
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, Annecy
Hebe Hotel
(4 stars)The Hébé Hotel is ideally located in the heart of Annecy. The hotel is comprised of six floors, filled with stunning guestrooms and suites including options for people with reduced mobility and featuring the spacious Suite Hébé and the stunning Balcony Room with a terrace overlooking the quaint street below. The hotel is home to a sheltered terrace where guests can relax all throughout the day and enjoy a continental breakfast or choose from the tempting à la carte menu. There is also the option of an in-room breakfast for days when all you want to do is relax. The bar is open all day serving hot and cold drinks to help you start the day right and offering a wide range of alcoholic and soft drinks throughout the night. The hotel offers electric bike rentals to allow you to explore Annecy, the lake, the mountains, and the surrounding areas with ease.
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.
Aquitaine, Biarritz
Sofitel Biarritz Le Miramar Thalassa Sea & Spa
(5 stars)Swim in a saltwater pool overlooking the sea that’s heated 12 months of the year, when you stay at this Sofitel hotel. The spa has a second pool with an endless current, a solarium, sauna, jacuzzi and treatments using Organic Research and Thalassa sea and skin products. Bistronomy-style cuisine is served at Le Restaurant, including the Equilibre menu specialising in well-balanced dishes, as well as salt-free, gluten-free and children’s menus. Guests can also dine in a poolside eatery and drink in the bar. 126 bedrooms at Le Miramar have a calming ambience, decorated with botanical motifs.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Nice
Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée
(5 stars)This hotel is one of Nice’s best luxury vacation spots! Located in the heart of the French Riviera the hotel offers the very best that the Mediterranean has to offer. The hotel boasts amenities such as an onsite gym and business centre where guests can take care of important business while enjoying the splendid views of the Mediterranean Sea. The restaurant serves dishes that are made using local ingredients and are prepared by the very best chefs, you can expect a five-star meal every time! After a long day, you can unwind and relax in the Turkish bath and sauna centre located in the hotel. With both, an outdoor pool and a heated indoor pool on offer guests can enjoy swimming with the Bay of Angels as a backdrop.
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.
Ile de France, Paris, 1st arr.
Mandarin Oriental, Paris
(5 stars)The Mandarin Oriental is located in Paris’s iconic haute couture neighbourhood in the centre of the city. The Mandarin seamlessly fuses Parisian designs with the Asiatic and luxurious flair for which the Mandarin Oriental brand is known. Rooms and suites are romantic and cosy, many of them also boast exquisite views of Paris’s beautiful streets. The Mandarin boasts an award-winning Spa which has its own steam showers, virtual reality pools and lap pool. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Camelia, uses the freshest and most sustainable ingredients available to create divine Parisian dishes which will excite the taste buds of even the toughest food critics. The Mandarin is also home to the intimate Bar 8 cocktail bar as well as its own cake and pastry shop.
Ile de France, Paris, 8th arr.
Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris
(5 stars)Le Royal Monceau is an exceedingly fashionable hotel situated in the centre of Paris. Its interior is bathed in natural light and adorned with modern art pieces which give it a chic flair. The hotel’s rooms and suites are warm and homely, they are all unique and try to tell a different story about the history of Paris, this makes the rooms feel quintessentially Parisian. The hotel is home to a 1500 sq. m Spa and fitness centre which has a 23m pool, fitness coaches, saunas and a hammam. The Royal Monceau also offers guests many experiences such as cooking classes, cinema viewings in its onsite cinema and yoga classes just to name a few. The Royal Monceau boasts various dining options like the exquisite Matushi Japanese restaurant and the Michelin-starred Il Carpaccio Italian restaurant. There are also two bars: Le Bar Long, an exceptional Parisian-style bar and the tranquil Vinales Lounge.
Rhône-Alps, Megève
Flocons de Sel
(5 stars)Featuring one of the best restaurants, not only in the region but the world, Flocons de Sel has been awarded a rare three Michelin stars for its cuisine. Chef Emmanuel Renaut – himself indigenous to the Haute-Savoie area – is at the helm and invites guests to join him on nearby forest walks, to experience foraging for mushrooms and medicinal plants, while learning more about sustainability. Initially designed to be a family home, this 5-star Relais & Châteaux property is set high up overlooking the village. The hotel incorporates a spa and three restaurants. Bedrooms and suites are spacious, all with either terraces or balconies, some with open fires or wood-burning stoves.
Rhône-Alps, Val dʼIsère
Hotel Le Blizzard
(5 stars)This chic family run establishment boasts a cosy interior and plenty of luxurious touches. Guests are sure to love unwinding besides the open fire and taking in the stunning mountain scenery from the spacious terrace or in the celebrated lounge room. The main suites here are especially comfortable and come complete with their own balconies that offer impressive views. The hot tubs that are set right into the snow are the perfect places to unwind in style, while there is also an outdoor heated swimming pool and a hammam. In between spending time on the slopes, guests can also work up a sweat in the gym and take part in yoga classes.
Alsace, Colmar
L’Esquisse Hotel & Spa Colmar – MGallery
(5 stars)Surrounded by lush greenery, but just a short walk from Petite Venise, this MGallery property is a showcase for modern art and wellness. Its L’Esquisse Spa by Clarins is spread over 500 m² with a 15-metre sunlit pool and jacuzzi, overlooking the solarium patio. Bedrooms have balconies with views of Champ de Mars Park and come with Nespresso machines and Clarins bath products. There are accessible rooms and the huge penthouse suites are perfect for families. Its K Bar is the place for cocktails; the venue is characterised by an enormous hanging copper mask art installation.
Rhône-Alps, Courchevel
Le Grand Hotel Courchevel
(5 stars)Located just 50 metres from the foot of Tignes’ pistes with ski-in and ski-out facilities, Le Grand (previously known as Le Grand Hôtel au Rond-Point des Pistes) is a very modern affair. 38 rooms and suites offer warming yet soothing decor that echoes its surroundings with contemporary flair. Found in the heart of the 1850 village (shops and restaurants are minutes away), the four-star establishment offers incredible 180° views from the restaurant. The gym and spa feature a sauna, steam room, relaxation area and an elliptical bike which can be used to prepare leg and arm muscles ahead of a hard ski session.
Aquitaine, Bordeaux, Bordeaux City-Centre
Yndo Hotel
(5 stars)In downtown Bordeaux Agnès Guiot and the team are awaiting your arrival at Yndō Hotel, housed in a private mansion, where a tailored hotel experience is there to be had. The hotel is comprised of a collection of understated and luxurious guestrooms where each of the twelve serene rooms and suites have been uniquely decorated. The Yndō Suite is the most spacious and its high location afford you unbeatable views over the mansion. Two properties have been established outside of the property offering a The Yndō Cabane at a renovated oyster farm & The Yndō Apartment. Guests are invited to make the most of exclusive access to restaurant La Table d’Agnès where the menu is made completely in-house with the very best seasonal produce. The hotel puts a focus on design and creating a calming atmosphere with its simplistic yet unique décor.
