Hotel La Villa K is located in an Art Nouveau-era building in Saint Louis, France. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

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A little over a decade ago, entrepreneur-chef Jean-Christophe Touzeau successfully transformed an Art Nouveau-era building in Saint Louis, France (adjacent to Basel, Switzerland), into an airport hotel that is anything but, even as it is both 20 minutes away from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and Basel’s city center by car.

Each bedroom and suite at Hotel La Villa K has its own distinctive personality enhanced by contemporary interior design, a variety of creature comforts, and fresh-baked Madeleines that have developed a cult following among regular guests.

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While it is situated on the town’s main street, lined with numerous bakeries and other specialty food shops, the hotel’s in-house breakfast in its La Cave bistro is the perfect amalgamation of local food culture where everything one could crave—be it cheeses, charcuterie, croissants, tartes, and other delights—is within reach.

The multilingual staff is young, energetic, and infectiously cheerful in a way that is genuine and reassuring.

The hotel’s 41 rooms feature beautiful and authentic decor including books and family pictures. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Alison Ruppé, manager of Hotel La Villa K's spa for the past six years, is among them. She takes pride in the fact that all of the benefits of a larger spa are neatly installed into a tidy space, while the menu of luxury, functional, and SKINTEX LAB microcurrent treatments manages to be thorough and prolific.

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While she mentions that there is a possibility of a larger spa opening in the future, she enjoys the opportunity to work one-on-one with clients and administer massages and treatments in an environment that is unlike other four and five-star offerings in the area.

The hotel lobby. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Why You’ll Love It: The intimate setting has made Villa K’s spa a “best kept secret,” drawing in pilots, airline crews, business people traveling to Basel for conferences, and others in the know. This alone makes it worth discovering. While Basel is home to many five-star luxury properties with spas, our space takes a personal approach that bigger hotels can’t necessarily duplicate.

We give you the option of a setting that is calmer, even though you are 20 minutes from Basel’s busy city center, prime wine regions in Germany and France, and the airport and train station. We aim to make clients forget that all of this is so close by.

The entrance to the spa at Hotel La Villa K. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Key Features: In addition to our two treatment rooms, we have a sauna, a hammam, and a high-tech jacuzzi. We also have an oil bar in our treatment rooms where guests can pick an aroma that speaks to them.

Insider’s Tips: Don’t just come for a treatment. Book a full two-hour session to allow the benefits of what you choose to take hold. I recommend making the spa a part of a hotel stay, as we have beautiful and comfortable rooms and suites, as well as La Cave, an acclaimed restaurant. They are shaped by the fact that our founder is a successful chef and entrepreneur.

The spa’s reception desk. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Spa Exclusives: I think our “spa exclusive” is the fact that clients can book the entire place for one or two hours, depending on the treatment(s) they choose, and enjoy private moments of healing and calm. We have the capacity to further personalize our spa area by customizing our treatments, massages, and diagnostic offerings. Our mission is to make the spa experience a positive memory of their stay at the hotel.

Snacks Served: Guests can help themselves to best-selling Palais des Thés teas, pre or post-treatment, that include best-selling Single Estate and blends from its regular line as well as selections from its wellness-focused collection.

A light-filled waiting area overlooks the exterior patio. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Guests’ Favorite: My personal favorite is the Swedish massage, due to its tonifying, relaxing, and strong effects through strategic kneading and attention to trouble areas. Our oil bar helps guests further customize the experience, and we can blend something special guests can take home with them.

Unique Treatment: Our most popular treatment is the signature “Villa K” massage (“Modelage La Villa K”), an 85-minute experience featuring a mix of massage techniques, including hot stones, bamboo, shiatsu, and Thai foot reflexology. This offering is particularly popular in winter, and clients love how different parts of the body are tended to, especially after long travel days or days at conferences.

The spa’s treatment menu is regularly updated and includes ritual body treatments, massages, nail services, and more. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Splurge Treatment: Our many “Les Soins SKINTEX Lab” offerings—both the “Essentiels” and “Anti-Age”—are tailored to address a client’s personal needs and preferences. Multiple sessions of one’s preferred modality are advised (if time allows) for the best results. These microcurrent treatments feature ingredients such as Olive Maslinic Acid, Spirulina-sourced nutrients, pro-collagens from the maca root, and plant-derived essential oils to mitigate wrinkles, rosacea, dryness, and other conditions.

The spa’s retail area carries an assortment of products including several French brands. *Photo by Elyse Glickman*

Featured Products: Ella Baché, owned by The Thalgo Group in Paris since 2003, is known for its nourishing botanical “food actives” products that can be used, combined, and customized for a variety of facial skin conditions. For the body, we feature La Sultane de Saba, a pioneering line whose products are manufactured in France using a blend of rare ingredients sourced from around the world. It brings together beauty rituals from everywhere—jasmine from Malaysia, lotus from Bali, Monoi from the Pacific islands, and blends of musk, incense, and vanilla from India.

For more information on Villa K Hotel & Spa, visit their website. Follow on Instagram at @hotellavillak for exclusive spa content and check the hotel’s Facebook page for updates and special offers. For deals on your next stay, click h ere.

[Photos by Elyse Glickman]

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