I’m seriously not a spontaneous person especially when it comes to planning trips… everything is sketched out months in advance, booked and spreadsheeted to avoid FOMO and not being able to get sought after reservations. But Mr S suggested I come to Switzerland to meet him as he finished his ski trip for us to have a special Easter weekend together … hmmm Switzerland…Easter… chocolate…it did all add up quite nicely.
I booked flights to Geneva on Wednesday, the hotel on Thursday and I headed on a solo trip to the airport on Friday… if you watch me on Instagram Stories you’ll know our first hotel wasn’t exactly as I expected it to be and we made the decision to leave after a one night… And Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva was booked the next morning, an hour before we arrive. I mean how much spontaneity can this Type A personality truly take?
Anyway, it turned out to be 100% the right decision because as soon as walked into Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva, I was truly taken by the place. 
As a truly dedicated ‘Floralista’ how could I not be taken by a lobby filled with such magnificent flowers and add to that marble floors, proud duck egg blue pillars, gilt trimmings and dripping chandeliers… it is simply the height of elegance. Utterly lavish yet totally tasteful. 
Dating back to 1834 with a solid 180 years of history, the hotel was actually the very first luxury hotel in Geneva and it was in 2005 after a meticulous restoration that this grand dame reopened as a Four Seasons property.
Perfectly placed right on Lake Geneva, it’s also only a short walk across the bridge to the elegant shops and restaurants of Geneva.
We booked into an entry level standard room but despite our very late booking, my travel agent got us a free upgrade to a junior suite. The 115 rooms and suites at the hotel have been designed by renowned French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon who has created a gorgeously soft colour palette with just a touch of French decadence. 
The spacious room was the perfect place to relax after exploring for the day and had everything you need such as tea and coffee making facilities, packed mini bar, and iPod station. Particularly useful was the subtle leather box by the bed that contained USB ports for phone charging. It’s a real bug bear of mine when a hotel doesn’t have a socket by the bed.
The hotel had left us with a gorgeous array of treats, fresh flowers, stunning cakes from the pastry chef…
But for me, best of all was this mock-up magazine cover using the image from my Instagram feed that I’d used to announce my pregnancy, I thought it showed incredible attention to detail, especially bearing in mind that we’d literally booked this hotel an hour before arriving. And for those wondering, this wasn’t a press stay, I hadn’t even had contact with the hotel, but my agent must have told them I was Instagram 0bsessed!
More lovely little touches came in the form of a hand crafted Easter egg left in our room to celebrate the weekend’s festivities. 
The room had two gorgeous balconies looking out to Lake Geneva and the fringe of the alps… and we could watch the swans gently gliding past. 
A spacious, marble-clad bathroom with deep soaking bath and Bulgari products finished off the space perfectly. 
Every public space is sheer gorgeousness and I totally fell in love withe the blue and white porcelain tones of this lounge that can be found adjacent to the foyer… also filled with beautiful pink flowers…
And best of all this huge sculpture made entirely of chocolate… as well as help-yourself chocolate eggs!
There was also a jewellery shop, where they positively encouraged me to try on their most expensive pieces. 
Also on the ground floor is iconic Le Bar de Bergues which also boasts ‘Best Bartender in Switzerland 2016,’ Sophie Larrouture.
The interiors are absolutely gorgeous with cosy wood paneling and navy and gold colourways but the bar also has a stunning terrace for alfresco dining and drinking… 
As the hotel is located right on the bank of Lake Geneva, guests are treated to a view looking out across the view. Though unfortunately, building works at the time of our stay obstructed the view but didn’t stop us enjoying the gorgeous Swiss sun. One day we stopped for a snack and had the most amazing high quality Balik smoked salmon, whilst Mr S chose a chocolate hen from an ample display of incredible patisseries. 
Another time we came back for spaghetti for lunch, and while I was very impressed by the food, I was even more impressed by the silver service. All we had was a main course but the whole thing was given a fine dining treatment with an amuse bouche, petite fours and the whole shabang.
Opposite the bar is the hotel’s signature restaurant Il Lago, where a beautiful buffet breakfast of fresh fruit, cereal, breads and charcuterie is served. You can also order a la carte with plenty of options for sweet treats, classics like smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or healthy set menus such as a Japanese breakfast or Alpine. 
When I mentioned my pregnancy and the need to have my eggs well cooked, they presented me with this…
With the swan being reminiscent of the Lake’s inhabitants… honestly I’ve rarely seen a hotel gift so thoughtful…and I had to smile at the thought 0f the kitchen sourcing the swan!
Else where there were lots of little touches for Easter, including a resident Easter bunny!
By lunch time and in the evening, Il Lago is Geneva’s most glamorous Italian restaurant, having been awarded one-Michelin star and presided over by native Italian, Chef Sena.
Il Lago is just sheer romance and the food is utterly exceptional too.
Just outside the hotel is a luxury French bakery Ladurée, which is worth a stop for the gorgeous design alone.
I mean, does it get more Instagrammable than pink sofa, mint walls and gold fittings. Wes Anderson eat your heart out! And if this particular design does look familiar, it’s because it’s by India Mahdavi who designed the family gallery at sketch in London. It’s not inside the hotel but it’s part of the complex and a great stop off for macarons, cakes, coffee and hot chocolate.
But that’s not where the dining options end, up on the roof, and probably my favourite of all the restaurants we visited is Izumi.
The Nikkei restaurant has a gorgeous dining room space but during the summer months, prime position is outside with a panoramic view of the city. 
Not only was the food great, but the place had a lovely buzzy vibe! Though I was very jealous of Mr S’s champagne and sashimi as I dined on padron peppers, salad and well cooked prawns and sea bass.
Also up on the roof is the Mont Blanc Spa, though despite having spa credit we didn’t get a chance to book treatments as our stay was so last minute.
There’s a gorgeous rooftop pool, fitness centre, hair salon, hammam and steam room and you can book in for a facial massage and body wrap. Some of the treatments use the very best in Swiss skincare for example Haute Couture Skincare by Dr Pauline Burgener. I was lucky enough to meet Dr Burgener herself at an event at Four Seasons Ten Trinity in London, so I was already aware of her skincare.
Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva really is a beautiful hotel through and through and where it really stands out is the incredible attention to detail and personal treatment to guests. We tried every restaurant at the hotel and each was truly excellent both in terms of food quality and service… and simply flawless place.
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