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)
May 5, 2017, 3:04 am
#3466
Suspended
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Here & There
Programs: Travel Agent (Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula, Ritz, etc.)
Posts: 45
I´m sure they know about the kid, but if you want to be safer than sorry, just shoot them a quick email reminder
(ps, don´t think they´ll get something nice at checkin, unfortunately, but you never know! Four Seasons is famous for kids welcome amenities, but I don´t think PH does this...)
May 5, 2017, 6:13 pm
#3467
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I would describe it as paying to *guarantee* the upgrade. You don't want to wait until check in to find out whether the hotel has a room for you that's big enough for your kid to stay too.
May 7, 2017, 4:06 pm
#3468
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
May 20, 2017, 10:23 am
#3469
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Marriott Plat (lifetime)
Posts: 302
yeah and its our first time and really want to check out the hype. DO you think I can get any upgrades/comps at this property, being a explorist member?
Its going to be couple days when french open is being played, so occupancy will be tight and that's why I am not hoping for any room upgrades. Maybe I could ask for breakfast, but not sure how "asking" will look?
Its going to be couple days when french open is being played, so occupancy will be tight and that's why I am not hoping for any room upgrades. Maybe I could ask for breakfast, but not sure how "asking" will look?
May 20, 2017, 11:41 am
#3470
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
May 22, 2017, 10:50 pm
#3471
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,498
Here is a link to some photos of the renovated rooms:
http://www.cpp-luxury.com/park-hyatt...ms-and-suites/
I have to say, other than the darker floor in the shower, I am hard pressed to spot any material changes!
http://www.cpp-luxury.com/park-hyatt...ms-and-suites/
I have to say, other than the darker floor in the shower, I am hard pressed to spot any material changes!
May 23, 2017, 5:40 am
#3472
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Here is a link to some photos of the renovated rooms:
http://www.cpp-luxury.com/park-hyatt...ms-and-suites/
I have to say, other than the darker floor in the shower, I am hard pressed to spot any material changes!
http://www.cpp-luxury.com/park-hyatt...ms-and-suites/
I have to say, other than the darker floor in the shower, I am hard pressed to spot any material changes!
May 24, 2017, 1:58 am
#3473
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 731
will renovations be complete this summer?
I saw the new look and it really does look essentially the same. Is anything different in the common areas? I'm wondering if it will feel under construction if we go in July.
May 24, 2017, 10:53 am
#3474
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Delta PM
Posts: 323
I was told in January that these were the scheduled construction periods:
from December 12th 2016 to May 14th 2017
from July 15th to September 1st 2017
from November 6th 2017 to February 2nd 2018
from December 12th 2016 to May 14th 2017
from July 15th to September 1st 2017
from November 6th 2017 to February 2nd 2018
May 24, 2017, 1:54 pm
#3475
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
For me I am more concerned about the "front of the house" it's just not the same ( my opinion only). It's interesting that the PHM seems to be maintaining their lust with guest PHV seems to be sliding. Food for thought. For us my wife has suggested after 10 years we might try another hotel, which we will be doing this year.
May 31, 2017, 9:04 am
#3476
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Here and there...
Posts: 1,501
I am at the hotel, but I could not tell if the common area has been actually renovated. The layout and overall color looks the same as before - to me.
Maybe it was very subtle work...? What I have been told was the lower floors (guest rooms) were done...
Maybe it was very subtle work...? What I have been told was the lower floors (guest rooms) were done...
May 31, 2017, 1:26 pm
#3477
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,600
I question some of the choices and this is rare as I usually adore Ed Tuttle's work. I wish he would have integrated the controls for the black out curtains/blinds into the wall panel. Would have been much more elegant. He is usually good at these things, don't know what the problem was.
Black shower floor looks odd.
I have seen suites and rooms that integrated the TV into a mirrored wall. Love this. Also the little sofas that we have come to like now make an appearance in many of the rooms, also positive.
Not sure about the other updates... we shall see!
May 31, 2017, 2:18 pm
#3478
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Here and there...
Posts: 1,501
The entrance and lobby was carefully re-fashioned and now features the same black mirror finish floor as some of the bathrooms, quite chic. They opened up the area by extending the steps and removing the wheel chair set-up (also used for the luggage carts). Organized differently now. Roseline Granet's statue "Grand Couple en Marche" was put back after a while (thank god), it is now in the middle of the area. Sadly, much of the hotel's carefully curated artwork has been replaced -- it used to be very special with many pieces chosen by Darthea Speyer herself. Now more of a shadow of its former glory. I wonder if they sold the Ed Paschke paintings I used to adore, especially in the bar.
I question some of the choices and this is rare as I usually adore Ed Tuttle's work. I wish he would have integrated the controls for the black out curtains/blinds into the wall panel. Would have been much more elegant. He is usually good at these things, don't know what the problem was.
Black shower floor looks odd.
I have seen suites and rooms that integrated the TV into a mirrored wall. Love this. Also the little sofas that we have come to like now make an appearance in many of the rooms, also positive.
Not sure about the other updates... we shall see!
I question some of the choices and this is rare as I usually adore Ed Tuttle's work. I wish he would have integrated the controls for the black out curtains/blinds into the wall panel. Would have been much more elegant. He is usually good at these things, don't know what the problem was.
Black shower floor looks odd.
I have seen suites and rooms that integrated the TV into a mirrored wall. Love this. Also the little sofas that we have come to like now make an appearance in many of the rooms, also positive.
Not sure about the other updates... we shall see!
Yes, I noticed the rather tall statue right in front of the concierge desk. Since my Exec Suite is on the higher floor, I don't get to see what the renovated room looks like...
In spite of Roland Garros timing, I was surprised to see rooms were still available (including award redemption)...
May 31, 2017, 3:08 pm
#3479
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,600
Thanks for the updates.
Yes, I noticed the rather tall statue right in front of the concierge desk. Since my Exec Suite is on the higher floor, I don't get to see what the renovated room looks like...
In spite of Roland Garros timing, I was surprised to see rooms were still available (including award redemption)...
Yes, I noticed the rather tall statue right in front of the concierge desk. Since my Exec Suite is on the higher floor, I don't get to see what the renovated room looks like...
In spite of Roland Garros timing, I was surprised to see rooms were still available (including award redemption)...
Paris is suffering and so is the hotel. Won't be much better in the future with the Crillon/Rosewood re-opening and the great success of the FS renovations. Too many celebrities lured over to George V by Jeff Leatham et al.
Hope market is picking up again.
May 31, 2017, 5:05 pm
#3480
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Hope you get to stay in a renovated suite next time around.
Paris is suffering and so is the hotel. Won't be much better in the future with the Crillon/Rosewood re-opening and the great success of the FS renovations. Too many celebrities lured over to George V by Jeff Leatham et al.
Hope market is picking up again.
Paris is suffering and so is the hotel. Won't be much better in the future with the Crillon/Rosewood re-opening and the great success of the FS renovations. Too many celebrities lured over to George V by Jeff Leatham et al.
Hope market is picking up again.