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)
Jun 16, 2015, 3:47 pm
#2596
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Europe
Posts: 2,602
I stayed at this hotel over New Year's (Bonne année!), paying cash and using a Diamond Suite Upgrade. In my opinion, although the service was decent, neither the rooms nor the service were enough to warrant the 800-1000 Euro/nt. price tag we paid. And worse, the suite upgrade "suites" they use are not suites, but just larger rooms with a couch. In my opinion, for 900 Euros + a DSU, a guest should receive an actual suite. Even in "expensive" Paris.
Upon the request of the hotel, I completed the departure survey, where I noted the same thing I said above about suite upgrades not using real suites, but otherwise I gave the hotel high marks in all other categories. I received a polite but unhelpful response telling me what I already knew (that the hotel only provides larger rooms, but not suites, for suite upgrades).
The Park Hyatt Vienna was the last PH I stayed in in Europe prior to Paris-Vendome, and in my opinion offered FAR better value.
Upon the request of the hotel, I completed the departure survey, where I noted the same thing I said above about suite upgrades not using real suites, but otherwise I gave the hotel high marks in all other categories. I received a polite but unhelpful response telling me what I already knew (that the hotel only provides larger rooms, but not suites, for suite upgrades).
The Park Hyatt Vienna was the last PH I stayed in in Europe prior to Paris-Vendome, and in my opinion offered FAR better value.
I think NYE is the culprit.
Jun 16, 2015, 4:15 pm
#2597
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
You know we go through this all the time upgrades unless you know someone in the hotel and or a frequent guest is generally assigned at time of check in, some days really good and others not so good. I have been for the last five years been booking exactly what I want in advance using points/money or just money
Jun 22, 2015, 2:03 pm
#2598
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
Called back and tried a different approach. I immediately asked what type of rooms are available as a standard award. Was told park queen or park twin. Well then I should be able to book a standard award if either is available at the standard cash rate. Rep is working on it now.
DONE, BOOKED. Why does it have to be so difficult?
Last edited by jmw2323; Jun 22, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Jun 27, 2015, 10:29 am
#2600
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Jun 27, 2015, 4:36 pm
#2601
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
Jul 7, 2015, 6:48 am
#2602
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM
Posts: 85,576
Just got back from a stay ending Sunday. For anyone who goes there when it's hot, apparently they have the air conditioning set so that Americans can't turn the thermostat down to make it comfortable. 
The trick it to tell the front desk you would like the room to be cooler and they will send a technician to your room to set it so that you can make it cooler. It was 97° (36°) outside Friday night at 9:15 p.m.
Other than that (and the usual French Hyatt problems with accounting), everything was wonderful. The friendliest staff of any hotel I've ever been to.
The half price breakfast (yes, I'm a lowly Platinum) is great. Even the breakfast pastry basket at 13 Euros (6.5 at half price) is more than enough for two - at least 10 total items. If you're lucky, when you go, Javier will be your waiter. He even put together a box of pastries and cookies for us on the final morning, "for the plane." He's also very easy on the eyes.
Unfortunately, the Champagne at the bar is not half price.
The trick it to tell the front desk you would like the room to be cooler and they will send a technician to your room to set it so that you can make it cooler. It was 97° (36°) outside Friday night at 9:15 p.m.Other than that (and the usual French Hyatt problems with accounting), everything was wonderful. The friendliest staff of any hotel I've ever been to.
The half price breakfast (yes, I'm a lowly Platinum) is great. Even the breakfast pastry basket at 13 Euros (6.5 at half price) is more than enough for two - at least 10 total items. If you're lucky, when you go, Javier will be your waiter. He even put together a box of pastries and cookies for us on the final morning, "for the plane." He's also very easy on the eyes.
Unfortunately, the Champagne at the bar is not half price.
Jul 7, 2015, 2:52 pm
#2605
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 3,317
The half price breakfast (yes, I'm a lowly Platinum) is great. Even the breakfast pastry basket at 13 Euros (6.5 at half price) is more than enough for two - at least 10 total items. If you're lucky, when you go, Javier will be your waiter. He even put together a box of pastries and cookies for us on the final morning, "for the plane." He's also very easy on the eyes. Unfortunately, the Champagne at the bar is not half price.
Unfortunately, the Champagne at the bar is not half price. 
ps, not sure if it's just Virtuoso, or if Hyatt is running it too, but currently there is a fourth night free promo that is quite alive and well
Jul 7, 2015, 11:30 pm
#2606
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
College dorms do the same thing. Such a system is easily defeated. Just ask any college kid how to do it. Hint: if you can find some way to warm up the thermostat, then the air conditioner will come on. So ... how does one warm up a thermostat?
That's why candles were invented. There may be other small portable sources of heat, most of which were invented after my college days.
That's why candles were invented. There may be other small portable sources of heat, most of which were invented after my college days.
For anyone who goes there when it's hot, apparently they have the air conditioning set so that Americans can't turn the thermostat down to make it comfortable. The trick it to tell the front desk you would like the room to be cooler and they will send a technician to your room to set it so that you can make it cooler. It was 97° (36°) outside Friday night at 9:15 p.m.
The trick it to tell the front desk you would like the room to be cooler and they will send a technician to your room to set it so that you can make it cooler. It was 97° (36°) outside Friday night at 9:15 p.m.
Jul 8, 2015, 6:13 am
#2607
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: PHX and LIH
Programs: AA: 2 MM
Posts: 85,576
Paris - Park Vendome - REVIEWS - MASTER THREAD - 8/2011 Forwards
That may be true, but the technician brought his ladder, opened a panel in the ceiling, worked for a few minutes and told me he had changed a setting so that the thermostat could now be set at a lower temperature. Perhaps that is not as efficient as going out and purchasing matches and a candle (or a lighter) and periodically heating the thermostat throughout the night!
Jul 8, 2015, 7:22 am
#2608
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
That may be true, but the technician brought his ladder, opened a panel in the ceiling, worked for a few minutes and told me he had changed a setting so that the thermostat could now be set at a lower temperature. Perhaps that is not as efficient as going out and purchasing matches and a candle (or a lighter) and periodically heating the thermostat throughout the night!
Not to mention the potentially interesting conversation at check-out why half of the thermostat is melted and charred
Jul 10, 2015, 12:31 pm
#2610
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
Fdw