KatW

Thank you, good question, callmedtop.

Never have experienced any of the rooms at Le Bristol. For our first stay six nights in June 2014 we booked a jr. suite which was on the second (first) floor. It was enormous with foyer, walk-in closet and luggage space, commodious living room and spacious bedroom. It was gorgeously appointed and supremely comfortable ... and had absolutely NO view, Zip. Nada. The (only two) windows looked out over the outside of the (dirty) glass cupola topping their three-star restaurant below.

Space is important to me, one of my non-negotiable expectations and I am prepared to pay for space.

Because I'm so smart, the following year when we stayed seven nights, I asked for a junior suite on a high floor expecting a view. Well, there was a sort of view across the street looking into an unremarkable building and lots of natural light, a Juliet balcony (almost). But the "suite" was horrid: tiny, cramped with too much furniture and utterly unacceptable. I gladly would have returned to the no-view jr. suite and asked piteously to do so but it was occupied (I'm certain savvy guests ask for this one and they are correct to do so).

Once I calmed down, I rang the nice lad who met us at the entrance and escorted us to the ostensible suite for checkin. I indicated sternly we needed larger accommodations and gladly would pay whatever was the going rate. I was that unhappy. He apologized and said he'd look into it.

30 minutes later we were ensconced in an enormous top-floor one-bedroom suite with foyer, dining room, spacious living room, and two gargantuan bathrooms plus a huge outdoor terrace overlooking LB's interior garden. At the same rate as the cramped jr. suite we'd been given. When I checked the rack room rate on the back of the entrance door, I just about infarcted: €7,000 per night.

There's nothing special about us other than how stumble-bumble we are. I have no idea why they were so kind to us. Our then TA never has done much for us but she is French so maybe that was a factor. During our first stay, management promoted a concierge to chief concierge -- the first female chief concierge in Paris. We sent her a bouquet for congratulations. She had been so very kind to us, arranging concert and museum tickets. And, just generally sweetly kind and competent.

I expect we did make clear our utter delight with the place (and the two Birman cats). Well, we were entirely gaga, everything about the place down to the porcelain at tea just set us kattywhumpus (that is a good thing). If we could be comfortable in Paris, this was the place!

The only takeaway from this experience is one I long have practiced. Never stay in any of the basic one/two/three level of rooms, always go for a suite however junior. And, as all know here, book at least through a Virtuoso TA or cultivate over time a luxe TA with multiple access. I am fine to pay for the level that makes me happy. Anything above that is unexpected delight.

Finally, everything here is outrageously expensive, if you were thinking of dropping by for tea or a drink. It worked for us even though I did notice the outrageousness of it. But, apparently, Paris. And, it was so fine for us.

We tipped the lovely German lad who arranged the upgrade, €500. Which I later thought too skimpy. But he sends us Christmas cards.

Whew.