(5 stars)Located on Avenue Kleber, just a few hundred yards from the Arc de Triomphe and close to Montaigne with its chic designer boutiques, The Peninsula is central for those days out, wherever you’re headed. Traditional blends with contemporary in this opulent 200-room hotel. A-listers from stage and screen, and international sports stars are frequent visitors to enjoy the sumptuous rooms, and suites displaying expensive artworks and traditional dark woods with contemporary fittings. Bathrooms have marble floors and walls, deep luxurious bathtubs, and double sinks. Every convenience you can imagine is included in the rooms – and some. A 5-star hotel with a ‘Palace’ reputation.
Ile de France, Paris, 8th arr.
Le Bristol Paris
(5 stars)Sitting in the centre of old historical Paris, on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, The Bristol was the first hotel to be labelled a ‘Palace’ (French terminology for a hotel a cut above five-star). Opened in 1925, and now one of the Oetker group hotels, its marble foyer, crystal chandeliers, 17th-century tapestries, and Louis XV and XVI style furnishings, resonate affluence. The hotel has an award-winning spa, a sixth-floor swimming pool with panoramic views across Paris, and two Michelin-starred restaurants. Just 14 miles from Orly Airport and 18.5 miles from Charles de Gaulle Airport, the hotel also offers charging points for electric vehicles, should you decide to hire a car during your stay.
Ile de France, Paris, 2nd arr.
Park Hyatt Vendôme
(5 stars)Centrally placed, and close to the Place Vendôme and Palais Garnier, many of the big Paris attractions can be reached in a pleasant 15-minute stroll from the hotel. When you wish to explore further afield, a number of Metro stations are just metres away. A magnet for many A-list celebrities, from tennis grand slam winners to chart-topping singers, the hotel offers the very best of five-star accommodation, dining and amenities. Rooms and suites are set off in pleasing contemporary styling with attractive, elegant adornments. The main restaurant has a one-star Michelin rating, while breakfast and brunch can be enjoyed in the glass-ceilinged Les Orchidées, or the relaxing La Cheminée.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
Monte Carlo Beach
(5 stars)The Monte-Carlo Beach serves as a meeting point for lovers of glamour in the Riviera, and immensely benefits from its close-to-sea location. Situated between a pine forest and the sea, It provides a serene atmosphere. The luxury resort overlooks the azure horizon of the Mediterranean Sea and has rooms whose décor is a mix of contemporary notes, and the spirit of the roaring twenties. Visitors also get to swim in the saltwater Olympic pool overlooking the beach.
