Best Paris Hotels

Best Paris Hotels - Hotel Plaza Athenee

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:28:00 +0000

Hotel Plaza Athenee is a hotel in Paris, France. It is located at 25 Avenue Montaigne, near the Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower. It is part of the Dorchester Collection group of international
luxury hotels. Opened in 1911, the hotel has 145 rooms and 43 suites. The warmth and excellent service of the 520 staff members also anticipates your every need with passion.

With fine decor "a la parisienne", the Hotel Plaza Athenee features 188 Guest
Rooms including 43 Suites, offering views to the chic Avenue Montaigne, the west
side of the Eiffel Tower or the charming courtyard. Completely renovated the hotel
mingles glamour and tradition with state-of-the-art technology. At the Hotel Plaza
Athenee, the pleasure of luxury is celebrated, cultivated and expressed in four
different venues supervised by the world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse, each
combining the art of living with delicious cuisine in a unique way.

There are several restaurants in the building. In 2000, Alain Ducasse chose the
Athénée for his haute cuisine restaurant. It serves dinner on weeknights and lunch
on Thursdays and Fridays. Other eateries include the Relais Plaza (classical
French cuisine), La Cour Jardin (Riviera-style cooking), La Galerie des Gobelins
(breakfast, light lunch, tea and pastries) and Le Bar du Plaza, a popular night spot.
Famous chefs to have worked there before Ducasse include Jacques Pépin.

Other amenities include a sauna and steam room. In 2008 the Dior Institut was
opened at the hotel and is run by Dior staff.
Famous guests who have stayed at the Athénée over the years include Mata Hari
(who was arrested here), Josephine Baker, Rudolph Valentino, Grace Kelly, Jean
Harlow, Gary Cooper, Jackie Kennedy, Mary Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Matt
Lauer, Katie Couric, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Kaulitz, Anna Wintour, Christina Aguilera,
Salma Hayek, and Penelope Cruz.

Best Paris Hotels - Hotel George V, Paris

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:06:00 +0000

Hotel George V (Fr. Hotel George Cinq) is a famous luxury hotel set just off the Champs-Élysées on Avenue George V, in Paris, France. It is named, like the street in which it is situated, after
King George V.
Steps from the Champs-Elysées, with private terraces that command all Paris; 18th-century tapestries, lovingly restored; and a spirit that lives on in thoroughly reborn, highly advanced spaces, Four Seasons George V Paris redefines luxury service in the City of Light.

The Hotel George V is an eight story hotel built by Joel Hillman at a cost of $31 million and opened in 1928. Its next owner was François Dupré who also owned the Plaza Athénée at 25 avenue Montaigne in Paris and the Hotel Ritz in Montreal. It has 245 guest rooms and is the winner of several awards from Condé Nast Traveler.

As of 2008 it is managed by Four Seasons Hotels and is owned by Kingdom Holding Company, the investment company controlled by HRH Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. The Le Cinq restaurant has two Michelin stars. The general manager and regional vice president is Christopher Norton.

Best Paris Hotels - Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:56:00 +0000

The Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris hotel sits among iconic Paris landmarks, 10 minutes walk from the Champs-Elysees. Indulge in the mosaic-decorated spa or stroll the Andalusian Patio
garden. The Executive Lounge offers sweeping Paris views. Work out in the fitness room, indulge in the spa, dine alfresco at Le Safran or sip a cocktail in the Art Deco-style Purple Bar. Stroll the Andalusian Patio gardens at the Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris hotel or explore Paris attractions.

The Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris hotel has 19 meeting rooms for 10-800, a business centre and Executive Lounge. From Family Guest Room to Executive Room to Presidential Suite, all our hotel rooms are designed in Art Deco style.

The Family Guest Room is an Art Deco-style 700sq.ft room that is perfect for all the family, with a 2nd bedroom and bathroom. The spacious, bright and airy room has large opening windows. Keep in touch with high-speed internet access, entertain the family with on-demand movies and video games, or get to work at the desk.

Le Safran restaurant offers international cuisine with an Asian twist.
Banquets & Meetings
The Hilton Arc de Triomphe Paris hotel has 19 meeting rooms for 10-800.

Hotel Amenities

    * - Business Center
    * - Meeting Space
    * - Disabled Access
    * - Fine Dining on Site
    * - Fine Dining Nearby
    * - Fitness Center
    * - High Speed Internet
    * - Spa Facility
    * - Banquets & Meetings

Best Paris Hotels - Le Royal Monceau

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:51:00 +0000

The Royal Monceau Hotel is a luxury hotel in Paris, France located in the eighth arrondisement. The hotel has 203 rooms and 45 suites that have been recently refurbished. Two of its restaurants have
a Michelin star: "Le Jardin" serves international and Provencale cuisine and "Le Carpaccio" serves Italian cuisine.
The Royal Monceau Hotel is only few steps away from the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the Parc Monceau. This property is considered one among the most elegant hotels in the city and assures you a comfortable stay.
Notable guests have included Dwight David Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, Robert de Niro, Charles Aznavour, Michel Polnareff, Madonna, and Michael Jackson.

Le Royal Monceau Le Royal Monceau is a Parisian luxury hotel located 37 avenue Hoche in the eighth “arrondissement” in Paris. It was originally designed by architect Louis Duhayon. From its opening it became the meeting point of many artists and celebrities, such as Maurice Chevalier, Walt Disney, Coco Chanel, Hemingway, Joséphine Baker, Joseph Kessel and also contemporary “stars” such as Michel Polnareff et Robert de Niro.

Guests are offered spacious rooms and suites that are elegantly decorated and equipped to a high standard. Attentive room service is available for your conveniences.

Significant renovation was done during summer 2010. When it will re-open, the luxury hotel will include 150 bedrooms - instead of 260 - of which 54 suites and 10 prestige apartments (located in the attached building, 41 avenue Hoche, now part of the luxury hotel), a 1500 square meters spa with a 26 meters long pool. There will also be an exhibition hall, an art library and a movie theater.

Best Paris Hotels - Park Hyatt Paris Vendome

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:46:00 +0000

Park Hyatt Paris Vendome is a truly luxurious Paris hotel, located in the heart of the city, on the prestigious Rue de la Paix and is within walking distance of the Place Vendome and the Place de la
Concorde. The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, as well as other major Paris landmarks are also close to Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, together with Paris' most exclusive shops at Rue du Faubourg St-Honore.

Exquisite decor is finished in impeccable detail with wood, bronze and silk, complementing a king, queen or two twin beds with lush linens, limestone bath with floor heating, soaking tub and stone-enclosed rain shower, and large work desk with high-speed Internet. Enjoy Paris street or the serene courtyard views, plus thoughtful touches such as robes, slippers and morning newspaper on request.

Located between the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Garden is certainly the most elegant venue for jogging or a romantic stroll. With easy access to taxis and public transport, Orly and Charles de Gaulle Airports are 45 and 40 minutes away respectively, while Opera, Concorde and Madeleine metro stations are all within a ten-minute walk.

Best Paris Hotels - Hotel Ritz Paris

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:39:00 +0000

The Hôtel Ritz Paris is a hotel located at 15 Place Vendôme, in the heart of Paris, France. It is one of the most prestigious and luxurious hotels in the world and is one of the seven recognized Parisian
palace hotels. Established in 1898, it is the oldest Ritz Hotel in the world. The building was constructed in the early part of the 18th century as a private dwelling. In 1854 it was acquired by the Péreire brothers who made it the head office of their Crédit Mobilier financial institution.

The façade was designed by Jules Hardouin Mansart. Converted to a luxury hotel by Swiss hotelier César Ritz, it opened on June 1, 1898. Together with the culinary talents of minority partner Auguste Escoffier, Ritz made the hotel synonymous with opulence, service, and fine dining, as embodied in the term ritzy.

The Hôtel Ritz Paris consists of the Vendôme and the Cambon buildings with rooms facing Place Vendôme and on the opposite side, rooms overlooking its famous garden. The hotel became a favorite of many of the world's wealthiest people, with luxurious suites named for some of its notable patrons from the past. These include Ernest Hemingway, for whom a bar in the hotel was named, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Shah of Iran, Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Maurice Chevalier, Jean-Paul Sartre, Elton John, plus couturier Coco Chanel who made the Ritz her home for more than thirty years.

The Hôtel Ritz Paris currently offers 159 rooms, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant, two bars and a casual dining restaurant. The rooms start at €770 a night. Suites start at €1,600 and can go up to €13,650 a night for the most prestigious ones (Suite Impériale).The hotel's restaurant, L'Espadon, was awarded a second star by the 2009 edition of the influential Michelin Red Guide.

Best Paris Hotels - Sofitel Paris le Faubourg

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:37:00 +0000

Located near Place de la Concorde and the mythical Champs Élysées, the Hotel Sofitel Paris le Faubourg is also a few steps away from the exclusive Faubourg Saint-Honoré, internationally renowned
for its luxury boutiques. However, this fashionable outpost is also a true haven of tranquillity. Guests will enjoy quiet moments in the intimate library or the Bar30, each with romantic fireplaces, Also, in the aim of constantly improving the luxury facilities for the well-being of the hotel guests, the Sofitel Paris le Faubourg has opened a superb fitness centre including work-out facilities, hammam and "Experience" showers, a massage service.

The Hotel features 126 elegantly appointed rooms as well as 21 Suites and 1 "Couture "Apartment" conceived by the interior designer Didier Gomez. The refined restaurant Café Faubourg, with its landscaped terrace, is a tribute to the French haute couture and offers a gourmet contemporary cuisine created by Executive Chef Thierry Vaissière.

Decorated by French designer, Pierre Yves Rochon, each room combines the hotel's signature blend of soft styles and colours in its own way, resulting in rooms that are all different from one another. All rooms are equipped with the unique "My bed" concept which will ensure the best comfort to our Hotel Guests. Also, for a privileged moment of intimacy and sweetness, our bathrooms feature the newly and exclusive Hermes toiletries.

An elegant spot highly renowned among the Parisians. Enjoy the talented cuisine of Chef Thierry Vaissiere in the refined dining room or the unique landscaped terrace which is a truly hidden nest. Thierry Vaissière offers a palette of flavors renewing itself through the course of the seasons. He highlights top quality produce, prepared in an up-to-date fashion and artfully presented; all senses are exalted.

At the heart of the celebrated Faubourg Saint-Honoré of the most emblematic labels from the world of Haute Couture, the Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg has always had a vibrant feel for fashion. Today, the hotel is unveiling its collection of suites and its the Couture Apartment designed by Didier Gomez.

The Hotel Sofitel Paris le Faubourg boasts two private meeting and function rooms for up to 14 persons. Elegantly panelled in sycamore wood and light-filled, they are exquisite venues for both board meetings and intimate luncheons or dinners.

Best Paris Hotels - Hotel Scribe Paris

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:29:00 +0000

Ideally located between the lavish Opera Garnier and the renowned Place Vendome, the Hotel Scribe Paris is a legendary place to stay in the heart of Paris. With excellence being the hallmark of a Sofitel, this
entire hotel has been totally refurbished by the accomplished interior designer, Jacques Grange. The new decor of the hotel and its elegant and prestigious rooms and suites embodies the spirit of luxury Parisian elegance.

An historic hotel where 19th century splendour is home to contemporary Parisian style. Enjoy the Cafe Lumiere beneath a magnificent glass roof, the Maison de The with its splendid library and the elegant simplicity of our day spa.

Hotel Amenities

    * - Spa Facility
    * - Pets Allowed
    * - High Speed Internet
    * - Fitness Center
    * - Fine Dining Nearby
    * - Fine Dining on Site
    * - Meeting Space
    * - Business Center

Available Activities

    * - Biking, Touring
    * - Dining
    * - Jogging & Running
    * - Shopping
    * - Theatre & Museums

Best Paris Hotels - Hotel de Crillon

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:18:00 +0000

The Hôtel de Crillon in Paris is one of the oldest luxury hotels in the world. The hotel is located at the foot of the Champs-Élysées and is one of two identical stone palaces on the Place de la Concorde.
The Hotel de Crillon reflects total opulence, beginning at the honey-colored marble lobby and into the adjacent gastronomic restaurant Les Ambassadeurs filled with crystal chandeliers and decorated in seven different marbles. The hotel's public salons are filled with 17th and 18th century tapestries, chandeliers, gilt-and-brocade furniture, fine pieces of sculpture, and Louis XVI chests and chairs. Its Leonard Bernstein suite, on the top floor with a wrap-around terrace that provides a spectacular view of Paris, also contains one of the maestro's pianos.

Only a few steps away from the Champs-Elysees, the Faubourg Saint Honore shopping area and all major museums, the Hotel de Crillon is the place to stay in Paris. This mythical hotel is rich in history and culture. Decorated in a Louis XV style, the hotel's 147 guest rooms and suites include Presidential apartments and the exceptional Louis XV and Leonard Bernstein suites. With 140 square meters of terrace, tall windows allowing abundant light, warm colors and wood-paneling, these renowned suites offer magnificent views of Paris, the Eiffel Tower proudly visible from a luxurious bubble-bath. Offering its guests the highest level of personalized service is the ultimate goal of Hotel de Crillon.

The gourmet restaurant Les Ambassadeurs, the former ballroom of the Dukes de Crillon, is the perfect venue for an intense and unforgettable moment. Guests can also try L'Obe restaurant with its Parisian atmosphere and creative Cuisine.

The building that is now the Crillon was constructed in 1758 after King Louis XV commissioned the architect Jaques-Ange Gabriel to build two palaces in what would become the Place de Concorde. The two identical buildings, separated by the rue Royale, were initially designed to be government offices of the French state. The eastern building remains to this day the headquarters of the French Navy, the Royale. The northern building that would become the Crillon was first occupied by the Louis Marie Augustin, Duke of Aurmont, a famous patron of the French Arts. The building was further enhanced by its second owner, the architect Louis-Francois Trouard, who had the Salon de Aigles built in 1775.

On February 6, 1778, the building was used as the venue for the official signing of the first treaties between the newly-founded United States and France. Americans Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee met French diplomat Conrad Alexandre Gérard de Rayneval to conclude the French-American treaty that recognised the Declaration of Independence of the United States and a trade agreement.

In 1788 the Count of Crillon, François-Félix-Dorothee Berton des Balbes, acquired the building for a hotel. But it was confiscated shortly thereafter by the government of the French Revolution in 1791. Two years later King Louis XVI was guillotined in the Place de la Concorde directly in front of the hotel in 1793.

Eventually the building was returned to its owner who ran it as a family business for more than a century. In 1907, the Société du Louvre took over the hotel. The building then underwent a two-year refurbishment under the supervision of noted architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur. Two neighbouring buildings on the rue Boissy d'Anglas were purchased to enlarge the hotel. The new Hotel Crillon reopened on March 12, 1909.

Best Paris Hotels - Hotel Lutetia

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:09:00 +0000

Hotel Lutetia is a modern-day reflection of the 'Belle Epoque' and Art Deco periods - the embodiment of contemporary, stylish Parisian living. The sculpted Art Deco facade and welcoming statue
of Gustave Eiffel, along with pictures of artists that once lived in the hotel, are your first indications that Hotel Lutetia is something special - full of artistic surprises.

A renowned meeting place for artists, writers and politicians, Hotel Lutetia's busy lobby has a lively edginess with displayed works of art by renowned contemporary artists Arman, Cesar, Philippe Hiquily, Perrin and Thierry Bisch. Surrounded by Art Deco architecture, period furniture, crystal chandeliers and the sounds of jazz music drifting through from the highly popular Lutetia Bar, you will find you are immersed in a truly Parisian atmosphere.

Hotel Lutetia is located on Paris' Left Bank in Saint-Germain-des-Pres in the heart of the fashion, art and literature district, a few minutes from the Luxembourg Gardens, antique shops, the Orsay and Louvre museums, and opposite the Bon Marche department store.

Recommended rooms are the Junior Suites - featuring original period furnishings, Junior Suites have an additional, spacious sitting area and are located either on the hotel facade or the inner courtyard. Also, Three very individual suites at the Hotel Lutuetia, each has its own unique characteristics. All themed suites have views of the Eiffel Tower. Lutetia Suites - These two-bedroom suites feature a large, separate sitting room, a walk-in closet and a steam shower - Suites on the highest floors have wonderful views across the rooftops to the Eiffel Tower.

Hotel Amenities

    * - Banquets & Meetings
    * - Business Center
    * - Meeting Space
    * - Executive Retreat
    * - Fine Dining on Site
    * - Fine Dining Nearby
    * - High Speed Internet
    * - Pets Allowed

Paris - Tourist Attractions

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:57:00 +0000

The Arc de Triomphe (Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile) is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the
western end of the Champs-Élysées. There is a smaller arch, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands west of the Louvre. The Arc de Triomphe (in English: "Triumphal Arch") honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. Beneath its vault lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
The Arc de Triomphe is the linchpin of the historic axis (Axe historique) — a sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on a route which goes from the courtyard of the Louvre, to the Grande Arche de la Défense. The monument was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806, and its iconographic program pitted heroically nude French youths against bearded Germanic warriors in chain mail. It set the tone for public monuments, with triumphant patriotic messages.

The Louvre Museum
The Musée du Louvre, or in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre — is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet).
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre) which began as a fortress built in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still visible. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of antique sculpture. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.
The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. The size of the collection increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon. After the defeat of Napoléon at Waterloo, many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and gifts since the Third Republic, except during the two World Wars.
As of 2008, the collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.

Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame de Paris (French for Our Lady of Paris), also known as Notre Dame Cathedral, is a Gothic, Catholic cathedral.
Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe, and the naturalism of its sculptures and stained glass are in contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture. The first period of construction from 1163 into the 1240's coincided with the musical experiments of the Notre Dame school.
Notre Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern. The cathedral was essentially complete by 1345.

Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles, the Île-de-France region of France. In French, it is known as the Château de Versailles.
When the château was built, Versailles was a country village; today, however, it is a suburb of Paris, some twenty kilometres southwest of the French capital. The court of Versailles was the centre of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris, until the royal family was forced to return to the capital in October 1789 after the beginning of the French Revolution. Versailles is therefore famous not only as a building, but as a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.

Tuileries Garden
The Tuileries Garden is a public garden located between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. Created by Catherine de Medicis as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was first opened to the public in 1667, and became a public park after the French Revolution. In the 19th and 20th century, it was the place where Parisians celebrated, met, promenaded, and relaxed.

The College de Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris. Nowadays, it houses several higher education and research institutions such as Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris-Sorbonne University, Paris Descartes University, the École Nationale des Chartes and the École pratique des hautes études.

Paris - Eiffel Tower

noreply@blogger.com (ParkYank) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:48:00 +0000

Built in 1889, the Eiffel Tower has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest building in Paris and the most-visited paid
monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named for its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair.

The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building. Upon its completion, it surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930; however, due to the addition in 1957 of the antenna, the tower is now taller than the Chrysler Building. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France after the 2004 Millau Viaduct.

The structure was built between 1887 and 1889 as the entrance arch for the Exposition Universelle, a World's Fair marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Three hundred workers joined together 18,038 pieces of puddled iron (a very pure form of structural iron), using two and a half million rivets, in a structural design by Maurice Koechlin. Eiffel was assisted in the design by engineers Émile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin and architect Stephen Sauvestre. The risk of accident was great as, unlike modern skyscrapers, the tower is an open frame without any intermediate floors except the two platforms. However, because Eiffel took safety precautions, including the use of movable stagings, guard-rails and screens, only one man died. The tower was inaugurated on 31 March 1889, and opened on 6 May.

The Eiffel Tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift, to the first and second levels. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by elevator. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
The Eiffel Tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.