This hotel defines everything I like with a luxury hotel: The old glamour (it was built in 1862) combined with refined and gracious service, a nice and cozy – but still elegant clublounge with excellent food-offerings, the best location and a bed and linens to die for. I have been to Intercontinental Paris le Grand once before, and I really loved it then. This time we had only one night, but a night I will remember for a long time.
We knew we would have an early check-in and I had informed the hotel in advance, via Twitter. When we arrived we were taken care of immediately by a very charming bell-boy. He sent us to the check-in area where we met the front-desk manager. We were told we had been upgraded to the Prestige Suite, but since it was not ready we could wait in the club-lounge or we could get another room. As I was eager to see the club-lounge (rumours said it was fantastic) AND I of course wanted to stay in the prestige suite, we chose to go to the club-lounge.
And yes, it was extraordinary! I have been to many hotel club-lounges, but this must be among the best I have ever been to. Everything, from food (offering and qualitywise) to the staff, was excellent.
After a delicious breakfast (served until 11) we were taken to our room, the prestige suite. It’s not the biggest suite I have been to, but it had the same old granduer feeling as the hotel, and I loved it. The fact that the table in the living-room was filled with fruit, macaroons, luxurious juices and small, sweet treats, didn’t impress me the less.
As a Royal Ambassador (the highest level in the Intercontinentals bonus-program) the mini-bar drinks are free. A big plus for two bottles of real Champage!
The only thing that disappointed me, just a tiny little bit, was that we got the same Agara toiletries as they offer in the standard-rooms. Last time I stayed at this hotel I got L’Occitane toiletries, which feels more luxuious.
07.30 – 11: Breakfast. Lots of different cold-cuts, Champagne, scrambeled eggs, bacon, etc… etc… You can also order fried and boiled eggs. Mr. No-Backpacker loves eggs Benedict and asked for that. Originally they don’t serve it, but the club-manager made it as a special order for Mr-Nobackpacker! According to him, this is one of the best eggs Benedict with home-made Hollandaise-saus, smooth as silk!
12.30 to 14.30 Finger-food, fruits and soft-drinks.
15.30 to 17.30 Afternoon-tea with the most delicate pastries and cakes.
18.30 to 21.00 Open bar, canapes and sweets. Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures, but it was all in the same league as the other meals.
This must have been some of the best hotel-experiences I have ever had and I loved every minute although I was not able to eat most of the food because of my food-allergies. I didn’t want to make “a fuss” about my diet, so I didn’t ask for something special beforehand. However I asked for some cold ham when the other ate canapes and sweets, and was told there were a lot more if it wasn’t enough. To be honest, I am sure they would have made something nice for me if I had asked, but I didn’t. Maybe I’ll do that next time?
We are going back to Paris next week and will then stay at a less luxurious, not to say mediocre, Holiday Inn (mostly because Mr. No-Backpacker is going to work close to that hotel) so we decided to enjoy the hotels facilities this time. Next week I will do the exploring while Mr. No-Backpacker is working. For more about Paris, please come back next week!
This entry was posted in Around the world, Europe, France, Hotel-reviews, Intercontinental, Paris and tagged Hotel review on April 26, 2014 by Cecilie.