Ericka

Introduction <li>Kind and friendly service</li> <li>Safe, welcoming neighborhood</li> <li>Comfortable and not too fancy</li> <li>No “grand dame”, no gilt (their taste is contemporary)</li> <li>Luxurious, but not $1300 for a closet-sized room</li> <li>Reasonable incidental charges (In Paris? Ha!)</li> <li>Staff with excellent English</li>Loving Paris as much as we do, we decided to invite his parents to go with us on this trip, and we agreed that we needed to turn the “rudeness” notion on its head; we know this perception isn’t true. We came up with a list of criteria for the right hotel that would make his parents feel at home in Paris. This is the list that ultimately sent us to Esprit Saint Germain. &nbsp;The people we were traveling with were Mr. Ericka’s parents. 50 years ago, his father promised his mother he would someday make one of her dreams come true by taking her to Paris. Well, time flew and the trip never happened. When asked about it in recent years, his mother would reply, “Why would I want to go somewhere where the people are so rude to you.” Well, Mr. Ericka and I knew in her heart she still wanted to go, and believed she had simply talked herself out of it thinking she would never get the opportunity. As his parents have aged, the idea of international travel has become more intimidating.&nbsp;Mr. Ericka and I have been to Paris before and were lucky enough to stay at the FS GV. We loved it. But when we knew we were going to be traveling to Paris with people who don’t normally stay at hotels of that level, we started to look at the property (and all others like it) a little differently. Suddenly the spaces were too grand, the service too formal, and the price of a Coke Light offensively high. Virtuoso The Virtuoso amenities included the upgrade, daily full American breakfast, a bottle of red or white wine, and a very large French cheese and baguette presentation for each room.We approached DavidO about Esprit Saint Germain and he told us that while he had heard great things about the property, he was very concerned about room sizes. There was a lot drawing us to this hotel however and upon inquiry, he was able to secure us guaranteed upgrades if we booked into the upper room categories. That’s how we ended up in a suite (upgraded from a prestige room). The Hotel The hotel had two inviting rooms to relax….truly relax. There was one sitting room with a fireplace, and the more popular bar/breakfast room where snacks were served all day and guests lingered and socialized with one another. But the best part was the 24-hour complementary bar with French red and white wines, Champagne and liquors. No, I take that back. The best part was the complimentary chocolat chaud (homemade hot chocolate) that the staff made on request. No nickel and diming here!The Esprit Saint Germain decor was just the right mix of Paris chic and homey comfort to please our group’s conflicting contemporary and traditional tastes. We loved the warm colors, deep cushy furniture, and rich fabrics. And there was complimentary wi-fi available from any room in the hotel.It was located on a quiet street in the delightful left bank neighborhood of Saint Germain, just kitty-corner from the famed church of Saint Sulpice (Da Vinci Code). The area was upscale with a mix of residences, small high-end boutiques, and many cafes and bistros that all just screamed local character. It was highly walk-able, surrounded by the cobblestoned narrow one-lane streets and the slate rooftops that have made Paris famous. We found everyone in the neighborhood to be utterly charming, and they accepted our Frenglish with humor and appreciation.Esprit Saint Germain was a boutique hotel designed along the lines of a private residence.&nbsp; Suite 101 And of course there was a mini-bar, this one being complimentary. It was filled each day with sweet and savory snacks, beer, soda, juice and yes, even the Evian flowed….well….like water.The rich fabric and warm color theme carried through from downstairs in the form of buttery linen wallpaper, brown and muted purple chenilles, plush furniture and whimsical leopard carpeting. To appeal to our traditional side, the suite had very high ceilings, black distress-painted tables and solid oak wainscoting. The more modern touches included fun little star lights above the bed, two flatscreen TVs and the bathrooms; which were done in mossy chocolate tiles with coordinating stone countertops, under mount sinks, contemporary chrome fittings and deep soaking tubs. The larger of the two bathrooms also had a rain shower.&nbsp;Suite 101 was on the first floor, so it lacked the charming rooftop views of some of the rooms on the higher floors. And it didn’t have any of the original 18th century beams that we’ve seen in property pictures. But what it did have was very smart décor and a great layout. There was a sitting room, a bedroom, two full bathrooms and a walk-in closet. It was just Mr. Ericka and me in this room, but it would be ideal for a couple with a child. Service/Meals It’s interesting that while there was no restaurant at Esprit Saint Germain, there was 24 hour room service. Breakfast in the breakfast room was wonderful, with the continental dishes presented on a buffet, and eggs and other hot items cooked to order. Considering this was not actually a restaurant, there was a lot of effort given to presentation with white linens, silver, lovely china, etc. The continental portion of the breakfast menu included wonderful baguettes, French cheeses, smoked meats, fresh squeezed juices, fresh fruits, French yogurts, local butter and croissants (which were surprisingly not as good as they could have been).Service at this hotel was genuine and efficient. The maids were in and out of our room without our notice, providing excellent cleaning and turndown service. The concierges (front desk staff) however, were not perfect. They certainly knew the local area, which was great, but for any advice regarding other Paris restaurants, they referred guests to their copy of the Zagat guide. One staff member unfortunately sent us to the wrong restaurant (this is a long story related to multiple restaurants owned by the same person). This wouldn’t be such a problem if the one we were accidently sent to wasn’t so awful. We don’t recall seeing any Les Clefs d’Or keys on the “concierge” lapels, which was fine for us because we weren’t interested in chasing Michelin stars, but for others who take dining more seriously, this could be a problem. Local Area Highlights <li>Organ Mass at Saint Sulpice</li> <li>Private guided tours of the Louvre and Notre Dame with Paris Muse</li> <li>Violet religieuse (cream puff on steroids) from Laduree</li> <li>Jardin Luxembourg picnic prepared by Gerard Mulot</li> <li>Creperie Des Canettes</li> <li>Boeuf Bourguignon at Chez Fernand</li>Yes, we had fun! Here are a few of our neighborhood highlights. &nbsp; Overall When our Notre Dame guide told us about the legend of the stone slab in front of Notre Dame (where anyone who taps their foot will someday return to Paris), we were tickled by how quickly Mr. Ericka’s mother had her foot on that stone!Our stay overall was very good and we accomplished what we set out to do….to make Mr. Ericka’s parents feel comfortable, un-intimidated, and delighted by this more simple, unassuming version of Paris. By choosing Esprit Saint Germain, we also spared them from what they would have felt was unnecessary nickel and diming that some of the better hotels are guilty of.&nbsp;