Relais et Chateaux la Bonne Étape

We spent a night here whilst on a roadtrip driving the Route Napoléon from Grenoble to Cannes. The hotel is very conveniently located just off the main road (but without any road noise) and oozes charm and character. We had a beautiful room facing the garden. It was spacious and comfortable, and tastefully decorated. The furnishings including the bed were all very comfortable and we slept extremely well. Service was impeccable and attentive, the lady at reception was very friendly and went out of her way to make us feel welcome. Plenty of small details made this a classy experience, like the handwritten card from the owner and the sweets and tea left in the room in the evening. I had a lovely dip in the gorgeous pool and soaked up the autumn sunshine on one of the comfortable loungers. I also got a nice improvised tour of the interesting building by one of the staff. A perfect halt for anyone driving the Route Napoléon in a classic car as it offers safe off-street parking that is locked by code after 22.00. A small suggestion for improvement: the breakfast could be improved to make it better value at 27 euros per person, such as offering fresh orange juice and perhaps poached eggs. This is a detail, overall a delightful stay and thanks again to the wonderful staff and in particular the lady at reception.

We booked the place for romantic experience and the night out of kids. What we got: they were proud of haven’t a star for 60 years but they allowed at least 2 couples (one was with the 3 yo child (didn’t disturb)- but both fathers were in shorts for dinner and flip flops. It spoils the idea of Michelin star restaurant and obviously spoils the appetite. After that we went to the room where they “tried” to do the kind size bed but it didn’t work, so we had to spend in 10sm hole between the mattress. All the picture and proofs were showed at reception at the check out. The worst evening and night of my life. I don’t thank them for that.

My husband and I can’t say enough wonderful things about La Bonne Etape. It is a truly special and magnificent place! Our trip got off to a rocky start when we encountered bad thunderstorms on our drive to the town. As a result, we were going to arrive very late at night and were concerned that we wouldn’t be able to check in. We were also hungry (!) and so messaged the hotel and asked if they could leave a little snack in the room for us. And to our pleasant surprise, not only did a lovely staff member named Lucille come out to greet our car when we arrived very late, but the chef had made some incredible sandwiches for both my husband and I! It was such a nice touch and so appreciated after such a long drive. As for the hotel itself- what can we say? Simply perfection. Stunning rooms with beautiful views. Perfect location to explore the surrounding towns. A convenient car park located directly across the street from the hotel. The pool is clean and gorgeous. A staff member walks around and asks you if you want any drinks. They are so accommodating and try to give you whatever you need. I also highly recommend taking a walk thru the magnificent gardens of the hotel which is right near the pool. They are simply beautiful. And the restaurants - wow!!!! My husband and I eat at Michelin restaurants all the time and Chef Jany Gleize and his daughter, Jane, and staff are masters at what they do. They have definitely earned their Michelin star but we think they deserve another! Their attention to detail is incredible and their creativity is something to see. My husband and I ate at the Michelin restaurant on 2 different nights because we loved it so much. We must have mentioned that it was our wedding anniversary, because the restaurant surprised us with a special cake for dessert. What a treat! Thank you to all of the staff of that amazing restaurant for everything they did to make our visit special. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that the hotel has a more casual dining option with its other restaurant, Bistro Gaby. We ate here one night as well and were equally impressed with the service and delicious options. I could go on and on. My husband and I just love this Relais & Chateaux property. It’s a very special place and the staff is so kind that they make you feel like you’re staying with family. We can’t wait to return with our daughter next summer. Thanks for the memories La Bonne Etape! Love, Allison and Steven Meier