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)
Mar 6, 2018, 5:17 pm
#3602
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA, B6, UA, HH, WoH
Posts: 455
Mar 7, 2018, 11:16 am
#3603
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LAX_AMS_MNL
Programs: AS MVP, AA EXP - 1MM, BAEC BRZ, BVY GLD, Hilton DIA, Hyatt GLB
Posts: 749
Mar 7, 2018, 3:33 pm
#3604
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: points traveller
Posts: 329
generic response
"Thank you very much for your interest in our Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme.
Kindly note that the standard rooms dedicated to book using points or free night awards can accommodate up to two guests only. However, we have suites available to book using points."
Cheers
Mar 8, 2018, 11:55 am
#3605
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LAX_AMS_MNL
Programs: AS MVP, AA EXP - 1MM, BAEC BRZ, BVY GLD, Hilton DIA, Hyatt GLB
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I booked standard room and used a TSU for a suite. Im Globalist so not sure if that helped. They asked if I needed a cot but we declined. I contacted the hotel first before booking to make sure that they would allow the 4 of us in a standard suite.
Apr 3, 2018, 8:56 pm
#3606
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt GP Platinum
Posts: 468
Stayed at the PHV recently... and was quite disappointed. It did not have the charm as it did 5 years ago.
Lack of attention by staff, inconsistent housekeeping service, and shades that were not functioning properly. Contacted the FOM after the stay, but received no response. When I contacted the GM, received a generic, "thanks for your feedback. We will use them to improve our services in the future". Not personal at all...
Received better service at the Hyatt Regency Nice & Hotel Martinez at a fraction of the nightly cost.
Lack of attention by staff, inconsistent housekeeping service, and shades that were not functioning properly. Contacted the FOM after the stay, but received no response. When I contacted the GM, received a generic, "thanks for your feedback. We will use them to improve our services in the future". Not personal at all...
Received better service at the Hyatt Regency Nice & Hotel Martinez at a fraction of the nightly cost.
Apr 3, 2018, 9:00 pm
#3607
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt GP Platinum
Posts: 468
I hear French laws are pretty strict about having extra people in the room above the maximum occupancy allowed...
Apr 3, 2018, 10:57 pm
#3608
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Stayed at the PHV recently... and was quite disappointed. It did not have the charm as it did 5 years ago.
Lack of attention by staff, inconsistent housekeeping service, and shades that were not functioning properly. Contacted the FOM after the stay, but received no response. When I contacted the GM, received a generic, "thanks for your feedback. We will use them to improve our services in the future". Not personal at all...
Received better service at the Hyatt Regency Nice & Hotel Martinez at a fraction of the nightly cost.
Lack of attention by staff, inconsistent housekeeping service, and shades that were not functioning properly. Contacted the FOM after the stay, but received no response. When I contacted the GM, received a generic, "thanks for your feedback. We will use them to improve our services in the future". Not personal at all...
Received better service at the Hyatt Regency Nice & Hotel Martinez at a fraction of the nightly cost.
Apr 4, 2018, 10:04 am
#3610
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,413
Is the GM still the one that everyone was raving about? IIRC his name was Claudio, apparently an Italian older gentleman with lots of luxury hotel experience.
BTW I met him and my impression was more that he talked a good game.
BTW I met him and my impression was more that he talked a good game.
Last edited by MSPeconomist; Apr 4, 2018 at 8:39 pm Reason: typo
Apr 4, 2018, 11:36 am
#3611
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt GP Platinum
Posts: 468
Yes, Claudio was who I contacted and received the generic response.
Apr 4, 2018, 7:32 pm
#3613
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 10,053
Apr 5, 2018, 6:15 am
#3614
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
thats him he opened the PH Milan and made it a great property to stay at, then on to the Martinez and then to PHV. I was like many happy to see that but have been vastly disappointed in recant stays so much so the next trip we are trying a different hotel.
Sad as we have enjoyed for the most part the past 12 years staying there annually.
Sad as we have enjoyed for the most part the past 12 years staying there annually.
Apr 5, 2018, 8:42 am
#3615
Join Date: Oct 2010
Programs: SPG Gold, Hyatt GP Platinum
Posts: 468
thats him he opened the PH Milan and made it a great property to stay at, then on to the Martinez and then to PHV. I was like many happy to see that but have been vastly disappointed in recant stays so much so the next trip we are trying a different hotel.
Sad as we have enjoyed for the most part the past 12 years staying there annually.
Sad as we have enjoyed for the most part the past 12 years staying there annually.
That's disappointing. I enjoyed Hotel Martinez & PH Milan. I wonder what happened with PHV.