My interest and love of anything spa or wellness related has been a constant in my life for at least the last thirty years, and one thing that has always been of interest was to visit a destination health and wellness resort for either a week or two-week long programme. I guess I’ve ‘dabbled’ with spa mini breaks and wellness retreats in the past, either as part of a regular vacation along with ‘Mrs’ The Private Traveller, or indeed over the years I’ve had a number of long weekends at Champneys in the UK (various locations) and most laterally a trip to the incredible Bürgenstock Resort on Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. While I loved this trip to Bürgenstock (everything from the combined transport methods to get there, the two different spas, the hotel, restaurants, location, things to do etc.) it wasn’t what you would call restrictive in terms of diet (food or alcohol availability/intake) and while there was an abundance of spa treatments and therapies, it was ultimately an amazing hotel stay with spa treatments added in. Chenot Palace will be completely different - 7 days, 850 Kcal per day, with 57 treatments and therapies already planned/coordinated across my stay. Excuse the pun, but with ‘Mrs’ TPT not going to stomach the calorie restriction, this was definitely going to be a solo trip.

One of the main reasons for my renewed focus on booking a trip like this was my experience of sudden sensory hearing loss at the end of one of our last vacations over Christmas and New Year. What I initially thought was a temporary ear blockage (wax build up, hence the reason for hearing impairment and the constant feeling of a blocked ear/being under water) turned out to be quite a severe medical impact, resulting in a significant hearing impairment and permanent tinnitus. The first few months of 2024 were therefore heavily consumed with various tests and treatments, MRI’s etc. but now I’m at the point of having to learn with this loss and adjust accordingly. Being advised by my consultant that this should not impact on our predilection for travel nor be affected by flying, I took the opportunity to add in a few trips with ‘Mrs’ TPT to Finland/Estonia (Helsinki, Tallinn, & Finnish Lapland), Morocco (Marrakech and Fes), and Spain (Mallorca) over March through May. As much as I am loving the idea of joint trips away again, knowing that something like Chenot Palace would be a step too far for a couple’s trip, I’ve been able to squeeze in this wellness week between Finland and Morocco!

All photos here are courtesy of Chenot Palace - when I’m away, I’ll be taking my own, obviously honouring the phone-free zones which are the Restaurant & Spa and Medical Areas, Hammam, Sauna, and Pool.

Summary - what is Chenot Palace all about?

In this wellness journey to Chenot Palace at Weggis Switzerland, I’ll detail my research and booking experience of the spa, health, and wellness facilities. Read below to find out everything you need to know before your next trip to Chenot Palace.

Fast Facts for Chenot Palace Weggis

• Address - Hertensteinstrasse 34, 6353 Weggis, Switzerland

• Website - https://www.chenotpalaceweggis.com/

• Group Website - https://www.chenot.com

• Contact - info@chenotpalaceweggis.com

• Instagram - @chenot_official @chenotpalaceweggis

• Nearest airport - Zurich International (ZRH) 45-60 minute drive away, traffic dependent

• Opened - 2020

• Number of rooms / suites - 97

• Programmes - Advanced Detox, Recover & Energise, Prevention & Ageing Well

• Indicative Cost - 7 nights CHF 5,300 - 6,900 (7 nights) [£4,700 - £6,200, $6,000 - $7,800, €5,500 - €7,200] plus accommodation

• Visiting - March 2024

Overview of Chenot Palace

There are two primary locations, the original being in Weggis Switzerland, and a second full facility at Gabala in Azerbaijan. There are then three additional locations in third party hotels - Chenot Espace at L’Albereta (Italy)  and the One&Only Portonovi (Montenegro), with a Chenot Spa at Selman Marrakech, Morocco. 

I’ve broken down the key facilities and services and shared my opinion on them below:

The Booking Process

It was such an easy process - on the website I was able to select my preferred arrival date and for how many guests, then I had to choose one of the three health programmes. Next I was given a choice of the accommodations available for those dates, and by completing a few extra personal details I was then able to submit my enquiry. The following morning I was sent a personalised quote by email (Reservation Offer) which detailed all of my programme benefits, arrival and departure, and accommodation specifics. All I had to do was click a button and the reservation was confirmed, then I was subsequently sent an online payment link. Once this was confirmed too, I was sent my final booking and link for my Preference Planner where I would select my size of bathrobe, slippers, arrival details, allergies etc. and my choice of programme timings which run from 8am to 6pm daily.

The Different Chenot Programmes

There are three different options, all designed for a minimum of a 7-night stay, with the  programmes being based on the Chenot Method signature treatments and protocols, including the Chenot Diet. The signature Chenot programme is Advanced Detox, this includes 36 diagnostics and treatments, as well as the standard 850 Kcal a day food plan. I was particularly keen on trying (in layperson terms, the red LED full-body sunbed) photobiomodulation which uses a combination of red and near-infrared light to relieve pain, relax muscles and joints and increase blood circulation, and 6 sessions were included within the next-level Recover & Energise programme (57 diagnostics and treatments). The most expensive option, Prevention & Ageing Well (53 diagnostics and treatments) has similar core therapies but is more fitness and training orientated, including three personal training sessions. What it does have (of real interest to me), is a course of Cryotherapy courses - this was something I missed out on at Bürgenstock and their Waldhotel Spa, the machine needing a part to be operational. I’ve already asked if I can add on some cryotherapy sessions, this just needs to be confirmed after my medical assessment once I’m at the facility..

What’s included within my Recover & Energise Programme?

• 2 Medical Consultations

• 2 Nutritional Consultations

• Detoxifying Diet

• Diagnostics with Chenot Lifestyle Biomarkers®

• 1 Body Composition Analysis

• 1 Bio-Energetic Check-up 

• 2 Chenot Bio-Energetic Treatments

• 6 Chenot Energetic Massages

• 6 Hydro-Aromatherapy Treatments

• 6 Phyto-Mud Treatments

• 6 Hydro-Jet Treatments

• 1 Stress Test + HRV Biofeedback Training

• 1 Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging

• 6 Whole-Body Photo-biomodulation Treatments

• 6 Neuro-Acoustic Deep Relaxation Treatments 

• Daily HRV Biofeedback Self-training

Where is Chenot Palace Weggis located?

Situated right on the lake (Lucerne) on the northern side (William Tell country apparently), this seems to be between a 45 minute to an hour’s drive from Zurich airport, albeit it does say 1.5 hours on the Chenot website. As much as I love Swiss trains (not least because of their efficiency), getting from Zurich airport would have meant both a change in Zurich itself, as well as Lucerne, before the final stop of the journey to Weggis where there could have been a complimentary Chenot car pick me up. Instead I’ve opted for the more direct door to door option, a limousine pick up from the airport straight to Chenot Palace, and the same for my return flight.

Travelling before to Bürgenstock, direct flights from and to Edinburgh with SWISS Air / Edelweiss Air worked really well for their daily schedule and timing, but this time the flights to Zurich would have meant a late night arrival for my timings. I’ve opted instead to fly out with British Airways (not direct, but I have a stop over in Heathrow and I’ll stay at the Sofitel London Heathrow) before my onward early morning flight to Zurich. While no treatments or any activities are scheduled for your arrival day, this should allow me to get there mid-afternoon (check in time is 3pm) and get oriented before my programme starts in earnest the following day. With a check out time of 12 noon, this works out really well for one of the SWISS / Edelweiss direct flights back late afternoon.

Accommodation at Chenot Palace Weggis

As well as choosing from one of the three Chenot programmes, your other choice is the accommodation. There is everything from the smaller Nest, Superior or Executive rooms designed for 1 guest only, or you have a Classic or Deluxe room, Junior Suite, or Suite all designed for 2 guests. While different in size and outlook (some are in the historic buildings and some in the newer wings), they are all consistent in style and standard, all with full en-suite marble bathrooms.

Additional Spa Facilities

As well as all the included therapies and treatments, or additional treatments which you can add on (split across six departments - medical, aesthetic, human performance, hydrotherapy, medical aesthetic, and sports & fitness) you have unlimited use of the gym, indoor pool, sauna, and steam bath with colour therapy.

Other things to do at or near Chenot Palace Weggis

There is apparently year-round swimming in the lake, which I’m not sure I’ll be doing in March/April and it’s not far to get to the amazing lakeside city of Lucerne, literally across the water. Having been there quite recently as part of my trip to Bürgenstock, I’m not planning on really doing anything other than spending most of my time in Chenot Palace itself with my myriad of treatments and therapies, relaxing in the spa facilities, reading in the Tea Lounge, or availing of some of the complimentary activities like circuit training, stretching classes, aquagym, basic or advanced yoga, or mobility classes.

My final thoughts on Chenot Palace, Weggis, Switzerland

As I said at the outset, this has always been on my to-do list and I’m so pleased to have finally taken the leap to organise. When I’m away, I will write about my experiences and what it’s like to be there for a week, how I’m feeling with the restricted diet, all about the treatments and therapies, and whether I took the right clothing! The Dress Code has been described as follows:

“The dress code for most of the treatments is a Chenot bathrobe and slippers, provided in your room, which can be worn in the daytime (including breakfast and lunch). Some treatments require sportswear. For dinner, the dress code is sport/smart casual.”

Have you visited Chenot Palace Weggis or Gabala or maybe another of the Chenot spa or wellness facilities elsewhere? I’d love to hear your own thoughts and opinions on it as well as your impression of wellness resorts in general.

Comment below to share your thoughts and opinions. 

Let me know which spa or wellness retreat I should review next!