Morning at Our Hotel Savoie Annecy: Lake, Bikes and Old Town
Mornings start at the breakfast buffet, with fresh, homemade or local produce served until 10 am, on the terrace when the sun cooperates. Then comes the only real decision of the day: where to go. From our hotel Savoie Annecy guests can reach the water in a few minutes, yet the hotel sits back from the busiest shores, which keeps the nights quiet and the mornings unhurried.
The simplest plan is also the most local one. Ask at reception for one of our standard bikes: there is no booking to make and no deposit to leave. The greenway that follows the lake towards Annecy is right on the doorstep, flat and free of cars. If the hills tempt you, four e-bikes can be hired for the day, as long as you reserve them in advance. The hotel holds the Accueil Vélo label, so a locked garage is waiting for your own bike when you arrive by the pedal.
A good morning out from the house could look like this:
- ride the greenway to Annecy along the shore
- stroll the canals of the old town
- fill a basket at the Annecy market
- stop for a swim on the way back
Annecy deserves its nickname, the Venice of the Alps. The Palais de l’Isle, an old prison sitting in the middle of the Thiou river, is the photo everyone takes, while the castle above the town houses a museum on regional history. The Lake Annecy tourist office publishes opening times and market days, handy to plan ahead. Back at our Savoie hotel near Annecy, the reception team will gladly keep your cheese or picnic in the fridge until the next outing, since the rooms themselves have none.
For a bird’s eye view of the lake, our partner Aeroslide takes off for tandem paragliding flights above the shore. Any stay booked at L’Arcalod earns 10 per cent off your flight, a perk you will not find mentioned on a booking platform. Riders can also head to Les Écuries de Chevaline for a morning in the saddle, while early risers may prefer a hot air balloon flight over the valley.
That is the real advantage of an Annecy hotel in historic Savoie chosen for its setting rather than its postcode: you are not in the city, yet the city, the water and the mountains are all part of the same morning.
Brice is a keen cycling traveller himself. Ask him where he rides when he has a free morning: his answers rarely appear in guidebooks.
Afternoon at L’Arcalod: A Spa Garden Included With Every Room
When the heat rises, guests of this hotel Savoie Annecy retreat tend to come back for the same reason: the wellness garden. It covers 3,000 square metres of lawns, shaded corners and outdoor lounges and it is part of every booking, whatever the room. There is nothing extra to pay at the gate. You simply walk out of the building and choose between the heated pool, its whirlpool bath or the hot tub, all open from 9 am to 9 pm.
From the hot tub, look up once more. The peak that watches over the garden is the Arcalod itself and seeing it from warm water after a day in the mountains is a quiet reward for every step climbed. The wooden sauna opens later, from 4 pm to 8 pm, when the air starts to cool.
A few house rules keep the garden peaceful:
- sauna and hot tub from age 16
- no pets in the spa area
- bring a towel, or hire one on site
If you prefer something more energetic than a sun lounger, the garden also has a pétanque pitch and a Mölkky set, both available from reception. A friendly game before dinner is a classic way to end the afternoon, among friends or with the whole family.
If a summer storm rolls over the Bauges, the afternoon simply moves indoors. The lounge has a small library, the bar serves hot or cold drinks and the terrace comes back to life as soon as the sun returns. Nothing about the garden feels like a formal spa: materials are natural, the lawns are open and the atmosphere is closer to a family garden than to a wellness centre.
The decision to ask guests to bring their own towel comes from the same spirit. It saves water and washing and most people already pack one for the lake. Those who forget can hire one at reception for a small fee.
For those who want a proper treatment, the hotel works with three qualified massage therapists based in Doussard and nearby Lathuile. There is no treatment room on site, which keeps the garden quiet, yet the partners are close enough to fit a relaxing or muscle recovery massage between the pool and dinner. Reception shares their details when you arrive.
This is also the moment when the difference with an anonymous booking becomes clear at our Savoie hotel near Annecy. The spa access included in your rate, the free parking opposite the hotel, the two charging points for electric cars and the bikes on loan are not extras added at checkout. They come with the room.
Evening: Dinner Under La Pergola, Then a Room That Suits You
Evenings belong to Bistrot Jeanne, the hotel restaurant open to everyone every day of the season. The cooking is generous, homemade and above all local, with produce from nearby farms and makers. From June to September, dinner can move outside under La Pergola, a nomad tent with an unusual decor where cocktails taste better at sunset. Booking a table is strongly advised, ideally when you reserve the room.
Staying at a hotel Savoie Annecy families have trusted since 1949 also means dinner without the drive: the table and the bed share the same address. There is no taxi to call, no dark road to follow, only a short walk from the terrace to your door.
Then comes the room and there are five ways to sleep at L’Arcalod. The Double Standard, at 12 square metres, is a compact choice for one night on the road or a solo trip. The Double Comfort adds a little more space and can be set up with one large bed or two singles. The Double Superior has a balcony and a separate toilet, while the Double Premium opens onto a private terrace on the garden level, at the quiet back of the building. The Superior and Premium rooms both measure 25 square metres, though each Superior has its own layout. Families of four or five take the Premium Family room, with a double bedroom plus a sleeping area with bunk beds and a pull-out bed.
Every room has individual air conditioning that also heats, a shower, a television, wifi and a hairdryer. There are no bathtubs, a detail worth knowing before you arrive. Check-in runs from 3 pm to 10 pm, check-out is at 11 am.
Before booking your room at our Savoie hotel near Annecy, keep these points in mind:
- baby cots in every category except the Standard
- dogs under 20 kg accepted, for a small fee
- free cancellation up to 10 days ahead, for 1 to 3 nights
For short stays, a card guarantee is enough and you pay at the hotel. Longer stays, from four nights, require a deposit of 30 per cent. To reach Doussard without a car, the Y51 bus line links Annecy station to the Doussard Poste stop, three minutes on foot from the door. Annecy station is served by TGV, Intercités and OUIGO trains, while Geneva airport lies 65 km away and Lyon Saint Exupéry 140 km away.
