The spa at the five-star Royal Savoy in Lausanne, Switzerland, is so new that it practically has that new-car smell — except that the aromas wafting through the treatment rooms are redolent of lavender, citrus and other heady scents.
"We thought you might like a French spa therapist," said Jocelyn Pedersen, the spa manager, handing me a frosty glass of fresh coconut water during my recent visit at the invitation of the Vaud/Lake Geneva Region Tourist Office.
As I settled back into my relaxation-room chair, she explained that each of the therapists offers bespoke treatments according to his or her specialty.
Customized treatments are just part of the appeal of the nearly 5,000-square-foot Royal Spa, which features eight treatment rooms, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and multiple relaxation rooms and two private spas for exclusive pampering as well as an entire women-only area.
The space dedicated for women is not only designed to attract small groups, such as wedding parties and girlfriend getaways, but also in deference to the culture of the owners, Qatar-based Katara Hospitality.
The lobby of the Royal Savoy.
The spa menu is multicultural, ranging from Japanese, Thai, hot stone and wrap massages and rejuvenating facials to holistic wellness treatments, including reiki, Rolfing and sound therapy. The facility also offers a selection of treatments specially designed for the property by the Clinic Lemanic in Lausanne.
Part of the buzz around the spa, besides its vertical gardens, specially commissioned blue-glass windows and custom furnishings, is its location in the new wing of the property, which was created during the five-year, $100 million-plus renovation of the entire hotel, which dates to 1909.
Over the years, the hotel became the unofficial residence of various royals, including the king of Thailand and members of the Spanish royal family, although even locals admit that before the renovation, which was completed in 2015, the property was looking a little worse for wear.
With the wing, accessible from the lobby via a glassed-in walkway set within a well-tended garden, the property now features 196 rooms and suites as well as the spa, robust meetings facilities and a fitness center.
The public rooms, including a lounge bar off the lobby, walk that fine line between posh and comfortable, and the service is attentive without being cloying. When I checked out at 5 a.m., for example, someone materialized with a cappuccino for me while I waited for my taxi, despite the fact that the dining room wasn't yet open.
The hotel’s Brasserie du Royal.
Other highlights include a Cigar Lounge, complete with a menu of international cigars, and the Brasserie du Royal, where we dined on dishes created by Michelin three-star chef Marc Haeberlin and executive chef Julien Krauss. I took my cue from the various cuts of beef displayed in glass cases on the way into the restaurant and ordered steak, but the menu also offers such delicacies as lobster mousseline, foie gras and white asparagus in season.
The 1,300-square-foot Royal Savoy Suite, located in the original historical building, offers separate living and dining rooms that can seat up to 10, a kitchen with its own separate entrance, two bathrooms and one king bedroom that can connect to two other bedrooms. The suite is priced at about $6,500 per night.
Another appeal of the Royal Savoy is its location in Old Town, near the Cathedral of Lausanne and the Olympic Museum. Also nearby is the Musee de l'Elysee, which exhibits photography in a beautifully restored 18th century mansion.
Visit www.royalsavoy.ch/en.