Originally Posted by
hockeyinsider
The Renaissance Republique is a good award-redemption value and its location is 15–20 minutes, by foot, from most Paris sights. I wouldn't pay $400 cash for other properties, if only because the savings can be spent on a good bottle of French wine and a nice dinner.
You should definitely check each and every property to see if there are any member rates worth booking instead of the general rates. I'm willing to bet that there are rates that include breakfast or something.
If I do a dummy search on Marriott.com for 11–15 February 2019, I see the Renaissance Republique has a members rate of 265 euros per night, including breakfast, for a "larger room" with a queen-sized bed. Since you won't get breakfast as a Marriott gold that's a good value. Meanwhile, the Westin has a rate of 288 euros per night for a king-sized room for the same dates without breakfast included. The Marriott Opera Ambassador is 226 euros per night, including breakfast, for a king, queen or twin room. At the Marriott Champs Elysees, breakfast is included with a rate of 278 euros per night for a king or queen room.
Aha! I forgot to click through to look at member rates. Thanks for the reminder!
My target dates are 15-19 February, and it looks like the Westin is $381 rack, but $305 (USD) prepaid for King bed. That's actually not bad ... Oddly the site sends me to SPG-branded everything. More IT quirks I suppose.
Originally Posted by
Kacee
You'd probably prefer Republique's location, your friends the Westin.
For four nights in Paris, you might also look at renting an apartment.
I looked at Airbnb and such, but my traveling companions aren't so thrilled with that idea. They'd rather just stick with the hotel option.
Outside of hotel location, is there anything significantly different between Republique/Westin/etc. in terms of service or room quality? Other than the occasional Sheraton post-acquisition (does that even count?), my primary experience with Marriott hotels is basically the SF JW and a various smattering of Courtyards in the US.