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)
#2671
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
If I were in charge of room allocation at a Hyatt, I would make sure to NOT upgrade the remaining award nights in such a case, even if availability were wide open.
#2672
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: Everything is refundable
Posts: 3,727
In all fairness, this particular Hotel has been subject to maximisers since the first round of FFN and they always played by the rules, despite stupid accusations on FT years ago.
1+4 might push it a bit, but I overheard even more ridiculous requests from (mostly) American guests leaving the property with a big fat zero on their involce.
When you stay at Vendome these days, you are actually happy that FFN is a thing of the past...
Coming back to 1+4, I have seen stranger things happen and comped at Vendome....so it might be worth a shot in case you can still look in the mirror without being ashamed.
#2673
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
So roughly when they turn around the corner of the Hyatt du Louvre?
In all fairness, this particular Hotel has been subject to maximisers since the first round of FFN and they always played by the rules, despite stupid accusations on FT years ago.
1+4 might push it a bit, but I overheard even more ridiculous requests from (mostly) American guests leaving the property with a big fat zero on their involce.
When you stay at Vendome these days, you are actually happy that FFN is a thing of the past...
Coming back to 1+4, I have seen stranger things happen and comped at Vendome....so it might be worth a shot in case you can still look in the mirror without being ashamed.
In all fairness, this particular Hotel has been subject to maximisers since the first round of FFN and they always played by the rules, despite stupid accusations on FT years ago.
1+4 might push it a bit, but I overheard even more ridiculous requests from (mostly) American guests leaving the property with a big fat zero on their involce.
When you stay at Vendome these days, you are actually happy that FFN is a thing of the past...
Coming back to 1+4, I have seen stranger things happen and comped at Vendome....so it might be worth a shot in case you can still look in the mirror without being ashamed.
I'm cutious now... What ridiculous requests have you overheard from guests not spending a cent at this hotel??
I can't imagine a zero balance... more than a few times I have erroneously been given stay credit for award stays because my F&B and spa incidentals brought the bill into the ballpark of what a paid stay at BAR would have cost...
#2674
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
+1
I thought P&C+DSU at PHV was a great deal, but then I use P&C a lot and tend to run low on pts. The only reason I can think for doing 1 night P&C and 4 nights all pts would be if someone were drowning in free pts from employer-paid stays.
I thought P&C+DSU at PHV was a great deal, but then I use P&C a lot and tend to run low on pts. The only reason I can think for doing 1 night P&C and 4 nights all pts would be if someone were drowning in free pts from employer-paid stays.
#2675
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
#2676
Just completed a stay here. First time during July. I might note I got a Junior Suite upgrade on both rooms without applying DSU (granted this was my 15th revenue stay). One note - Diamond breakfast no longer includes the eggs Benedict for room service. It's a supplement of 30 euro each. This was a first for me!
#2678
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
They will confirm upgrades up to Park Suite. It requires payment of the difference in rack rate between the base room and the category to which you are upgrading (deluxe or park suite).
#2679
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Osaka
Programs: Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, UA
Posts: 3,158
If attempting to contact the hotel directly by email, I suggest getting a direct email address from someone. For our first stay I used the generic email on the hotel's page and the reply I got was from Europe central reservations and the requests I sent them were never forwarded to the hotel. For our second stay someone here on FT gave me the email address for the GM and he was incredibly helpful.
There have also been a few posts reporting upgrade available at check-in for a lower amount than the difference in the HDR, but I guess that's not a good option when your sending your parents on a Guest of Honor booking.
#2680
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
Such upgrades can only be made by the property itself. AFAIK central reservations cannot be of help.
All GP Concierge/CS might do, if you're lucky, is call the property and ask for the upgrade. So it is easier to just contact the property to begin with.
I think the upgrades do actually go up to Executive suite.
All GP Concierge/CS might do, if you're lucky, is call the property and ask for the upgrade. So it is easier to just contact the property to begin with.
I think the upgrades do actually go up to Executive suite.
Last edited by MikeFromTokyo; Jul 29, 2015 at 10:10 am
#2681
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, IHG Gold Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 519
Does anyone know of an automated way to track availability? The hotel is booked up for the night we may be in Paris (July 9-10, 2016). I got a backup reservation at W - Opera (but will probably rebook once ABA rates for 2016 become available) but would like to keep an eye out for points or P+C availability.
#2682
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Sacramento, CA
Programs: AA Exec Plat, Hyatt,Marriott,BA,AS
Posts: 4,425
Does anyone know of an automated way to track availability? The hotel is booked up for the night we may be in Paris (July 9-10, 2016). I got a backup reservation at W - Opera (but will probably rebook once ABA rates for 2016 become available) but would like to keep an eye out for points or P+C availability.
#2683
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, IHG Gold Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 519
I also thought it was due to rates not being loaded because availability stopped in early June (night of June 9-10). However, it seems to pick up once again starting July 12.
FWIW, two separate calls to the Diamond Line resulted in both agents telling me the hotel is selling the rooms for my night (but being sold out) and offering me to book a room at a guaranteed-availability rate of 900-something euros.
P.S. Is there anything special going on in Paris June 10-July 11? Roland Garros ends before that but the hotel is not sold out during those dates either.
#2684
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FR
Programs: FB Lifetime Plat
Posts: 50
The matches will be played in 10 cities in France, including Paris, St. Denis (a northern suburb of Paris) and Nice.
#2685
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, IHG Gold Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 519
Now this makes me wonder if we should spend an extra night in Paris and try to enjoy the festivities.. On the other hand, my companion isn't into sports all that much.