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)
#3346
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
is it possible they just secured me the deluxe room instead of the standard? He said the hotel blocked it on their system and it wouldn't show up in my reservation details
#3347
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA, B6, UA, HH, WoH
Posts: 455
oh I see what you're saying now. No I'm booked into a standard twin. I was told twice by separate people I was all set with connecting rooms with the suite upgrade though.
is it possible they just secured me the deluxe room instead of the standard? He said the hotel blocked it on their system and it wouldn't show up in my reservation details
is it possible they just secured me the deluxe room instead of the standard? He said the hotel blocked it on their system and it wouldn't show up in my reservation details
[email protected]
and/or
[email protected]
I would provide Hyatt Reservation# and ask for confirmation that you have communicating rooms, with common door, not just adjacent rooms. Also request room types reserved.
When is your visit? Please provide updates. Good luck!
#3348
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
You may want to confirm via eMail with hotel:
[email protected]
and/or
[email protected]
I would provide Hyatt Reservation# and ask for confirmation that you have communicating rooms, with common door, not just adjacent rooms. Also request room types reserved.
When is your visit? Please provide updates. Good luck!
[email protected]
and/or
[email protected]
I would provide Hyatt Reservation# and ask for confirmation that you have communicating rooms, with common door, not just adjacent rooms. Also request room types reserved.
When is your visit? Please provide updates. Good luck!
We're staying June 22-26. Doing 3 nights Disneyland before moving to the city.
#3349
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
JRSK = Junior Suite
Hi ... called 1 March and think I successfully applied whatever a DSU is now called -- GSU? -- to a C+P booking. Shows now as JRSK .. that is the junior suite, correct? I am asking because I have not (yet) been debited the upgrade certificate.
[On a different but related subject, this will be at least my 6th consecutive C+P stay, most for 4-5 nights, a couple for just one night. I wish I could afford the place without the points... but I can't.]
[On a different but related subject, this will be at least my 6th consecutive C+P stay, most for 4-5 nights, a couple for just one night. I wish I could afford the place without the points... but I can't.]
#3350
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
Hi ... called 1 March and think I successfully applied whatever a DSU is now called -- GSU? -- to a C+P booking. Shows now as JRSK .. that is the junior suite, correct? I am asking because I have not (yet) been debited the upgrade certificate.
[On a different but related subject, this will be at least my 6th consecutive C+P stay, most for 4-5 nights, a couple for just one night. I wish I could afford the place without the points... but I can't.]
[On a different but related subject, this will be at least my 6th consecutive C+P stay, most for 4-5 nights, a couple for just one night. I wish I could afford the place without the points... but I can't.]
#3351
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,466
Congrats on getting excellent value from the program!
#3352
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,101
You mean WoH program has value? You wouldn't think so after reading FT threads.
#3353
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, AA Gold, FB Gold, ITA Volare Executive
Posts: 3,294
Oh well -- still this year to enjoy.
#3355
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
Color me happy with WOH.
#3356
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,101
I frankly disagree with you. Since the first of the year and currently 14 for 14 suite upgrades, a little nicer greeting and I seamlessly used a suite upgrade for an award stay at the Churchill later this year. Now in my book it's working, but then I do pay for my rooms never status matched nor used any "workarounds" to get where I am.
Color me happy with WOH.
Color me happy with WOH.
I'm going to try and hit 60 nights this year (did 54 last year) so I can keep the benefits coming.
#3357
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 305
I frankly disagree with you. Since the first of the year and currently 14 for 14 suite upgrades, a little nicer greeting and I seamlessly used a suite upgrade for an award stay at the Churchill later this year. Now in my book it's working, but then I do pay for my rooms never status matched nor used any "workarounds" to get where I am.
Color me happy with WOH.
Color me happy with WOH.
And I actually just applied 3 of my DSU (I guess I should learn to call them TSU now) for my future stays this year without any problem - including one for PH Vendome in April.
#3358
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Minnesota
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,101
I am much like you - pay for my rooms, no "workarounds"/"mattress runs"/"status match". Yet also - color me happy with WOH (I will miss the Diamond amenity, but more for emotional reasons than anything else).
And I actually just applied 3 of my DSU (I guess I should learn to call them TSU now) for my future stays this year without any problem - including one for PH Vendome in April.
And I actually just applied 3 of my DSU (I guess I should learn to call them TSU now) for my future stays this year without any problem - including one for PH Vendome in April.
#3359
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,991
I did the same, got 3 TSU's applied on March 1st. This is the first year I have had so many future reservations and applied the TSU's so far in advance. I think that is really the trick to being able to apply them, plan far in advance so you aren't disappointed and can't use all 4.
So far a happy camper.