I’ve always wished I lived in a time when wealthy people still took ‘The Grand Tour’ of Europe, spending months at beautiful resorts and seeing all the sights.

Of course, I’d also have to be wealthy, so if I win the Lottery – and you don’t find me relaxing in Rome, basking in Barcelona or adventuring in the Alps – you’ll definitely catch me lapping up the luxury in Lausanne.

These genteel surroundings on the gently lapping shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland had plenty to attract the rich and famous in the 1800s and, as guests of the Beau-Rivage Palace Hotel Resort, my husband and I were here to find out why it’s still the destination of choice for celebs such as Kate Moss and Alex Ferguson.

After flying into Geneva, courtesy of Swiss International Air Lines, we took one of the regular trains which run alongside the lake to Lausanne – a pleasant 40-minute journey – then hopped on the spotlessly clean and ruthlessly punctual metro down to the lakeside area of Ouchy.

Situated in the French-speaking part of Switzerland (there are German and Italian regions too), Lausanne offers a lot more than cuckoo clocks and private banks, although there are plenty of both.

It’s this diversity of culture and commerce that gives Lausanne its charm, because although it’s a far cry from Skegness or Blackpool, the resorts on Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman, as it’s known in French) are, in fact, the landlocked country’s ‘seaside’.

So while you can sit outside a cafe and spot the obviously well-heeled with their yachts and impeccably tailored clothes, you can also join the families on holiday, taking a pedalo on to the lake or picnicking by the shore.

The same goes for accommodation and eating out – you’ll find world-class establishments rubbing shoulders with charming little hostelries and a wide range of restaurants, cafes and takeaways to cater for all culinary tastes.

That said, we were getting a taste of the high life at the Beau-Rivage Palace, classed as one of the world’s leading hotels and certainly worthy of the title, dripping with chandeliers and sumptuous salons and with the friendliest, most attentive staff you can imagine.

As we walked out onto the balcony of our room, we both heaved a long sigh of contentment as we surveyed the sparkling waters, snow-capped French Alps and forested hills, while below us a paddle boat steamer went gliding past.

The Beau-Rivage opened in 1861 and began an era of decadence, with lavish balls and galas that lasted until the outbreak of the First World War, when it became a haven for refugees, many of whom were previously well-off guests who occasionally had to leave their baggage as payment on departure – although I doubt the entire contents of my suitcase would have covered a single bar bill.

The hotel’s numerous restaurants include that of Anne-Sophie Pic, the only female French chef to gain three Michelin stars, while we ate at the brasserie-style Cafe Beau-Rivage.

With its large terrace facing the lake, it is a popular spot, with exquisite food which to my husband’s delight included a separate vegetarian menu.

Although the temptation to sink into a lounger by the pool or submit to the attentions of a masseur (who asked me if I wanted a pillow for my ‘k’-nees) at the hotel’s chic Cinq Mondes Spa is undoubtedly strong, there are plenty of activities and excursions to while away the time.

To start with, you may not realise it but Lausanne is officially the Olympic capital, home to many international sports federations and boasting the only Olympic museum in the world.

If that all sounds a bit too energetic, there are terraced vineyards where you can taste the finest vintages in the Unesco World Heritage area at Lavaux, cruises from the marina in Ouchy on the ‘Belle Epoche’ – the ship we saw when we arrived – or excursions on solar-powered boats that attest to the city’s reputation as a forerunner in sustainable development.

In fact, there are excursions galore, including across the lake to the famous French spa town Evian-les-Bains and the medieval village of Yvoire. One of our favourite trips consisted simply of hopping on a train for a few stops to the lakeside village of Cully, where my other half took the plunge and swam in the lake while I lay daydreaming in the sun on the grassy shoreline.

An after-dinner stroll along the Lausanne waterfront as the sun set behind the Alpine peaks was also high on our list of our memorable moments – all this and more top quality chocolate than you can shake a cowbell at!

Of course, talk about a trip to Switzerland and the first thing anyone will mention is how expensive it is. And they’re not wrong – the bill for a couple of drinks and pizza at a restaurant in Lausanne left us gasping in shock, while the cheap hotel we found for a couple of nights in Geneva on the way back was only cheap because it was actually over the border in France.

But while, yes, it is expensive (and tell me where in Europe isn’t at the moment), with a little research it is still possible to find ways to enjoy yourself that won’t break the bank - we were lucky enough to be in Geneva for Fetes De Geneve, a 10-day free festival along the shores of the lake with concerts, fairs, fireworks and a host of food and drink stalls where we feasted in style without having to take out a mortgage first.

But as far as the Beau-Rivage Palace is concerned, if you want to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Charlie Chaplin, Phil Collins and Michael Schumacher, who have either lived or holidayed on the lake shores, it is definitely worth shelling out a little extra for a special break at a truly memorable place.