I am going to try using the expert review mode to do a comparison and contrast of several of the major luxury hotels in Paris I visited while staying at the Prince de Galles last week for 3 nights.

For the record, I'm not a TA. I have always loved visiting luxury hotels while visiting any city or location where I may have the time. I especially love finding a great hotel bar. It's probably part of the reason I love so many St. Regis hotels--almost all have amazing hotel bars. 

HOTEL DE CRILLON, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL

We were most impressed with the newly renovated Crillon. It is a perfect combination of modern and chic while completely referencing Parisian style, even with a hint of Art Deco (my favorite style). That combination of modern and fresh while evoking a traditional sense of place is no easy feat, and they have done a remarkable job here. We absolutely loved it. (It actually reminds me comparably but distinctly of the tremendous design job done in the public spaces renovation at the St Regis Rome, where I stayed only a week prior.)

The reception area immediately to the left as you enter the hotel:

The lobby area:

To the right is the entrance to the outer bar lounge:

The actual bar itself looks to be the most classic and traditional of all the spaces we saw in the hotel. Having never been in this bar previously, I have a feeling it is the original bar preserved for historical reference. It is quite beautiful but busier and with more reference to Deco than the rest of the hotel spaces. Sorr for our intrusion in these photos, but I somehow didn't take more photos of the space!

The staircase and elevator, definitely referencing Deco:

A comfy and clubby lounge area looking back to the lobby and entrance, just outside the restaurant (which we sadly did not photograph):

Adjacent to this lounge space was a bar display outside the restaurant space:

Definitely made me thirsty...

Outside the entrance, beneath the colonnade, there was a curious seating area--though I can't imagine anyone would sit here unless awaiting a car!

Outside the elevator on every floor was a slightly different seating motif with origina art. This was my favorite:

If the above scene isn't inhererently Parisian and yet charming enough for you, then you don't have a pulse IMO! This one framework perfectly encapsulated all the right things about the design motifs for the entire property. 

And it wouldn't be Paris without an impressive car parked outside, right?

Gift shop had pre-mixed bottles of whisky drinks, including #10 Les Ambassadeurs, a drink mixed specifically for the Crillon. We were giddy, as you'll see those offered in smaller sizes in every room.

Rooms were beautifully designed, though I don't honestly recall every single category described. To be safe, I tried to take photos of the room numbers.

Room 322: I believe a deluxe room.

We were particularly thrilled to see those individual bottles of various whisky drinks. I likely would be drunk every time I stay here. Happy and very drunk.

Room 425: Grand Premier Room, I think.

Grand Premier Suite, I think. Definitely on the top (6th) floor as I recall.

Reminding MacMyDay of the Pensinsula suite corridors, I'm sure:

HOTEL RITZ PARIS

This hotel may be the very epitome of Paris, and that must include its sense of formality. The Ritz oozed formality more than any other hotel we visited, perhaps trailed only a bit by Le Bristol, FSGV, and Le Meurice. The renovation looked amazing--but still oozed formality in every nook and cranny.

Reception and concierge:

Galleria:

I thought about buying these, but I knew they would look better on MacMyDay.

The Ritz was beautiful, but clearly not for us.

But the Coco Chanel Suite actually was more to our liking, with plenty of Art Deco influence. But our host conceded its style was distinct from the other rooms. I tried not to laugh.

Good weather in Paris:

If the Ritz had all its rooms more to the style of the Coco Chanel Suite, we might have preferred it. It actually looks like it slightly references the new Crillon!

Unfortunately, our host was unable to show us any other rooms as they were basically full up. But we had some idea what they might look like--beautiful, ornate, lots of deep reds and blues, and very formal. 

MANDARIN ORIENTAL PARIS

We didn't bother to explore rooms and suites again, as we'd done that the last time we were in Paris. Suffice to say that it is quite modern with obvious Asian references, and it lacks any sense of being in Paris--its biggest issue for most of us. That being said, it is a beautiful modern designed hotel. 

PARK HYATT VENDOME PARIS

We stayed many years ago here, and we thought it was a bit dated then. It obviously is even more so now and blatantly overdue for a refurbishment if not a complete overhaul. It is a very nice modern hotel lacking any sense of place whatsoever, which unfortunately has become tragically true for too many Park Hyatt properties. But it has a great location, just a block or so down the street from the Ritz and around the corner and a block from the MO.

HOTEL LE BRISTOL PARIS

Le Bristol is another grand dame of Paris, and it has a far more traditional appeal. Its sense of formality and tradition is matched or surpassed perhaps only by the Ritz, FSGV, and Le Meurice--but its ridiculously dated rooms made it obvious that it needs to catch up. 

Rooftop swimming pool.

I kept thinking about the Shining...

I know some like traditional, but the rooms here made me think I was back in the 1990s, and maybe the 2000s at best. The pool made me think it was 1985 on the Love Boat. The public spaces were lovely. The rooms and junior suite were not.

THE PENINSULA PARIS

We liked the Peninsula, and we weren't expecting that. It feels a bit more Parisian than I expected, but not much; it still feels like an Asian-inspired hotel that it is, dropped in Paris. So even though it lack a sense of place, it is a very nice hotel. With an amazing restaurant.

The lobby, though, is a study in sterility. Or vacuousness.

Perhaps they were expecting the tourist hordes from the Hong Kong property and wanted to make sure there was enough room.

Making my point about this feeling more Asian than Parisian.

Rooftop restaurant, L'Oiseau Blanc, truly amazing.

The restaurant toilets:

Bar and terrace:

Deluxe room, I think. Second category.

Junior Suite, I think.

Can't say we obviously liked the junior suite more than the deluxe room. Both seemed almost as spacious in various ways as the other. If you prefer the open plan, the junior suite is for you, but not sure it's worth the upgrade. The deluxe room was quite spacious.

Grand Premier Suite, which I think may be the same type that MacMyDay stayed in and complained about the hallway. I understand now.

Our lunch was amazing, all the more so because they informed us originally that the kitchen had closed at 2 pm (it was 2:10 pm). We were thinking about options when they quickly conferred, made a call, and then said the staff was happy to stay open for us. Considering we weren't even guests, color us quite amazed and very impressed at that incredible service moment.

Our lunch was amazing.

The Peninsula may not have a sense of Parisian place, but it still has a very nice vibe (barring that lobby). And if the food and beverage are remotely as good as our lunch--wow. I do remember MacMyDay saying this was the best French toast, so I'll have to try that next time.

FOUR SEASONS GEORGE V

Visiting the FS was easy, as the Prince de Galles where we stayed was right next door! Not my favorite location, but there it is.

There were no rooms available, so apparently not as many people share my disdain for this property. Probably because I'm a good 20 years younger than the youngest paying guest.

I've never been a fan of this hotel, largely due to its overt formality and stiff service, reminiscent of the Ritz, Le Bristol, and Le Meurice. I was reminded again on this visit of the same stiff formality and stiffness--even among the guests--that I so dislike.

I don't think I saw anything that made me change my mind about the hotel's aged and formal guest population. Not our scene.

PRINCE DE GALLES HOTEL, LUXURY COLLECTION

I reviewed the Prince de Galles, where we stayed, in a separate review. I am copying elements of that review for the purposes of this comparison and contrast. We vastly prefer the Parisian and Deco authenticity and sense of place of the Prince de Galles over the sterility and dated Park Hyatt. We also prefer the boutique and more intimate quality of the Prince de Galles over the stilted, formal ambience of the Four Seasons George V, located right next door.

The PdG entry lobby is stunning Art Deco, my favorite design style for a hotel:

To the left was reception and concierge:

Down the hall to the right was the hotel bar/cafe, Bar Les Heures:

Adjacent to the bar was the outdoor courtyard patio:

Adjacent to the patio was the 1* restaurant, La Scene, which also hosts the hotel breakfast:

Around the other corner from the main lobby was the main staircase and elevator:

Area outside elevator by floor:

The hallways were lighter and wider than I remembered from my previous stay:

ROOMS

We have descriptions for a Makassar Suite and an Art Deco Deluxe Room.

MAKASSAR SUITE

The Makassar Suite truly was extremely comfortable and brilliantly laid out. It felt more like a Paris apartment than a hotel suite, to be honest. We loved it.

Entry hallway:

Artwork on one wall:

And a closet and bar on the other. I almost missed the closet space, as it was so well hidden into the wall:

Just after the entry hallway and before the living room was a doorway and hallway down to to the bathroom. The hallway also opened into the bedroom, so closing the door to the hallway closed off the bedroom and bathroom.

The living room was spacious and inviting, and very chic:

The beautiful cabinet in the corner of the living room offered plenty of hidden storage and electrical plugs:

At the end of the living room was another entry doorway to the bedroom:

View onto Avenue George V (though we rarely if ever heard any traffic noise):

You can see the open doorway at the end of the bedroom, opening into the hallway between the bathroom and entry hallway. It really did make getting around the suite very easy.

There was plenty of cabinet space in the bedroom wardrobe!

The bathroom was spacious and efficient at the same time:

And our welcome gift from my amazing Ambassador and the hotel team:

My only issue with our suite was the air conditioning--I had been promised it would cool to 19 C (66 F) and it only cooled to about 20 C (68 F). For most people, this would not be an issue at all, but I am a freak--which is why I always get this confirmed in advance. Fortunately, the hotel handled it pretty well, bringing me a fan which helped me a lot, and even going so far as to buy me a portable thermometer so I could monitor the temperature.

Seriously, I am that crazy.

ART DECO DELUXE ROOM

My mother was graciously upgraded to an Art Deco Deluxe Room next to our suite, a category upgrade on an award for our second room. Not an expected benefit of any sort, so the upgrade was very much appreciated.

The entry hallway was exactly the same as in our suite with a bar and closet.

The bathroom (sorry for the flash):

It looked a lot larger than what I was expecting. Our manager friend did inform us this was one of the largest Art Deco Deluxe Rooms in the hotel. 

My mother loved her room.

SUPRISE BIRTHDAY DINNER--1* LA SCENE

We celebrated my husband's 60th birthday with a surprise dinner for 12 persons in the Prince de Galles' gastronomic restaurant, La Scene, a 1* restaurant. The price for the supposedly 5 course dinner was only 165 euros--a bargain by Paris standards. And the wine pairings were only 65 euros and quite wonderful.

Once we moved to our table in the La Scene restaurant, it quickly got serious!

Food and beverage throughout out stay at the PdG was to an extremely high standard. We had dinner and drinks on our second night at the Bar Les Heures, and the food and drink was fabulous. Room service was also excellent.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We really enjoyed checking out the luxury hotels in Paris, but we missed on seeing La Reserve--next time. We'd previously been to the Le Meurice (too traditional for us). 

The Crillon was our clear winner. Even after seeing them all, we still yearned for the Crillon--and then went and had drinks there. If we ever want to stay in the Vendome area, the Crillon is unquestionably the nicest option for us or anyone who wants a decadent Parisian sense of place with a more modern and fresh twist. It absolutely and unreservedly is our new favorite in Paris.

The Ritz is the clear winner for anyone wanting the Vendome area but preferring a more formal yet traditionally minded Parisian stay. If you prefer more glam in your location, of course, then perhaps the FSGV is better for you.

We absolutely loved the Prince de Galles, and found it to be a more than suitable peer in all respects when comapred with the grand dame hotels in Paris. We certainly preferred the more relaxed and boutique ambience of the PdG over the formality of the FSGV next door.

While we are not fans of the Ave George V location, if we ever are to stay in Paris away from our preferred Vendome, our most likely choices almost certainly will be the authentically Parisian yet relaxed Prince de Galles or the more majestic but quieter Peninsula neighborhood.