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)
#3541
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 35
Very much agree that it isn't unreasonable. I was just wondering if it's standard Hyatt practice and/or if there is a policy about it.
#3542
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 240
I will be staying at this hotel on free night certificates (2 nights) towards the end of January 2018. What room should I expect/hope for as a Globalist? I understand that end of January is the off season and winter in Paris so this should increase my chances of getting a meaningful upgrade?
#3543
Join Date: Dec 2012
Programs: Most of 'em
Posts: 128
I'm curious about the city tax at the PH Vendome. In the past when paying with points/free nights, I don't think I've ever paid taxes but the hotel did assess City Tax on our stay here. Not a big deal since it is a relatively small amount but I'm curious if anyone knows why this tax gets assessed while others don't. Thanks for any insight!
#3545
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
#3546
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
I will be staying at this hotel on free night certificates (2 nights) towards the end of January 2018. What room should I expect/hope for as a Globalist? I understand that end of January is the off season and winter in Paris so this should increase my chances of getting a meaningful upgrade?
But... I also did something that I do often at this place, and that was to book and pay for a third night -- the first one at the place -- via FHR. FHR more-or-less guarantees a one-class upgrade, so that made it more "natural" for them to do the larger room and bigger bed for all three nights.
Also, don't assume that there will be extra rooms. They are still revamping things, and some rooms are out of service. And when I was there toward the end of January this year, one of the weeks was super busy because of some sort of men's fashion week. The hotel was hopping, and it was even hard to get into some non-descript wine bars in the 10th arrondissement!
#3547
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 74
Had a great experience, used points for two nights on our honeymoon stop in Paris (Explorist). Did the online check-in in the morning as I flew in, had my doubts but since I was arriving at about 11AM and unable to make a call, gave it a shot.
Walked in the lobby at about 11:30AM, didn't have to ask for anything, the room was upgraded to a nice king bed room with its own balcony overlooking the restaurant. A very nice lady (unfortunately I forget her name) showed us around and also the room. She asked us if we liked champagne. We gave the correct answer, and ten minutes after she left, an iced bottle with two glasses arrived at the door.
The next morning, the wife and I ordered two American breakfasts and an eggs benedict for room service, arrived promptly and was delicious. Later that night, when we arrived back at the hotel, housekeeping organized all of our messy items and left a box of chocolate, also delicious.
Checked out on our last day and our entire breakfast was taken care of, only paid a few euros for local fees. Walked out into a taxi waiting outside arranged by the concierge.
Absolutely wonderful service and the stay made our trip really special. Many thanks to the team at Park Hyatt Vendome.
Walked in the lobby at about 11:30AM, didn't have to ask for anything, the room was upgraded to a nice king bed room with its own balcony overlooking the restaurant. A very nice lady (unfortunately I forget her name) showed us around and also the room. She asked us if we liked champagne. We gave the correct answer, and ten minutes after she left, an iced bottle with two glasses arrived at the door.
The next morning, the wife and I ordered two American breakfasts and an eggs benedict for room service, arrived promptly and was delicious. Later that night, when we arrived back at the hotel, housekeeping organized all of our messy items and left a box of chocolate, also delicious.
Checked out on our last day and our entire breakfast was taken care of, only paid a few euros for local fees. Walked out into a taxi waiting outside arranged by the concierge.
Absolutely wonderful service and the stay made our trip really special. Many thanks to the team at Park Hyatt Vendome.
#3548
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, HYATT DIAMOND, SPG PLAT, ALASKA MVPGOLD
Posts: 54
Just wondering if anyone had a stay here recently as a Globalist and had breakfast removed for multiple rooms. I have a stay coming up with 3 rooms and wondering if they will comp breakfast for all 3 rooms or should I convert some of my cash and points reservations to Virtuoso. Thanks!
#3549
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Just wondering if anyone had a stay here recently as a Globalist and had breakfast removed for multiple rooms. I have a stay coming up with 3 rooms and wondering if they will comp breakfast for all 3 rooms or should I convert some of my cash and points reservations to Virtuoso. Thanks!
#3550
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, LAX, Paris
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, SPG/Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Lifetime HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 3,326
#3551
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
It's been awfully quiet of late very few posts on the PHV. Our next stay I think we are going elsewhere, first time in 10 years. Just lost some of it's luster last stay was a huge disappointment. Remodel ok just ok.
#3552
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, LAX, Paris
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, SPG/Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Lifetime HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 3,326
I will be there this Wednesday and Claudio has already set me up with a remodeled suite which from the look on the website appears to be very nice.
#3553
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
enjoy ! Couple weeks I am at the Churchill for a week got confirmed for 9th floor suite overlooking the park!
#3554
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Philadelphia, LAX, Paris
Programs: UA 1K/2MM, SPG/Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Lifetime HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 3,326
#3555
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: 100,404