Journal of a Jetsetter

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Hotel Villa Honegg

The infinity pool at Hotel Villa Honegg looks as though it’s been plucked straight out of a dream. The blues, the greens, the tranquility of looking out over Switzerland. Known for it’s infinity pool, it has so much more to offer beyond this, while the view at Hotel Villa Honegg is every bit as breathtaking in real life as it is on Instagram. Hotel Villa Honegg is the spot for the ultimate relaxing Swiss weekend getaway.

Location

Hotel Villa Honegg is just over an hours drive from Zurich Airport. A drive that takes you past lakes, around mountains and through picture perfect Swizz towns. The drive is great preparation for what’s to come, giving an insight into squeaky clean Switzerland, it got me excited to see our home for the next few nights.

For a boutique hotel, Hotel Villa Honegg commands quite the position. Standing guard, looking over Lake Lucerne, it’s location makes for some ideal mountain walks. Make sure to take the path up to Känzeli where you can look back on Hotel Villa Honegg and get a different view across Lake Lucerne to Weggis. 

Continue up to Hammetschwand, a 158.2m lift that resembles a heaven-bound rocket. From here you have a 180-degree view across Lake Lucerne and a feeling that you’re on top of the world.

Throughout my stay I was taking long deep breaths, appreciating being away from the city, surrounded by fresh air and trying to fill my lungs as much as possible. The loop back down takes you through a small forest where the air feels as fresh as it can be and combined with the golden colours, made for a special autumnal walk.

A more flat option is to follow the road around the golf course all the way to Bürgenstock Resort. The terrace at the Grand Hotel is another spot with spectacular views and gives you yet another spectacular perspective of Lake Lucerne.

Rooms

With just 23 rooms at Hotel Villa Honegg, it keeps that cosy homely feel that I love finding in a hotel. It has an opulent sense of luxury throughout from the soft linens to the Hermes toiletries, as rooms feel to have been perfectly designed to make you never want to leave.  

You will have to choose between a mountain or a lake view and I cannot recommend the latter enough. To wake up with the mist crawling over the water below really is a treat. Rooms on the first floor also have a large terrace complete with loungers, that you don’t get on other floors. 

Dining

It is expected that you’ll be so relaxed and taking life so easily at Hotel Villa Honegg that breakfast is served until 2pm. Enjoy your breakfast on the restaurant's spectacular terrace so that you don’t miss a moment of the views. 

The dining room takes on a romantic candlelit feel in the evenings. The restaurant has been awarded 14 Gault Millau points for the quality of its food, it’s setting and it’s service.  Food is locally sourced and the menu varied. I can highly recommend the chocolate lava cake for dessert.

Spa

But it is the spa that really wins the show here at Hotel Villa Honegg. The outdoor pool is heated all year around and was generally where I could be found during my stay. Even in November, the relaxing outdoor loungers facing out to the lake ahead are complete with a cosy blanket making it the perfect spot to while away the day. 

The downside to my stay was that the spa is so small and they allow day spa guests, so even though we were staying at the hotel, we weren’t able to receive any treatments. Make sure to book a treatment spot at the same time as you make your reservation.

Since seeing the spa at Hotel Villa Honegg all over Instagram, I’d dreamed of staying there. I was a little nervous that it wouldn’t live up to the experience I’d created in my head. But in reality, with a little help from some clean air, great walks, the glorious weather and a vegan dessert, it surpassed my expectations and I was utterly in love.