“Bring your toothbrush, your charger and your pajamas, Tonight we are not sleeping at home!”
A few days ago, I tested a microadventure from Lyon… to Lyon ! A crazy idea?! No way. It is even on this principle that is based Staycation !
In the GTL team, we increasingly like to test and share these kinds of experiences. They have, for us, many advantages:
1. We reduce our travel to a minimum: good for the planet, our wallet and for maximum time to just enjoy.
2. We discover local gems, we boost the economy and we promote local jobs.
It was therefore obvious to test the platform Staycation in our beautiful city of Lyon !
Staycation in brief
The genesis of the project
Staycation was born from the desire of 3 work colleagues share their local tips. In the form of a weekly newsletter at the beginning of the story. Then, one day, by adding the possibility of booking a hotel night, to prolong the weekend effect, on a Sunday evening.
Founders of Staycation – Photo credit: Staycation
That’s when they receive 1 reservation, then 2, then 3… To finally take the concept further, by extending their selection of partner establishments. They initially manage the reservations themselves, then create the Staycation reservation platform to take over!
Photo credit: Staycation
Staycation today
Staycation’s ambition today is clear and rather challenging: provide incredible experiences, close to home!
This goes through :
1. First, a careful selection of partner establishments : from 4 stars to palaces, no less!
2. Some “packages” including the hotel night, but also practically systematically of the extras ! A Staycation specificity, available nowhere else. Access/privatization of the spa, late check-out, glass of champagne, privileged access to hotel activities, mixology/cooking workshop… The aim is to provide customers with the best possible experience. And this is reflected in the excellent 9.3/10 obtained on average for the year 2023. Customer feedback is key for Staycation, which pays particular attention to responding to them and working with hotels to improve their services if necessary.
A little less well known, Staycation also offers day packages to escape from everyday life for a day or evening, even during the week. Formulas “splunch“ (spa+lunch) for example, which allow parents to stay at a normal pace for the children (at school, or looked after) and to find them in the evening completely relaxed and reenergized.
Staycation in Lyon
HAS Lyon, these are more than 200 experiences year-round which are offered within a 100km radius. Each experience is imagined in partnership with the hotels themselves. Among them, we find for example the Ruck Hôtel, the Tribe Lyon Croix Rousse, the Pilo Hôtel, (which we told you about in this article from Ruck, this article from Tribe, and this one from Pilo), the iconic InterContinental, or the Ermitage Hôtel, right next to the unusual Ermitage du Mont Cindre, which we told you about in this article (unusual visits around Lyon.
➡ We let you discover these experiences, during the day, in the evening, for 24 hours or 48 hours HERE!
The evening
Tuesday, late afternoon, I turn off my computer. Direction Vieux-Lyon, where I made an appointment with my +1 without revealing too much about what I had planned for this evening. It’s hot, it’s nice, we take an ice cream break first. The tone is set : We are here to enjoy!
I then suggest that he board the funicular. To gain height while sparing ourselves the little sweat that would await us on this first day of intense heat. And above all, for its “tourist” side which I don’t normally accept too much! But today is a special day, we don’t deny ourselves anything !
We walk along the ancient theater to finally reach… the Fourvière Hotel ! This is the first time I’ve taken the walk this far, and the Visitation Park, adjoining the hotel, is a great first discovery: a group practices an outdoor gym session there, some are there for a picnic, children let off steam there… chill atmosphere guaranteed !
Photo credit: Girls Take Lyon
Upon check-in, I have stars in my eyes : the hotel reception is none other than the old chapel of the Visitation convent. Work of the architect Pierre-Marie Bossan, known for his Basilica of Fourvière, no less! We are taken to our room via the superb cloister which I was eager to discover (and which I admit, had motivated my choice for this hotel).
Photo credit: Girls Take Lyon
We find ourselves in our room the famous Staycation cover which contains all the ingredients for a great evening : coupon for a glass of champagne, facial masks, bathrobe and slippers to enjoy the spa… We are clearly encouraged to let go and cut everything off!
Photo credit: Girls Take Lyon
The hotel restaurant is full that evening, so we think about go eat at Fava few minutes walk away. A nugget address for its outdoor courtyard and its combo of oleanders + pétanque court + light garlands which, on me, have a crazy disconnection effect ! On the plate, I find my darling hummus / pitathis time with peanuts. My +1 goes to a burrata accompanied by small marinated vegetables.
Photo credit: Girls Take Lyon
Time stops, and, back at the hotel, we realize that it is already 10 p.m. But don’t panic, the spa is still open for 1 hour! We enjoy the place, alone, alternating between jacuzzi, hammam, sensory shower and ice jump. After all that, and with the calm that reigns in the hotel, we can only sleep well…
Photo credit: Girls Take Lyon
Next morning
Et the experiment continues the next morning. The breakfast included in the Staycation package (extra charge via a classic booking) is just “wow”. A large continental buffet that reminds me of and makes me believe I’m on vacation. Outside in the cloister, moreover, for a very chill and contemplative atmosphere.
Finally, thanks to the late check-outpossible until midday, you can extend the experience and enjoy it for a whole morning!
Photo credit: Girls Take Lyon
It took us a little while to come down from our bubble. And this moment remains a wonderful memory that we cherish, well aware of having had an incredible experience!
