Booking this stay
I booked this stay using Hyatt points, which cost me 30,000 points per night. I had some Hyatt points already, but I also bought some from the points storefront in order to redeem for this stay. It was significantly cheaper to buy the points and redeem than pay the cash rate, which was well over 1000euro for the base room. Plus, an added bonus for points stays is that you don’t have to pay taxes.
Getting there and location
The hotel is located about 45 minutes from Charles de Gaulle airport near the Plaza de Vendome. I would equate the location of the hotel to Union Square in San Francisco. On the one hand, the hotel is centrally located near expensive shopping boutiques, restaurants and the Jardin de Turellis. On the other hand, it is an extremely crowded and touristy area. The Lourve is a short 15 minute walk away, which was nice, but I found myself wanting to leave the area where the hotel was located in favor of more slow-paced neighborhoods in Paris.
Check-in
Check in was quick and easy. Of course, I asked if there was any chance of an upgrade since we were celebrating a milestone birthday, but unfortunately the hotel was sold out. That was to be expected since the hotel was showing as sold out during our nights and there was a tennis tournament, soccer match and F1 race all happening the same weekend we were in town.
Park Room King
The room was basic and small, but I don’t think you can get a better room on points in Paris. It had a queen-sized bed, desk, small seating area, bathroom and closet. It was fine for a couple, but I’d definitely recommend a larger room for families.
The bed was comfortable, and the bath amenities were Le Labo (until they weren’t). Almost every time our room was cleaned there were different bath amenities placed in our room. And each time felt like a step down from Le Labo. I’m not sure if they were having a shortage of products, but I would have appreciated it if the amenities stayed consistent. Or the replacements were on par with Le Labo.
Main hotel
On the entrance floor, the first desk is the concierge desk, which I thought was odd that it wasn’t the check-in desk. Down the hall is the front desk, which is across from an open-air atrium and the indoor dining/lounge. A floor below is the spa area which has a generously sized gym, treatment rooms, and spa amenities like a giant jacuzzi and steam room.
Food and beverage
We had dinner at the hotel one night and breakfast each morning. All the food I had was good. We were up early from the time change, and appreciated that breakfast was available 24/7.
The other option is a buffet that looked good, but the staff refused to let us sit outside for breakfast… even in light of COVID. We later got a call from management, apologizing and letting us know we could eat breakfast outside for the rest of our stay. It felt like classic French service, that anything that would require more effort would not be accommodated.
Considerations
This is a solid pick for a hotel in Paris if you can redeem points. If you’re paying a cash rate, I think there might be nicer hotel options both nearby and in less chaotic areas.
A few favorites nearby:
Every morning, I loved getting coffee from Cafe Nuances. The staff was so friendly and the coffee was delicious. We picked up some beans to take home as gifts for friends.
Pierre Herme is a famous bakery that is nearby.
Le Castiglione – this restaurant is a great option for a casual lunch or dinner and just a few blocks from the hotel. It was recommended by a friend who used to live in Paris, and it did not disappoint.
