Quaint! That's the first word that comes to my mind for Les Pensieres. Located in a 15th century…read morebuilding, as part of the Merieux Foundation, Les Pensieres hosts public health related conferences. We were supposed to meet in Geneva for a meeting. However, the meeting organizers did not realize the fact that the Motor show is happening during the same week. Most hotels in Geneva were sold out, or ridiculously expensive. While the organizers panicked at not being able to get hotel rooms for the attendees, the Merieux Foundation graciously stepped in and agreed to provide a venue for our meeting. So, off we went to Annecy! Don't be fooled by the 15th century old school charm. Les Pensieres boasts of hi-tech facilities with video conferencing capabilities. The rooms are beautifully done, as no room is alike another. Breakfast was glorious with an assortment of cheeses (we are in the Haute-Savoie after all), charcuterie, and breads. Every lunch was an ornate 3 course affair and we tried hard to stay awake for the afternoon meetings. Les Pensieres could be an ideal location if you are vacationing in the Annecy region, but they do not let individuals rent a room to stay. You can only stay if you are part of a public health conference or organization meeting. Too bad, because I would travel to Annecy to stay here for a long weekend.

Absolutely gorgeous lakeside estate setting. It feels like you are in some show on the BBC when…read morestrolling the grounds. I was there for a scientific conference for three days and hated to leave. The food was classically French, with lunch and dinner three course menus that left you happy. The town of Annecy is a very pleasant 6km walk along the lake with many sections comprised of a boardwalk. If you ever get a chance to visit it is well worth it.

I've just booked room + dinner at La Table de Bonheur for the 4th time. Since we met Hans and Tiny,…read moretheir cosy and rural cottage in the lavander countryside and tasted Hans delicacies (he's a Michelin starred chef) we drive back to them every single year. Looking forward to see you again, Hans and Tiny.

We are so lucky that our tour company was unable to book the other inn we originally asked for: we…read more"accidentally" ended up at Chalet Ventoux Serein. It was the highlight of an already amazing trip! Phillipe and Dominique are the warmest hosts, and they have created a cozy, quiet respite. Our package included all meals and they were all timely and delicious. Dinner was an incredible 4 courses. Even hiking 20+km per day, we still couldn't eat it all! Simple food, well-prepared: fresh, seasonal, delicious. And vegetarian per our request!! We could not have been happier. Our hosts anticipated our every need, with special homey touches at every turn. Stay here and you will also not want to leave!