Trianon Palace Versailles, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel {FRA} (France)
Sep 6, 2013, 4:39 pm
#106
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: DL Diamond, HHonors Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,360
What do you folks think about a €39 upgrade to a 'palace king' room? This would be a NOR1 upgrade from the standard king room in the pavilion. Sounds like the only complimentary upgrade I'd receive is to a pavilion king w/ view room. I've heard mixed reviews on the pavilion though.
My stay is only for 2 nights, 1 of them using a citi cert.
Any tips for visiting the Palace itself?
My stay is only for 2 nights, 1 of them using a citi cert.
Any tips for visiting the Palace itself?
Sep 9, 2013, 2:10 pm
#107
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: HH Lifetime Diamond, 20 years
Posts: 464
After checking in about 3 PM, I toured the palace gardens (spent 3-4 hours, allow a lot of time for the grounds). The gardens are really worth spending a long afternoon to early evening walk. Also the early evening light makes for some great photo opportunities. I got up early when the Palace opened and spent 3 hours touring the Palace.
Sep 10, 2013, 8:35 pm
#108
Join Date: Sep 2012
Programs: HHonnors Diamond, AA Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 293
The rooms in the Pavilion building are about the same as in the Palace building, but all of the restaurants (save for a small bar) and public spaces are located in the latter. As a HHonors Diamond, I've always been upgraded from a standard Pavilion room to a Deluxe Palace room, no questions asked. Certainly the Palace is more desirable, but I'd probably save the 39 € and bank on an HHonors upgrade.
Also, make use of the happy hour in the small bar in the Pavilion (bogo)... actually a decent deal (although you must drink two... you cannot split two drinks with two people).
Oct 21, 2013, 1:51 pm
#109
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 171
Just a couple of comments regarding my recent stay at Trianon:
*I reached the hotel via the Rive Droite train station. I believe it was the "L" train line. I walked to the hotel from the train station itself. I had a couple of decently heavy bags, but the walk wasn't bad itself. In fact, I ran into a bachelorette party on the way there and the bride insisted on giving me a cookie and a kiss.
*Upon check-in, I asked for an upgrade into the Palace building. The front desk kindly did the necessary magic and I found myself in a nice room up on the top floor (5) with a view of the chateau. One thing about the top floor however, is that the rooms don't have standard showers. I think its because the tub is underneath the building's dormer. In other words, it is not a full-height ceiling above the tub. It made for a fairly interesting attempt at a shower. The heated floors in the bathroom are amazing. How in the world did they do this in a 100 year old building?!
*The lounge in the Pavillion building is closed for good. So no bogo happy hour.
*I would have not been very happy with a room in the Pavillion. Someone up above said that the Pavillion was of "Holiday Inn Express quality" and though I did not see a room in-person, the common areas were very low-rent. And on the website it lists that the Pavillion rooms are quite a bit smaller.
*This WA is still giving out free drink certs though the updated T&Cs do not require this. It's a nice benefit because the house champagne is Pommery Brut which goes for 18 euro.
*Concierge was of no help in getting tickets to see the Chateau. They directed me to an alleged ticket retailer half way in between the Chateau and the Hotel. When I showed up, the cashier knew nothing about tickets.
*Behind the hotel, I fed the grazing goats part of a baguette that I bought at the sunday morning french market. Both things are absolute musts when visiting. The market was a great experience. It made US grocery stores look downright boring. And the goats were thoroughly entertaining.
*My key card quit working halfway through the stay and it took about 4 trips up and down the elevator to get it solved. This ended up being incredibly frustrating. Admist the frustration, I handed my shopping bags with about 400 euro of stuff over to the front desk for delivery to my room. When I got back to my room, the bags were no where to be found. Worse yet, no one had any clue what happened to the bags. Turns out they put them in someone elses room! A less honest person would not have returned the bags to the front desk. After they had been found, it still took 20 minutes to get the bags. At this point I was pretty fed up and complained. The manager comped be a 1/2 bottle of Pommery which I accepted.
*All in all, an opulent hotel and I would visit again. However next time I might be better prepared to fend for myself when it comes to needing assistance. And I would not stay there unless I had secured a Palace room.
*I reached the hotel via the Rive Droite train station. I believe it was the "L" train line. I walked to the hotel from the train station itself. I had a couple of decently heavy bags, but the walk wasn't bad itself. In fact, I ran into a bachelorette party on the way there and the bride insisted on giving me a cookie and a kiss.
*Upon check-in, I asked for an upgrade into the Palace building. The front desk kindly did the necessary magic and I found myself in a nice room up on the top floor (5) with a view of the chateau. One thing about the top floor however, is that the rooms don't have standard showers. I think its because the tub is underneath the building's dormer. In other words, it is not a full-height ceiling above the tub. It made for a fairly interesting attempt at a shower. The heated floors in the bathroom are amazing. How in the world did they do this in a 100 year old building?!
*The lounge in the Pavillion building is closed for good. So no bogo happy hour.
*I would have not been very happy with a room in the Pavillion. Someone up above said that the Pavillion was of "Holiday Inn Express quality" and though I did not see a room in-person, the common areas were very low-rent. And on the website it lists that the Pavillion rooms are quite a bit smaller.
*This WA is still giving out free drink certs though the updated T&Cs do not require this. It's a nice benefit because the house champagne is Pommery Brut which goes for 18 euro.
*Concierge was of no help in getting tickets to see the Chateau. They directed me to an alleged ticket retailer half way in between the Chateau and the Hotel. When I showed up, the cashier knew nothing about tickets.
*Behind the hotel, I fed the grazing goats part of a baguette that I bought at the sunday morning french market. Both things are absolute musts when visiting. The market was a great experience. It made US grocery stores look downright boring. And the goats were thoroughly entertaining.
*My key card quit working halfway through the stay and it took about 4 trips up and down the elevator to get it solved. This ended up being incredibly frustrating. Admist the frustration, I handed my shopping bags with about 400 euro of stuff over to the front desk for delivery to my room. When I got back to my room, the bags were no where to be found. Worse yet, no one had any clue what happened to the bags. Turns out they put them in someone elses room! A less honest person would not have returned the bags to the front desk. After they had been found, it still took 20 minutes to get the bags. At this point I was pretty fed up and complained. The manager comped be a 1/2 bottle of Pommery which I accepted.
*All in all, an opulent hotel and I would visit again. However next time I might be better prepared to fend for myself when it comes to needing assistance. And I would not stay there unless I had secured a Palace room.
Aug 31, 2014, 12:03 pm
#111
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Programs: Mainly Hilton Hhonors, SAS Eurobonus
Posts: 1,981
Good to hear that you liked the hotel and good to get a recent review.
The existing thread didn't have any recent comments when I was looking a little while ago and could therefore do with an update. I am going there early spring next year.
Maybe this thread should be merged with the existing thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...lection-8.html
The existing thread didn't have any recent comments when I was looking a little while ago and could therefore do with an update. I am going there early spring next year.
Maybe this thread should be merged with the existing thread
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...lection-8.html
Aug 31, 2014, 1:12 pm
#112
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: try to stay home
Programs: AY, M&M, BAEC ...and don t care of status anymore
Posts: 2,041
Great hotel, with superb location.
As a Diamond I got an upgrade to a "Garden View" in the pavilion - not what I was hoping for - but the room was spacious and spotless.
Other goodies for a Diamonds:
2 bottles of water in the room
one voucher for two drinks at the bar
breakfast voucher (you can exchange this for 10€ credit on bar/restaurant consumption)
free internet
and access to the gym/spa
As a Diamond I got an upgrade to a "Garden View" in the pavilion - not what I was hoping for - but the room was spacious and spotless.
Other goodies for a Diamonds:
2 bottles of water in the room
one voucher for two drinks at the bar
breakfast voucher (you can exchange this for 10€ credit on bar/restaurant consumption)
free internet
and access to the gym/spa
Nov 14, 2014, 9:23 pm
#114
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: MCO, YEG
Posts: 1,181
Not all that recent a stay, stayed in June/14, 3 rooms for just one night using certs and points as a gold. In regard to hotels, it was the highlight of our 17 day your of Europe, and we also stayed at the park hyatt vendome as a hyatt diamond.
We were initially upgraded from basic pavillon rooms to top floor rooms in the main building, a three category upgrade. The upgrades gave us rooms that would no longer fit the 8 of us, so they upgraded one room to a full suite, a further three category upgrade!
I appreciated the wonderful service, so thought I would spend some money with them and ordered tea from room service and we all ate breakfast at the buffet in the morning. They included the best macarons I have ever tasted when they brought the tea and included both the room service and the breakfast at no charge.
They treated everyone in our party, from my 8 year old to my senior in-laws, like royalty. Based on my way too brief experience, I would highly recommend. Beautiful hotel, fantastic setting, and, most importantly, the best service I have had in any hotel anywhere.
We were initially upgraded from basic pavillon rooms to top floor rooms in the main building, a three category upgrade. The upgrades gave us rooms that would no longer fit the 8 of us, so they upgraded one room to a full suite, a further three category upgrade!
I appreciated the wonderful service, so thought I would spend some money with them and ordered tea from room service and we all ate breakfast at the buffet in the morning. They included the best macarons I have ever tasted when they brought the tea and included both the room service and the breakfast at no charge.
They treated everyone in our party, from my 8 year old to my senior in-laws, like royalty. Based on my way too brief experience, I would highly recommend. Beautiful hotel, fantastic setting, and, most importantly, the best service I have had in any hotel anywhere.
Jan 28, 2015, 12:45 pm
#116
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,061
Jan 28, 2015, 1:06 pm
#118
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 1,061
We were there a few years ago as Diamonds and we only got what we were supposed to, 2 free drinks at the bar. My son was with us and initially they wanted to charge something like $40 a night for a roll away. An email exchange with a front desk supervisor did away with that charge but at checkout the charge was on the bill anyhow. Fortunately I had saved the email and it finally was taken off.
Feb 2, 2015, 4:31 am
#120
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
I took the RER and then a taxi to get there from the centre of Paris, and walk + RER to get back
Versailles Rive Droite is about 10 minutes walk away, if you don't have too much luggage to drag, and has moderately fast trains into Paris. Versailles Château isn't that much further walk. Versailles Chantiers has fast trains into Paris, but is maybe 20 minutes away, so when I got there I took a taxi
I believe the hotel can organise a car service to/from the airport, if you want things simple and are willing to pay! Otherwise, RER + walk/taxi is probably your best bet. Use RATP to look up the timings/changes
Versailles Rive Droite is about 10 minutes walk away, if you don't have too much luggage to drag, and has moderately fast trains into Paris. Versailles Château isn't that much further walk. Versailles Chantiers has fast trains into Paris, but is maybe 20 minutes away, so when I got there I took a taxi
I believe the hotel can organise a car service to/from the airport, if you want things simple and are willing to pay! Otherwise, RER + walk/taxi is probably your best bet. Use RATP to look up the timings/changes