DavidO

Regarding location, the FS is on Park Lane next to Hyde Park (west side of Mayfair). The Bulgari is in Knightsbridge, right around the corner from Harrod's.

Bulgari has larger rooms and has more of a sleek and high fashion contemporary look, simple lines, loads of varnished rosewood paneling. Feels more expensive and maybe more trendy.

FS is more of an elegant, classic contemporary design. It feels warmer and more elegant to me.

But very much a matter of personal choice!

RichardInSF

Regarding the Corinthia, you can't make a mobile call from many of the rooms, at least if your supplier is Orange. Internet access is also done on the cheap so often email sites didn't load properly. The TV set once completely froze up, sort of like a Microsoft blue screen of death, requiring engineering to fix it. Service, which DavidO didn't have the time to test, is nothing special.

There definitely are significant size differences between the various executive rooms.

On the plus side, the one lunch I had in the restaurant was well-priced and tasty.

vuittonsofstyle

Although it is quite smart, Corinthia is not, IMHO, a deluxe hotel. It is a bit like The Langham - a notch or two down from the serious contenders.

printingray

I stayed in Four Seasons London for a couple of nights after my business trip. the stay was memorable and the services was impeccable. The location of Hyde park tube can't be beaten.

nba1017

Very apt comparison. Having stayed at both, I agree completely.

Sharon Black

Nice tips. Very detailed and useful. Thanks!

Pierre&Cédric

We are staying at FSPL but we went to Bvlgari this morning to have a look at facilities & rooms. We were welcomed by the Sales Manager and were shown:
- the swimming-pool (best city hotel pool I have ever seen),
- the gym (with a full-time trainer and Technogym equipment, one part of the gym can be made private),
- the spa (several spa rooms and one spa suite which is extraordinary, with a fireplace and everything you can expect - ESPA treatments),
- private cinema (400GBP per hour)
- ballroom & some smaller venues for private parties (from 9 to 140 people),
- bar / library / restaurant,
- entry level room (larger than FSPL rooms but no view, bathrooms are great with separate toilets & bidet),
- suite Bvlgari 1 (sitting-room, dining room, kitchen, office, bedroom and fantastic bathroom with a stand alone bathtub and a lot of natural day light / no terrace, only 2 of the 7 top suites have a terrace).

She spent more than one hour with us, it was very nice and you can already expect that with 85 rooms & suites only the service shall be excellent.

We had lunch in their Italian restaurant. Food was really good and selection of wine by the glass ok. They opened this week only so we excpected may be some glitches but everything went smoothly.

As DavidO said you can see they put a lot of money in the material selection. Everything is really beautiful. FSPL is probably warmer but Bvlgari is a great challenger and their pool is a fantastic asset.

We will come back in London in October, I think we will try to stay there!

FinsUptechGuy

Great writeup!

For those in the know I am taking my first trip to Paris in a few weeks. I booked the Park Hyatt after deciding between that, the Four Seasons, and the Mandarin.

I have status at hyatt so that was the deciding factor, but I would change if people who have been think there is a huge difference. Thanks in advance!

ACfly

For whatever reason, I never found the Four seasons London to be all that memorable.. The room was tiny (I guess it's London) and that was the high floor overlooking the park. The spa charges for the use of steam, and fitness room was tiny.

RichardInSF

I wonder if you get a discount on the steam room if you bring your own water.

Yahillwe

As a person who lives between Paris and NY and know Paris and its hotels, the George V is tops, you can't go wrong at all. Actually you enjoy the service so much that nothing would compare. The valet, front desk, bar, the galleries etc etc... And try to book a table in their terrace. Actually their main bar tender won the best bar tender in France and is decorated by the president. No comparisons at all... At all. Pm me if you need any more advice for restos, or anything else.

FinsUptechGuy

Wow, I am going to look at the FS now online. Might just PM you with some other questions. Thanks for helping a fellow New Yorker out!

Edited to say that I just booked based on this alone. Will make sure it's okay with wife and will cancel the Hyatt. I am a big fan of the FS in general, even got married in the Toronto hotel (now closed).

Kagehitokiri

2X shoreditch

unfortunately no hourly up here for comparison >
http://www.onealdwych.com/events/scr...te-movies.aspx

service in london, probably also overall quality, spa, etc, sometimes value, and options at dining outlet
BENLEE said he never used concierges until FS london and raved about them

nicolas75

Article in the Financial Times Weekend about the Parisian palace hotels market.

RichardInSF

Which unfortunately I cannot access without paying money to the FT!