Apr 5, 2014, 7:57 pm
Last edit by: skj
I'm making this thread a wiki since there are issues that keep getting repeated (breakfast and transportation from/to CDG). Feel free to add whatever you feel is important - stick to facts of please and not one off exceptions (eg if you get an upgrade to the Presidential Suite on an award stay without any status - that's definitely a one off that doesn't belong in the WIKI - obviously you can do a regular post on it).
Public transport to the hotel from CDG
The best option is to take the Roissy bus to Opera. From there, the hotel is about a 5 minute walk.
The next best option is to take RER B to Chatelet-Les Halles. All trains from Roissy/CDG head south into Paris so no worries there. Some go express all the way into Paris (Gare du Nord, so Chatelet-Les Halles is the second stop); others are locals, in which case there are a lot of stops; some are half-express, half-local ... but all stop at Chatelet-Les Halles; and there is no point waiting for an express because it is rare if ever that an express will overtake a local. So get on whatever comes first. At Chatelet-Les Halles, transfer to RER A for one stop to Auber (which is joined to Opera station). You will be heading westbound, toward the termini St. Germain-en-Laye/Poissy/Cergny. You have to go up the stairs and back down for the Auber-bound train. Do not race across the platform for the RER B because that will be heading eastbound, to Gare de Lyon, Nation, Vincennes (and, depending on which one you get on, eventually Eurodisney!) The walk from the Auber exit closest to the RER stop takes about 10 minutes.
Public transport to the hotel from Orly
Take the Orlyval train to its end at Antony, then switch to RER B to Chatelet-Les-Halles and continue as above. In this case you can just cross the platform from the RER B to get the RER A headed to Auber.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Cafe Jeanne is free for Globalist members but is 40-50 euros per person otherwise. A modified but still very good version of this buffet breakfast is also available in the room and is also free for Globalists. Tips are not covered but then again the theory in France is that the service charge is in the price.
Museum tickets & pass from the concierge
You can buy "skip the line" tickets to the Louvre or Orsay for 18€ each, which is higher than the regular tickets via the Louvre & Orsay websites. But being able to "skip the line" obviously adds some value. They will also sell you the two day Paris Museum Pass for 55€. That is a 7€ markup.
Phone/data recommendations:
Lebara worked really well for me. What you need to do:
• You must unlock your phone (you can do this for free online with ATT through their website if you are out of contract)
• Order free SIM card at Lebara.fr a few weeks before your trip. I don’t think it took more than 2 weeks for my SIM card to arrive
• Activate SIM card at https://www.lebara.fr/activate-sim-detail?isoCode=en_GB or search “activate SIM” at Lebara.fr
• Load your SIM card with what you need. I paid 10 euro for 3G of data, unlimited SMS and local calls for 10 days (this should be plenty for most tourists)
LeFrench Mobile did not work so well for me: I paid 20-30 euro for local and international calls for my sister but was only able to make local calls and SMS
restaurant recommendations:
Nearby:
(We're here on 1 Oct 2021 and it appears this restaurant is closed permanently ...) Le Cap Bourbon- good, inexpensive, our server was nice and attentive (by French standards), great local crowd, menu has English translation
We ate a local Thai restaurant - Yo - its about a 5 minute walk from the hotel and very busy. I had a guinea fowl green curry - a first for me. Very good food and friendly service.
Other:
L'Avant Comptoir is a wine bar with great,relatively cheap eats and a great atmosphere and friendly, English-speaking staff. Standing room only and tight.
Public transport to the hotel from CDG
The best option is to take the Roissy bus to Opera. From there, the hotel is about a 5 minute walk.
The next best option is to take RER B to Chatelet-Les Halles. All trains from Roissy/CDG head south into Paris so no worries there. Some go express all the way into Paris (Gare du Nord, so Chatelet-Les Halles is the second stop); others are locals, in which case there are a lot of stops; some are half-express, half-local ... but all stop at Chatelet-Les Halles; and there is no point waiting for an express because it is rare if ever that an express will overtake a local. So get on whatever comes first. At Chatelet-Les Halles, transfer to RER A for one stop to Auber (which is joined to Opera station). You will be heading westbound, toward the termini St. Germain-en-Laye/Poissy/Cergny. You have to go up the stairs and back down for the Auber-bound train. Do not race across the platform for the RER B because that will be heading eastbound, to Gare de Lyon, Nation, Vincennes (and, depending on which one you get on, eventually Eurodisney!) The walk from the Auber exit closest to the RER stop takes about 10 minutes.
Public transport to the hotel from Orly
Take the Orlyval train to its end at Antony, then switch to RER B to Chatelet-Les-Halles and continue as above. In this case you can just cross the platform from the RER B to get the RER A headed to Auber.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Cafe Jeanne is free for Globalist members but is 40-50 euros per person otherwise. A modified but still very good version of this buffet breakfast is also available in the room and is also free for Globalists. Tips are not covered but then again the theory in France is that the service charge is in the price.
Museum tickets & pass from the concierge
You can buy "skip the line" tickets to the Louvre or Orsay for 18€ each, which is higher than the regular tickets via the Louvre & Orsay websites. But being able to "skip the line" obviously adds some value. They will also sell you the two day Paris Museum Pass for 55€. That is a 7€ markup.
Phone/data recommendations:
Lebara worked really well for me. What you need to do:
• You must unlock your phone (you can do this for free online with ATT through their website if you are out of contract)
• Order free SIM card at Lebara.fr a few weeks before your trip. I don’t think it took more than 2 weeks for my SIM card to arrive
• Activate SIM card at https://www.lebara.fr/activate-sim-detail?isoCode=en_GB or search “activate SIM” at Lebara.fr
• Load your SIM card with what you need. I paid 10 euro for 3G of data, unlimited SMS and local calls for 10 days (this should be plenty for most tourists)
LeFrench Mobile did not work so well for me: I paid 20-30 euro for local and international calls for my sister but was only able to make local calls and SMS
restaurant recommendations:
Nearby:
(We're here on 1 Oct 2021 and it appears this restaurant is closed permanently ...) Le Cap Bourbon- good, inexpensive, our server was nice and attentive (by French standards), great local crowd, menu has English translation
We ate a local Thai restaurant - Yo - its about a 5 minute walk from the hotel and very busy. I had a guinea fowl green curry - a first for me. Very good food and friendly service.
Other:
L'Avant Comptoir is a wine bar with great,relatively cheap eats and a great atmosphere and friendly, English-speaking staff. Standing room only and tight.
Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme REVIEW - MASTER THREAD (Aug 2011 onward)
Jul 14, 2012, 7:16 pm
#766
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Hyatt Discoverist, SEIBU PRINCE CLUB Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 20,434
Jul 14, 2012, 8:08 pm
#767
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Since an upsell upgrade will cost the same whether you reserve it in advance or wait until check-in time, it might be better to contact the reservations department and have them guarantee you a Park Suite for 22k points + the rate difference between the categories.
Jul 15, 2012, 7:12 pm
#768
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Since an upsell upgrade will cost the same whether you reserve it in advance or wait until check-in time, it might be better to contact the reservations department and have them guarantee you a Park Suite for 22k points + the rate difference between the categories.
Jul 16, 2012, 12:06 am
#769
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,853
Thank you for the information on the paid upgrades!
Yes, Velib is a great program except that it doesn't work with almost all north american credit cards (and at least one or two north americans would enjoy supporting this program). Having it as a perk of staying at the Park Hyatt Vendome is another example of their fantastic service. I can't wait to go back.
Yes, Velib is a great program except that it doesn't work with almost all north american credit cards (and at least one or two north americans would enjoy supporting this program). Having it as a perk of staying at the Park Hyatt Vendome is another example of their fantastic service. I can't wait to go back.
Jul 16, 2012, 4:52 pm
#770
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
Paris - Park Vendome - REVIEWS - MASTER THREAD - 8/2011 Forwards
Checked in today, the family is very, very impressed. We got a courtyard room with the separated changing room/shower room, my parents got a much larger room on Rue de la Paix, but no changing room.
They extended us both the "first time on points" gift of free daily breakfast and free Internet. Crazy generous! They weren't going to give my Dad free internet at first because he booked as a Gold (now Plat). Used a Platinum Extras cert I got with the Hyatt card renewal, I chose the food & bev and it got me a half bottle of red (not sure what, I don't understand wines) and six macarons which absolutely delighted my wife.
Hotel exceeded all expectations, what incredibly gracious employees. Tipped well because we feel bad, hopefully we're not breaking the norms.
Oh yes, we arrived at Gare du Nord on the Eurostar. There were nice vans out front offering service to Park Hyatt for only £120 (4km, 12min). Instead went to the taxi line, the van driver muttered something when we passed on his offer, "c'est un Palace Hotel, Palace!...". We asked for two taxis when we got to the front of the line, but the taxi director took a minivan away from the woman in front of us, then shoved all five plus five suitcases. Quite comical. Only 25€ in the end, only 11€ on the meter.
And finally, Internet is pretty decent IMO, 2.5D/3.2U, albeit at 12AM.
They extended us both the "first time on points" gift of free daily breakfast and free Internet. Crazy generous! They weren't going to give my Dad free internet at first because he booked as a Gold (now Plat). Used a Platinum Extras cert I got with the Hyatt card renewal, I chose the food & bev and it got me a half bottle of red (not sure what, I don't understand wines) and six macarons which absolutely delighted my wife.
Hotel exceeded all expectations, what incredibly gracious employees. Tipped well because we feel bad, hopefully we're not breaking the norms.
Oh yes, we arrived at Gare du Nord on the Eurostar. There were nice vans out front offering service to Park Hyatt for only £120 (4km, 12min). Instead went to the taxi line, the van driver muttered something when we passed on his offer, "c'est un Palace Hotel, Palace!...". We asked for two taxis when we got to the front of the line, but the taxi director took a minivan away from the woman in front of us, then shoved all five plus five suitcases. Quite comical. Only 25€ in the end, only 11€ on the meter.
And finally, Internet is pretty decent IMO, 2.5D/3.2U, albeit at 12AM.
Last edited by tjbrooks; Jul 16, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Jul 16, 2012, 5:36 pm
#771
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Checked in today, the family is very, very impressed. We got a courtyard room with the separated changing room/shower room, my parents got a much larger room on Rue de la Paix, but no changing room.
They extended us both the "first time on points" gift of free daily breakfast and free Internet. Crazy generous! They weren't going to give my Dad free internet at first because he booked as a Gold (now Plat). Used a Platinum Extras cert I got with the Hyatt card renewal, I chose the food & bev and it got me a half bottle of red (not sure what, I don't understand wines) and six macarons which absolutely delighted my wife.
Hotel exceeded all expectations, what incredibly gracious employees. Tipped well because we feel bad, hopefully we're not breaking the norms.
Oh yes, we arrived at Gare du Nord on the Eurostar. There were nice vans out front offering service to Park Hyatt for only £120 (4km, 12min). Instead went to the taxi line, the van driver muttered something when we passed on his offer, "c'est un Palace Hotel, Palace!...". We asked for two taxis when we got to the front of the line, but the taxi director took a minivan away from the woman in front of us, then shoved all five plus five suitcases. Quite comical. Only 25€ in the end, only 11€ on the meter.
And finally, Internet is pretty decent IMO, 2.5D/3.2U, albeit at 12AM.
They extended us both the "first time on points" gift of free daily breakfast and free Internet. Crazy generous! They weren't going to give my Dad free internet at first because he booked as a Gold (now Plat). Used a Platinum Extras cert I got with the Hyatt card renewal, I chose the food & bev and it got me a half bottle of red (not sure what, I don't understand wines) and six macarons which absolutely delighted my wife.
Hotel exceeded all expectations, what incredibly gracious employees. Tipped well because we feel bad, hopefully we're not breaking the norms.
Oh yes, we arrived at Gare du Nord on the Eurostar. There were nice vans out front offering service to Park Hyatt for only £120 (4km, 12min). Instead went to the taxi line, the van driver muttered something when we passed on his offer, "c'est un Palace Hotel, Palace!...". We asked for two taxis when we got to the front of the line, but the taxi director took a minivan away from the woman in front of us, then shoved all five plus five suitcases. Quite comical. Only 25€ in the end, only 11€ on the meter.
And finally, Internet is pretty decent IMO, 2.5D/3.2U, albeit at 12AM.
Jul 16, 2012, 7:24 pm
#772
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: Co-branded credit card status moocher
Posts: 137
Yeah, yeah. I know. Probably quite low.
Jul 16, 2012, 8:26 pm
#773
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Jul 16, 2012, 9:58 pm
#775
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York, NY
Programs: The Golden status boy
Posts: 854
Same happened to me and I got it. But, my friend was a Plat and booked 2 out of 3 nights there. Maybe they let me leach
Jul 16, 2012, 10:04 pm
#776
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
If you do not ammend the reservation after you drop to gold, they will probably still have you in their system and will be treated as a platinum member during your stay. The main platinum benefit is free internet.
Jul 17, 2012, 12:29 am
#777
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 754
Paris - Park Vendome - REVIEWS - MASTER THREAD - 8/2011 Forwards
We were told the free breakfast was a courtesy extended to all staying on points for the first time, irregardless of Gold/Platinum. An amazing offer while it lasts. Waiter said we could order eggs, so we did, and the scrambled were as good as described here. Will gladly pay 6€ if needed.
Oh yes, I forgot about the biggest surprise. How did I not know that there's a Nespresso machine in the room?!? I recommend a long pull of the dark roast with one cream.
Oh yes, I forgot about the biggest surprise. How did I not know that there's a Nespresso machine in the room?!? I recommend a long pull of the dark roast with one cream.
Last edited by tjbrooks; Jul 17, 2012 at 4:20 am
Jul 17, 2012, 4:31 am
#778
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BRU, BE
Programs: LH, United, Hyatt, Air France
Posts: 464
We were told the free breakfast was a courtesy extended to all staying on points for the first time, irregardless of Gold/Platinum. An amazing offer while it lasts. Waiter said we could order eggs, so we did, and the scrambled were as good as described here. Will gladly pay 6€ if needed.
Oh yes, I forgot about the biggest surprise. How did I not know that there's a Nespresso machine in the room?!? I recommend a long pull of the dark roast with one cream.
Oh yes, I forgot about the biggest surprise. How did I not know that there's a Nespresso machine in the room?!? I recommend a long pull of the dark roast with one cream.
Jul 17, 2012, 7:20 am
#779
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, Hilton LT Diamond, AA LT Platinum
Posts: 426
FYI: it`s 'regardless' or 'irrespective', not 'irregardless'. But don`t worry; it`s not as bad as starting a sentence saying 'Me and Tom went to the store'.
Jul 17, 2012, 8:33 am
#780
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MCI
Programs: Co-branded credit card status moocher
Posts: 137
Hmm. Didn't know that's how it worked. That'd certainly be a nice perk, but I'm not counting on anything. Just happy to stay at the property for the first time, under any status.