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)
#2716
Moderator: GLBT Travelers & Hyatt Gold Passport
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: CVG
Posts: 15,300
So if I am reading you correctly, I have not been posing the question correctly to HGP ... I should be asking for a suite on points, without reference to the existing reservation. Then I cancel out the existing reservation. (It is for four nights -- suite thus would be the same.)
#2717
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
Correct, but you are aware that the suite confirmed is the Park Suite which is one room slightly larger than the Park Deluxe room which you are likely to get as a Diamond anyways. A further upgrade to Park Executive Suite is needed to get a true 2 room suite - possible but not a sure thing.
I can assure you as a long time international traveler that if you put forth the best possible face being polite that will get you a long ways. I can not count the number of times I have witnessed while checking or in line a fellow American whining and then demanding to speak to the "manager" because they didn't get the upgrade They wanted or in the case of the PHV free breakfast !! There is no such thing as a free breakfast it takes many nights in a Hyatt to get that "free breakfast" !!!
Sorry folks just came off a trip and witnessed that
#2718
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: UA 1K; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Gold
Posts: 218
Just wrapped up a stay here -- as a Diamond I was upgraded to the Park Deluxe (as mentioned in the past page or two as well as further upthread.)
The staff are still top notch and while the hotel feels a little bit tired if you know what you're looking for, it's still a great place.
The staff are still top notch and while the hotel feels a little bit tired if you know what you're looking for, it's still a great place.
#2719
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 248
Just checked out on Saturday and was given a Park Deluxe facing Paix. Room felt a little smaller than the last time I stayed here in another room that faced the courtyard.
Felt like the bathroom has been upgraded as well, with shiny new taps. Everything looks the same, but maybe the taps and towel holders and the like have either been polished or changed.
Fancy new Japanese toilet, which is an improvement from the last one. It's not as advanced as the ones we get in East Asia, but still has all the bells and whistles.
Felt like the bathroom has been upgraded as well, with shiny new taps. Everything looks the same, but maybe the taps and towel holders and the like have either been polished or changed.
Fancy new Japanese toilet, which is an improvement from the last one. It's not as advanced as the ones we get in East Asia, but still has all the bells and whistles.
#2720
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,992
Just wrapped up a stay here -- as a Diamond I was upgraded to the Park Deluxe (as mentioned in the past page or two as well as further upthread.)
The staff are still top notch and while the hotel feels a little bit tired if you know what you're looking for, it's still a great place.
The staff are still top notch and while the hotel feels a little bit tired if you know what you're looking for, it's still a great place.
#2721
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: UA 1K; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Gold
Posts: 218
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that! Toto toilets with the wall-mounted control panel. Always a pleasant surprise. ^
#2724
haha what about auto flush? Quite different from the ones I've used at Asian Hyatts. The panel is much simpler and huge. The toilet is quite square too.
Last edited by peteropny; Sep 17, 2015 at 8:45 am Reason: Delete quoted pic
#2726
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,267
#2727
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: ANC
Programs: AS; Hyatt; Bonvoy
Posts: 1,718
Are they installed in all of the rooms now? I was in a Deluxe Park King in June, but the WC was not equipped with the upgraded Japanese-style commode.
#2728
#2729
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: UA 1K; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Gold
Posts: 218
Same functionality as yours but different control panel and the seat wasn't nearly as... blocky... Also, different users?! :O
#2730
Join Date: May 2006
Location: BOS and ...
Programs: UA 2MM, AA 600k, DL 500k, Hyatt GP 1M, HH Gold, Rad. Gold, CP Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 9,950