How wonderful to hear “Good afternoon” in our own Dutch language when arriving at Le Richemond Geneva. Food & Beverage Manager Reinier van Brussel welcomes us and that immediately shows us the warm and friendly attitude of the staff here. All smiling with a lot of Swiss style and flair. Actually, we are chuffed with the service. Le Richemond makes this stay even more special by welcoming us by all kind of little bites and chocolate decorations in our room and yodeling teddy bears on the beds for the girls. Just the perfect way to start our holiday in Switzerland.
Not a bad way to start our stay at all...
Our rooms are connecting and both are huge and spacious, with lavish and luxurious marbled bathrooms. The bedding and the linen are spotlessly clean and the beds itself very comfortable. We even have a small balcony overlooking the Lake Geneva, the famous Jet d'Eau, a large 140 meter high fountain and the Mont Blanc.
Premium room connected to Luxury room
The staff at restaurant Le Jardin shows the same friendly service as their colleagues at the reception and concierge desk. Breakfast has a wide range of choices. Especially with children you may have some other request such as to split a portion in two. And our kids are really surprised to find a Belgium waffle on their plates at breakfast. Such little gestures make a place great. And as for diner: don’t forget the deserts. It seems they are unforgettable.
Furthermore we especially want to mention the facilities of Le Richemond. To start with the bar, which seems to be a popular place in town with live music on lots of evenings. Here you'll find a combination of classic and modern design and some tasteful cocktails on the menu. The equipment of the gym is state of the art and very divers. The spa is meant for adults only. We lack the time to use it, but it seems heavenly and highly recommendable.
Hopefully we can delay this for a couple of years :-)
Switzerland as a whole is very expensive, as a global business center so is Geneva and taking the level of service Le Richemond isn’t particularly cheap. But believe us: it is worth every Swiss Franc. Although a family hotel back in the 18th century, nowadays Le Richemond is mostly used for business trips and the latest years renowned artists stayed here such as Miro and Warhol. But if you can afford a few nights here with the family it is a great option. They provided everything we need for our little ones. Outside the piers to take boat rides are close by. It is next to Lake Geneva and a short walk from the shopping area. There are many restaurants on walking distance. The hotel is only 30 mins from the airport (which is extremely easy to navigate) and its location is excellent for day trips.
The architecture is opulent and graceful. It shows grandeur, while the atmosphere is intimate, reflecting the essence of Geneva. One of our rooms looks out over a beautiful monument. The Duke of Brunswick bequeathed his fortune to the city in exchange for this statue, specifying that it be a replica of the Scaliger Tombs in Italy.
The lack of sound from the street during the night suprised us (apart from New Year night festivities). The surroundings are beautiful and eye-pleasing. We are staying here when the year passes, so the Christmas decorations at Le Richemond are still here. By exploring the neighborhood, we enjoy the sunset from the pier, where our kids use the training gear as a playing area. And later, we are able to admire the spectacular New Year fireworks on the lake in front of us.
Sunset at the pier
Next day we are greeted by “Good morning” in our own language by some other staff members that probable picked up the words overhearing our earlier conservation with the Food & Beverage manager. Clearly not a native greeting, but the effort to study this, says it all. Our kids are happy to have breakfast in their night robes since a delicious breakfast is brought to our room, together with the newspaper of our preference.
Breakfast time!
Afterwards we wander through Geneva and pass the St. Pierre Cathedral. It is historically known as the adopted home church of Calvin, one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation. We find a fine moment of silence with our youngest (that doesn't occur a lot), while admiring the ceiling of the Maccabees Chapel.
Last but certainly not least: we're surprised by the efficiency of the staff in showing us all kind of suggestions to do with our kids during our stay in Geneva. Our stay is complete by a diner in an excellent restaurant for cheese fondue with children. To be followed by a visit to the Christmas Circus as suggested by the staff: an incredible memory.
WOW
# We are impressed by the truly charming staff around here.
# Le Richemond has lots of good things going in its favor and ticks a lot right boxes. Really comfortable, high-quality restaurant and facilities.
# The location is superb on walking distance from all major attractions. And on short distance is Europe’s highest mountain: the Mont Blanc.
