Hôtel Barrière Le Grand Hôtel

The lake, parks, fresh air and peaceful energy are what make this place special. If you get a lake-facing room, the view is lovely, and the hotel connects to the large Diane Barrière Spa with pools, a hammam, sauna and massage rooms. There’s also a nice indoor pool with hydromassage and water aerobics, plus bright, comfortable rooms for yoga, stretching and other workouts. I can see the hotel’s real strengths as a place to relax and get treatment. The buildings are a mixed picture. The first one has architecture and interiors that seem preserved from when the hotel opened in 1950, according to one source. The rooms have restrained decor with Oriental and Baroque touches, and many look out toward the mountains and gardens by Lake Engen. There’s a second, apparently newer building, but its rooms already feel well worn. They’re comfortable enough, though in our room there was a sewage-like smell that got stronger in the evening. Maybe it doesn’t affect every room. Calling it the scent of sulfurous waters would be a joke. We tried to switch rooms, but after 8 p.m. nobody answered the room phone at reception, which is a long way from the second building. We eventually sorted it out by moving to the first building. The owners need to give the place more attention. The saunas are dated and need new wall and floor finishes. Breakfast was decent, but weaker than at other hotels in the same chain. There were no vegetables at all. The cheese and meat choices were varied, but it needs greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados or berries. Hotels at a similar price in Paris do a much better job with breakfast.

The location was great for our week here, and the staff were all excellent. Anna at reception was especially helpful. We’re heading to the spa today, so I may add another review after that. The hotel is a top spot and worth it.

My parents had a wonderful stay, and the staff gave them excellent service. Many thanks!

The bed was comfortable, so credit for that. The rest really didn’t feel like a four-star hotel. I asked for an espresso martini, a classic any barman should be able to make even if it’s not on the menu, and the waiter came back three hours later with coffee and a martini. We thought he was joking, but he wasn’t. There’s no shower cabin, and the damp in the spa made it hard to breathe and felt dangerous to health. At reception, asking for a pen got a pretty unprofessional answer that they only had one. Is the budget really that tight in a four-star hotel? Don’t park there either, the trees will leave your car completely ruined. It’s not worth four stars, but politics seem stronger than the customers. I’m French and feel sorry for our international image. Have a beautiful day. No need to reply, it won’t change anything 😉