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)
Feb 6, 2014, 9:28 am
#2026
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
I've been shocked by the actions of many nationalities at breakfast in various hotels, but maybe the is actually food for thought and conversation, and thus an potent inhibitor of senility. Maybe we should be thankful.
Feb 6, 2014, 10:12 am
#2027
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 829
Among other encounters, a young couple in their pyjamas at breakfast downstairs (she was a fan of Hello Kitty, the colour pink and showcased an interesting tattoo on her lower back while wearing her pyjama pants 'baggy-style') We asked ourselves, if this was intended to show her tattoo or if 'Hello Kitty' pyjamas normally have a more 'relaxed' cut. 
Highlights of the breakfast ordering process included comments like 'you can serve everything as long as it is free of charge' and shouting through the whole restaurant to reach a server a few tables away serving other guests in order to get 'second servings'
Might sound arrogant, personally I am not a big fan of elitist behaviour at all, but I believe that one should not interfere with other guests, so beeing calm and dressing like one normally does visiting a restaurant can be expected, at the Hyatt Place Ontario, Days Inn Kissimmee and the Park Vendome.
I have seen more guests behaving like this in Paris, not so much in Milan and Zurich...
Highlights of the breakfast ordering process included comments like 'you can serve everything as long as it is free of charge' and shouting through the whole restaurant to reach a server a few tables away serving other guests in order to get 'second servings'
Might sound arrogant, personally I am not a big fan of elitist behaviour at all, but I believe that one should not interfere with other guests, so beeing calm and dressing like one normally does visiting a restaurant can be expected, at the Hyatt Place Ontario, Days Inn Kissimmee and the Park Vendome.
I have seen more guests behaving like this in Paris, not so much in Milan and Zurich...
Feb 6, 2014, 10:13 am
#2028
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Among other encounters, a young couple in their pyjamas at breakfast downstairs (she was a fan of Hello Kitty, the colour pink and showcased an interesting tattoo on her lower back while wearing her pyjama pants 'baggy-style') We asked ourselves, if this was intended to show her tattoo or if 'Hello Kitty' pyjamas normally have a more 'relaxed' cut.
Highlights of the breakfast ordering process included comments like 'you can serve everything as long as it is free of charge' and shouting through the whole restaurant to reach a server a few tables away serving other guests in order to get 'second servings'
Might sound arrogant, personally I am not a big fan of elitist behaviour at all, but I believe that one should not interfere with other guests, so beeing calm and dressing like one normally does visiting a restaurant can be expected, at the Hyatt Place Ontario, Days Inn Kissimmee and the Park Vendome.
I have seen more guests behaving like this in Paris, not so much in Milan and Zurich...
Highlights of the breakfast ordering process included comments like 'you can serve everything as long as it is free of charge' and shouting through the whole restaurant to reach a server a few tables away serving other guests in order to get 'second servings'
Might sound arrogant, personally I am not a big fan of elitist behaviour at all, but I believe that one should not interfere with other guests, so beeing calm and dressing like one normally does visiting a restaurant can be expected, at the Hyatt Place Ontario, Days Inn Kissimmee and the Park Vendome.
I have seen more guests behaving like this in Paris, not so much in Milan and Zurich...
Happy to report that we just had three delightful, tasteful (and tasty) breakfasts in Les Orchidees and it was a lot of fun, including people watching (although nothing over the top or, er, under the bar as per above) ... Of course the room service b'fast was a kick, too.
I decided to do Diamond Challenge in large measure because of this planned stay and things worked out great. Points nights upgraded without fuss to the Deluxe King, which was fine for us. On courtyard, no adjoining door, absolutely quiet ....
I usually stay in a hotel in Paris where the rooms are literally 1/9th the price, and that has its pleasures; but this once-a-year PHV thing really is a lot of fun, too, and I am trying hard not to get too antsy waiting for the next one.
Feb 7, 2014, 7:53 am
#2029
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
Ok we've deleted a few posts in the thread. The thread topic is a review of te PHV and not stereotypes of the clientele. I'm not sure why, put this thread has a big problem staying on topic. And since it's such a long thread, members voted for us not to split the thread a while ago, it becomes increasingly not useful the longer it gets.
Please help us by keeping posts on thread to a minimum - reviews and questions on the property only.
Thanks!!
Peteropny - co-mod - Hyatt
Please help us by keeping posts on thread to a minimum - reviews and questions on the property only.
Thanks!!
Peteropny - co-mod - Hyatt
Feb 8, 2014, 12:03 am
#2031
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,089
Score!!
Is it normal to have NO standard rooms available 10 months out? My wife will have her 2 free night certs soon, from Chase card offer, and we cannot find ANY dates at the end of Sept. that show standard rooms available. All I see is "Park Deluxe" King, Queen or Twin. We have our flts. booked already.
Frustrating. Does availability open up various times during the year (like airlines occasionally release award seats) or are we toast?
Frustrating. Does availability open up various times during the year (like airlines occasionally release award seats) or are we toast?
It's a Park Queen.
Feb 8, 2014, 7:56 am
#2032
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS MVP, Hhonors Gold, National Executive, Identity Gold, MLife Gold
Posts: 2,687
Hadn't checked for a few WEEKS? Pffft...rookie! 
Like award availability on airlines, you should be checking at least once a day! I noticed availability changing that frequently. I also was noticing massive swings in prices (like over €100/night difference in Park Queen, €150/night increases in Deluxe Park King, over €1000 more for some suites!
). As the price started to creep up, I was thinking they were getting closer to selling out completely, but fortunately availability opened up for the second night that I needed. ^
Like award availability on airlines, you should be checking at least once a day! I noticed availability changing that frequently. I also was noticing massive swings in prices (like over €100/night difference in Park Queen, €150/night increases in Deluxe Park King, over €1000 more for some suites!
). As the price started to creep up, I was thinking they were getting closer to selling out completely, but fortunately availability opened up for the second night that I needed. ^
Feb 9, 2014, 3:41 am
#2033
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
I would bet that a lot of people "speculatively" booked an award stay at PHV prior to the devaluation, and a good number of those bookings will be cancelled because the members can't fit their schedule to the dates they booked. Which will mean some of those base rooms will come back into award inventory unless the hotel has been overbooking them.
Feb 9, 2014, 11:14 am
#2034
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Auckland NZ
Programs: SQ TPPS, EK Gold, IHG RA, Marriott Gold Hyatt Diamond, HHonors Gold, UA Premier Gold, TG Silver
Posts: 1,092
FYI Les Orchidees is closed for renovation until 13 Feb. Breakfast is at the Bar and lunch at Pur.
Feb 9, 2014, 11:27 am
#2035
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: Hyatt diamond
Posts: 645
I would bet that a lot of people "speculatively" booked an award stay at PHV prior to the devaluation, and a good number of those bookings will be cancelled because the members can't fit their schedule to the dates they booked. Which will mean some of those base rooms will come back into award inventory unless the hotel has been overbooking them.
Feb 9, 2014, 3:02 pm
#2036
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
Feb 12, 2014, 12:18 am
#2038
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
I would bet that a lot of people "speculatively" booked an award stay at PHV prior to the devaluation, and a good number of those bookings will be cancelled because the members can't fit their schedule to the dates they booked. Which will mean some of those base rooms will come back into award inventory unless the hotel has been overbooking them.
Feb 12, 2014, 4:12 am
#2039
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
It's a good question.
The general controlling factor here is that in France service is supposed to be included in price, so there is no 15-20% tipping on restaurant and bar bills, and far less handing off of loose bills to doormen, porters, cab drivers, massage therapists, and so on. There is a little from time to time, but less. In that sense, you really can and should be able to do with less scrounging in pocket that in the US.
This said, it is a high-end place catering to a high-end international clientele. So although the b'fast for 2 was comp'd daily as Diamond -- or maybe because it was comp'd daily -- I was in the habit of leaving 10 euros. A little something for the cleaning staff on departure ... But not a heck of a lot else.
As everywhere, it will depend a lot on what you are asking of them, but on the spectrum for Vegas to Pyongyang, I would say you are closer to Pyongyang.
The general controlling factor here is that in France service is supposed to be included in price, so there is no 15-20% tipping on restaurant and bar bills, and far less handing off of loose bills to doormen, porters, cab drivers, massage therapists, and so on. There is a little from time to time, but less. In that sense, you really can and should be able to do with less scrounging in pocket that in the US.
This said, it is a high-end place catering to a high-end international clientele. So although the b'fast for 2 was comp'd daily as Diamond -- or maybe because it was comp'd daily -- I was in the habit of leaving 10 euros. A little something for the cleaning staff on departure ... But not a heck of a lot else.
As everywhere, it will depend a lot on what you are asking of them, but on the spectrum for Vegas to Pyongyang, I would say you are closer to Pyongyang.
Feb 13, 2014, 1:02 am
#2040
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Luxembourg
Programs: HH Dia, AClub Plat, Hyatt Dia, FB Gold, LH SEN, TK *G
Posts: 655
Usually 5/10 eur for housekeeping (not per day).
At the restaurant, nothing at breakfast. For the cheminée, bar, and restaurant usually approx 10 eur depending on the amount I'm spending.
Concierge, it depends. If it's very simple, probably nothing (like booking a restaurant that has plenty of availability). But if the concierge finds me a gardenia for my dinner jacket at 7:30 PM within 30 minutes, then I'm certainly leaving 20 eur or something like that. I never tipped more than 50 eur and that was for something absolutely incredible.
At the restaurant, nothing at breakfast. For the cheminée, bar, and restaurant usually approx 10 eur depending on the amount I'm spending.
Concierge, it depends. If it's very simple, probably nothing (like booking a restaurant that has plenty of availability). But if the concierge finds me a gardenia for my dinner jacket at 7:30 PM within 30 minutes, then I'm certainly leaving 20 eur or something like that. I never tipped more than 50 eur and that was for something absolutely incredible.