LAKE GENEVA: A CITY (& REGIONAL) GUIDE – PERSPECTIVES
Work, socialize, travel, check off items on your to-do list – life is a whirlwind of activity that passes you by before you even realize it. It’s fun, it’s stressful, it’s anything you perceive it to be and it’s what you make of it. It’s hard to appreciate the moment when you’re already planning the next steps ahead though, and sometimes we all need a little break.
A great place to be a little removed from reality is the Geneva lake region. As the largest lake in Europe, it is surrounded by both France and Switzerland and mountain ranges all around (notably Mont Blanc). It’s very tranquil, and a great place to go boating in summer and skiing in winter in Chamonix. What I enjoy most is that it’s not a touristy area, so a lot of its charm remains intact.
Photo credit: Tai Yuni
THE SWISS SIDE
A 2009 survey by Mercer found the city of Geneva to have the third-highest quality of life in terms of worldwide rankings. IKEA founder and Europe’s richest man, Ingvar Kamprad and singer Phil Collins both live in the area, as does ex Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher. The city of Geneva itself is also known for its luxury watches, private banks, and jet-setters from all nationalities with holiday homes in the region. Geneva is not only for the rich and famous though, despite its VIPs, banking tradition and high real estate prices.
TIPS:
- Geneva, Switzerland – try Roberto’s restaurant – delicious Italian cuisine in an iconic landmark of Geneva, or Lion d’Or restaurant, Cologny.
- Montreux, Switzerland – some of the most beautiful views of the lake. A great place to rent a pedalo boat and get a Magnum or Mövenpick ice cream and sit in a sunny café by the lake. (And yes, that is a palm tree in the photo).
Photo credit: Tai Yuni
THE FRENCH SIDE
The French side of the lake is beautiful too. The French side has a tiny little town in particular called Evian-les-Bains that is world-renowned for its luxury branded mineral water Evian, owned by Danone Group. Designers from Christian Lacroix, Paul Smith, Issey Miyake and Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermes creative director have collaborated with Evian to create exclusive bottles.
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The town itself even has a fountain of Evian water that the locals affectionately refer to as ‘La source’ and use it to refill their bottles. The best time to go is late evening if you want to ensure that there won’t be a wait.
Photo credit: Tai Yuni
Evian water was originally sold as a healthy remedy prescribed by doctors and has expanded exponentially since then, to now include an organic skin care brand and a luxury resort and spa in France. If you’re looking for a scenic location, natural beauty, an abundance of activities and a place to get away from it all, you’ve found it.
Photo credit: Tai Yuni
Bon voyage!
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About Tai Yuni
I am here to introduce you to tips and tricks on living the ultimate gyp-set lifestyle. I have been globetrotting since day one – and not always with sufficient means to do so – but international travel and living in different countries is my passion. And if a little luxury is thrown in there, all the better. – Tai Yuni
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- Regular blogger on wealthmonitorblog.com. Wealthmonitor is a division of theMergermarket Group and the Financial Times Group.
- Guest blogger on Fit Lifestyle Mag “The Five Top Places to Be This Winter – Luxury Hotspots” and “Thinking of Places to go this Summer? Escape to Provence.”
- Traveler Voice Getaways Nominee
- Member of Travel Blog Exchange.
Tags: Chamonix, Evian water, IKEA, Lake Geneva, Montreux, Roberto’s restaurant, Switzerland
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