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Looking to travel to Paris and London in late April

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Chat' started by Flowers, Jan 12, 2022.

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  1. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    No worries about asking as I appreciate the offer of help and I understand!

    So, I love a good value and won't be in the room much but this is also a bucket list trip for me AND I just cancelled my third cruise, which would have been for 20 days. That's pertinent as though the three cruises I have now cancelled were "comped" I had still had budgeted significant funds for excursions, shopping, spa treatments and bankroll to play in the ship casino. That was going to be a decent chunk of the budget I had set aside mentally for my "renewal" four-month period.

    All that being said, and recognizing hotel rooms can be crazy expensive (I live in NYC so get it), I'd be comfortable paying up to $700-800 US/night, but if there is a bucket-list type hotel that has a special rate -- like a Fantasy of normally $2k a night but it's now half off (I know, I know, unrealistic) -- I'd splurge for that.

    I am a walker and plan on using public transportation with taxis as needed as I know, living in NYC, that the fastest way to get from point A to B is underground.

    A few subway stops from the action is fine though I don't want a too-long ride to eat up precious time.

    Room size is not a big deal. I'm open to the Holiday Inn and also high-end boutique hotels and everything in between. You know how I roll at Wynncore but I've traveled across the US by car staying almost exclusively at budget hotels and will do so again as I'm going on a driving civil rights tour of parts of the south in lieu of my third cruise in March. (Yep, decided on that last night as well!)

    Bottom line, for a special place, I'll pay. I'm solo and am fine with a small room.
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2022
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  2. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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  3. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Love.
     
  4. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    You're experiences sound awesome.
     
  5. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Yes. There's no ability to purchase 3000 miles . . . but I can purchase 4000 miles (the purchase option comes in 2k mile increments) for $70. But, though I am not "cheap" I am a value-conscious and don't like the idea of paying $70 when I know in a week or so when I get my regular Am Ex bill that I'll have plenty of credits (tied to my recent Vegas trip!) to enable me to convert 3000 AE points into 3000 Delta miles so I'm going to wait until my statement comes to purchase that ticket but thank you for the suggestion!

    I'm also pumped that with some significant travel this year and all of my Delta MQMs being rolled over from 2021 to 2022 that I could in theory make Diamond in 2022 that would carry me through early 2024. Delta this year is again enabling flights paid for with miles to count towards the earning of Medallion status. Yes, I love working the promos as I engage in trip planning! :)
     
  6. justaguy

    justaguy Low-Roller

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    Thank you for the info and for understanding the reason for my questioning.

    This is a very realistic price point and you can stay in a very fine hotel.

    Since I understood that would be only your second time in Paris and the first was years ago, I would suggest you try staying either at St Germain or near Champs Elysées.

    At the former, I would highly recommend Lutetia. It has been recently renovated and it is just beautiful. If you prefere something more boutique, I would recommend Madison, which is in the heart of St Germain.

    At the Champs Elysées, I recommend Fouquet’s - just been there. Superb customer service, updated rooms, excellent hotel. If you feel the desire to splurge, then Le Bristol. It is the hotel in “Midnight in Paris”, if you like Woody Allen. I stayed there several times (work trips) and it is probably within the two or three best hotels I’ve stayed in my life.

    I would also consider Prince de Galles if the others are too pricey at the time you go. Stayed there once for fifteen days and it is great.

    I also strongly recommend you take the food tour with Paris by Mouth. I had the Marais tour in December and it is a must. Since you’re traveling solo, it is a great thing to do.

    I haven’t gone to London in quite some time, but I like One Aldwych there. It is very centrally located and a nice hotel. If you like a late night atmosphere and a good bar, check Sanderson out. Completely different approach (more on the “hip” side), but I’ve stayed there twice and enjoyed it.

    I will be happy to offer any other recommendation you like - restaurants, things to do, etc, especially in Paris.

    When I met my wife, I was going to Paris once every other month to work and she made me promise I would take her there at least once a year. I have been keeping this promise, so it is a city I really know well.

    You will have a great time there.
     
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  7. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    :love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

    Thank you for all of these suggestions. Guess what I'm doing tonight?!?! More planning! :)
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2022
  8. HoyaHeel

    HoyaHeel Grammar Police & Admin

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    On the last trip to London, I think my favorite thing was the crown jewels and Borough Market (food ;-) Alas the Mews were closed - that is high on my list for next time. My husband's fave were Churchill's War Rooms, which were freaking amazing, I agree.
     
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  9. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    There is so much I want to do. I think even with packed itineraries every day I'll barely scratch the surface.
     
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  10. BlackJackLife

    BlackJackLife Already dreaming of the next trip

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    I used to visit for work twice a year (pre COVID) and due to a need to commute for one of our offices would stay close to Victoria Station for overland train. My favorite place to stay was The Goring Hotel.on the expensive end (but the company paid!). The Goring is close walk to Victoria Station for tube , Buckingham Palace, Belgravia area….lots of local pubs. Very personal service at Goring , they greeted my Vegas, NASCAR camping southern redneck self with private tea setup each time at check in….. did not have electric key cards…had big giant brass key rings, that you hand in at desk each time you come and go…and they remember your name each morning and evening when returning, doorman to help with directions, cabs etc Great restaurant onsite as well…. I am not much of a tourist, but really enjoyed visiting the Imperial War Museum, Churchill Rooms, Natural History and Science museums…
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2022
    Summer heat for Independence Day week...
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  11. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    LOVE everything about this, including the old school room key.
     
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  12. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Both Lutetiia and Le Bristol are mentioned in the Conde Nast Travel Article featuring the "26 Best Hotels in Paris in 2022." All of the hotels, including the two you mentioned, look simply exquisite. I love both and the artistic history associated with Le Bristol, including the fact that Josephine Baker performed in the ballroom there many decades ago. https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/paris-hotels

    Le Bristol was also mentioned in a similar Travel & Leisure article. https://www.travelandleisure.com/worlds-best/hotels-in-downtown-paris

    I find worth of mouth most valuable but these lists are great in terms of information. I can't begin to imagine the cost of the rooms. I'm an American Express Platinum card holder so I'm going to see if they have any special deals at any of these hotels. In the meantime, I'm just ahh'ing (if that's a word LOL) at the photos. :love::love::love:
     
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  13. rourou

    rourou subterranean roller

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    I hadn’t heard of One Aldwych so I looked it up, and it is on the Strand, close to the river and also to Covent Garden, so that is a good location, altho a bit busy. You can also look at hotels in the Mayfair area, it’s an upscale area and quieter.

    Second the rec for the (Churchill) Cabinet War Rooms. The mention of the Victoria area and the Nat History Museum reminded me of another one you might enjoy…the Victoria and Albert (the V&A). It’s a museum for art, fashion and design.
     
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  14. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    I believe I visited that museum during my first and only visit to London, which was about 15 years ago. I don't remember it well so I will definitely need to visit again.

    On a related note, I've been looking at Paris hotels for hours. Am Ex has some "luxury hotel" offers but the rates, except for the Mandarin Oriental (which has a buy 3 get one free night promo), start at about $1k, with benefits like guaranteed late check out of 4 pm, breakfast, a small credit, and then $200 off of my credit card if I pre pay. Party of me says it is crazy to pay that amount but when not out and about I would indeed enjoy the environs and a few nights at that rate are less than what I lose on a bad gambling day at Wynn, so that puts things into perspective.

    I have to say the design of these places is exquisite. I like the relative rate of the Mandarin Oriental but compared to the look of the other places I loved online I didn't like the decor. It was a bit modern and heavy for me, but of course it is a wonderful hotel.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2022
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  15. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Rates are insane for all of these hotels but for various reasons I like all of them. I'll decide in the next couple of weeks! I love the garden aspects of Bristol, La Reserve and some others.


    Le Bristol

    Athenee

    Four Seasons

    Le Narcisse Blanc

    Shangri-La

    Sofitel Paris le Faubourg

    The Peninsula

    La Reserve
     
  16. justaguy

    justaguy Low-Roller

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    @Flowers sorry to have kind of hijacked your thread, but I am really happy you’re so excited with the trip and I really love Paris.

    So, my thoughts: Bristol is really really great, but I was also so positively impressed with Fouquet’s on my last trip that I would probably not stay at Bristol on my dime. I was soooo spoiled at Bristol, but that was because I was there every other month, they knew me by name, would always upgrade me without asking, knew what I wanted before I even realized it. Fouquet’s provided me the same without ever having stayed there before. It is much smaller and not a palace like Bristol, but much more inexpensive (though not cheap). If you decide on Bristol, however (and you will certainly love it), I would recommend you become a member of the Leaders Club. I am a member for more than 10 years now. They used to charge you $ 150 a year, but now it is free. You get early check-in, late check-out, free breakfast and wi-fi (not that common in Europe) and best rate (even if you find lower rate, they will cover). Fouquet’s is also a member, so worth if you are staying there also (although breakfast and wi-fi are already included there, as well as anything in the minibar, which for me was unheard of before this trip).

    George V (Four Seasons) - never stayed there, but it is an iconic hotel, one of the most recognized worldwide (the hotel it is, not the Four Seasons chain). Superb location. Prince de Galles is literally next door, should be more inexpensive and it is really nice if you want to check it out.

    Plaza Athenée - beautiful hotel, but rooms are rather smallish. I know you said you are not that concerned with room size, but if you are going to the splurge, I think you may find a better bang for your buck elsewhere.

    Shangri-La - nice with good restaurants, but location not as good as the others. You will be a 10 minute walk away from any action. This may not seem much, but the all the others provide better proximity. Since we are “dreaming”, the main advantage of Shangri-La is that tou probably could get an Eiffel Tower View - for a price.

    I don’t know the others well enough to give you an opinion. I understand you were attracted to what Parisians call hotel-palais (palace hotels), so may be worth checking Le Meurice, Hotel de Crillon and Ritz.

    If you like history, Crillon was one of **** “headquarters” during German occupation (as was Lutetia) and the Ritz was the only hotel in Paris they allowed to still function as an actual hotel during the War. Long-time residents were also allowed to continue living there, and the most famous one was probably Coco Chanel.
     
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  17. irmster

    irmster Low-Roller

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    Not my experience. Mask wearing is being observed in shops in London and mostly on public transport. Theatres and sports events are checking COVID passes.

    Having said that, there is an expectation all restrictions will be lifted by end of the month.
     
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  18. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    You're not hijacking at all @justaguy! Your insights are extremely valuable and I appreciate very much your taking the time to share them. The hotel options are both extraordinary and frankly overwhelming and that's with my looking at a relatively small group of luxury hotels. I'd like to make a decision relatively soon on a hotel, in both Paris and London, though I am trying to pin down Paris first, so thank you again.

    I did take a look at the Ritz but rates started at $1600+ a night . . . and that is just too rich for me for a four or five night stay, but I do plan to visit the hotel to check it out!

    And I guess I am gravitating to the "Palace hotels", in part because they are so different. Elegant but standard hotel design I feel like I could experiences in any major city in the world so I guess I prefer something that feels more Parisian, in the traditional sense. I loved lots of things about Lutetia but from the website the deocr I liked less than some of the others. I know that seems picky but if I'm going to splurge -- and I believe I will, within reason -- the details matter to me a bit more, with service, ambiance and location being particularly important.
     
  19. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Meant to say that I saw the de Crillon on the Am Ex website but that almost seemed too gilded for my taste. I just looked again at Le Meurice, which is also part of the Am Ex promotion (not so much special rates, but extra benefits). I like it and it has the lowest rates, relatively speaking, of all of the hotels I am considering. Rates all in are in the high $700s. I'll take a closer look. Thank you again and don't hesitate to share any additional insights or tips!
     
  20. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    Wow. I would be fine wearing masks but that sounds like metro London really may be turning the corner on Omicron, which would be wonderful for residents of course and visitors too.
     
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