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)
Sep 15, 2019, 5:02 am
#3856
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: LA
Programs: Perennial Free Agent
Posts: 270
I just stayed there all last week. Nice property in general. But the first night my room faced an inner courtyard that started construction work at 8am. Having gone to bed at 4am, I was pretty annoyed. So I got that night comped. My shower also flooded the bathroom in the first room and then we had no hot water in the second, requiring more maintenance work. So they gave us free breakfast for the week, too.
Sep 16, 2019, 7:55 am
#3857
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA & Bangkok (Home)/Lawrenceville & Switzerland (Boarding School)/Baltimore, MD (College)
Programs: DL DM, AL MVPG 75K, SQ Gold, BA Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Plat, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 599
It’s automatically deducted at checkout.
I just stayed there all last week. Nice property in general. But the first night my room faced an inner courtyard that started construction work at 8am. Having gone to bed at 4am, I was pretty annoyed. So I got that night comped. My shower also flooded the bathroom in the first room and then we had no hot water in the second, requiring more maintenance work. So they gave us free breakfast for the week, too.
I just stayed there all last week. Nice property in general. But the first night my room faced an inner courtyard that started construction work at 8am. Having gone to bed at 4am, I was pretty annoyed. So I got that night comped. My shower also flooded the bathroom in the first room and then we had no hot water in the second, requiring more maintenance work. So they gave us free breakfast for the week, too.
Sep 16, 2019, 8:26 am
#3858
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: LA
Programs: Perennial Free Agent
Posts: 270
Sep 16, 2019, 10:45 am
#3860
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: LA
Programs: Perennial Free Agent
Posts: 270
Sep 17, 2019, 9:04 am
#3861
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 683
Yes right!
Even though if I remember correctly it was a tiny courtyard used to put some outside air conditioning machines not any of the 2 main ones of the hotel (La Terrasse and the covered Sens restaurant/breakfast room)?
Even though if I remember correctly it was a tiny courtyard used to put some outside air conditioning machines not any of the 2 main ones of the hotel (La Terrasse and the covered Sens restaurant/breakfast room)?
Sep 17, 2019, 9:36 am
#3862
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: LA
Programs: Perennial Free Agent
Posts: 270
Correct. It's very small and not the main courtyards covering the breakfast area and terrace. I just wish they told me there was construction so I could have asked for a different room and slept until noon.
Sep 17, 2019, 12:55 pm
#3863
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 683
Correct!
Hotel full today so no Suite but just a large room with 4 windows on this small courtyard and its scafholding...lucky I had no plan to sleep late tomorrow morning...
At least 2nd lift is finally running.
Hotel full today so no Suite but just a large room with 4 windows on this small courtyard and its scafholding...lucky I had no plan to sleep late tomorrow morning...
At least 2nd lift is finally running.
Sep 18, 2019, 8:34 am
#3865
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
When I asked in June (during the earlier 20% offer), the front desk told me no. However, it does apply to alcohol and you can apparently order bottles from Pur's wine list in the terrace restaurant (whatever it's called now with the nautical "laboratory" theme).
Sep 18, 2019, 11:14 am
#3866
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 683
I’ve asked almost 10 times over May/June/September (there was no offer in July) and answer has always been different...
Pur not part of it but I once ordered a glass of Grand Siècle at the Bar and asked to have it served at my table at Pur and got the discount?
Sep 18, 2019, 11:34 am
#3867
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
Thanks for the advice.
I’ve asked almost 10 times over May/June/September (there was no offer in July) and answer has always been different...
Pur not part of it but I once ordered a glass of Grand Siècle at the Bar and asked to have it served at my table at Pur and got the discount?
I’ve asked almost 10 times over May/June/September (there was no offer in July) and answer has always been different...
Pur not part of it but I once ordered a glass of Grand Siècle at the Bar and asked to have it served at my table at Pur and got the discount?
Sep 18, 2019, 1:10 pm
#3868
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, Marriott Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 683
Oh, by the way, I wasn't offering advice or directing my post to anyone in particular. I felt, at least on this topic, that I'd probably get better results by asking rather than searching for it. Case in point: in two posts, I already know what to expect and where I can reasonably expect the 20% discount.
I’ll be there again next week and hopefully the 20% voucher will be as well...
Sep 24, 2019, 2:27 am
#3869
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA & Bangkok (Home)/Lawrenceville & Switzerland (Boarding School)/Baltimore, MD (College)
Programs: DL DM, AL MVPG 75K, SQ Gold, BA Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Plat, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 599
Here for Paris Fashion Week now, and construction has finished in the Courtyard. Super busy, but in a good way.