Paris - Mandarin Oriental or Park Hyatt with FHR
 

I’ve been combing every thread, blog, magazine I can find and I can’t decide on a hotel. We will be in Paris at the end of Nov with our toddler. I like the location of both the MO and the PH and the best value (price and offerings) seems to be through FHR with the 4th night free. Looking at the Park Deluxe Suite or the Mandarin Terrace. Pros/Cons and general thoughts are much appreciated!

At the PHV, Park Suites are really junior suites without a separate bedroom. Park Deluxe/Executive suites should be genuine suites, but with a toddler you should be aware that many of these suites have their bathtub/shower up several really big steps from floor level, which might be awkward with a small kid. Perhaps more importantly if you'll have a stroller is that floors at this property have some small half flights of stairs in their hallways, with some rooms accessible only by about eight steps in a narrow passageway. The main corridors tend to have "hills" but there's a wing that requires the stairs. You might be able to contact the hotel in advance and ask more specifically about whether they can confirm a room/suite where the stairs won't be a problem.

The PH is terrible

This is a no brainer - I’ve only stayed at PHV in Paris and always on points.

If I ever had to pay, I’d look elsewhere and in this case MO is the clear choice.

If you like PH then booking via Hyatt Prive 4th. night free is better than FHR as you'll get upgrade at time of booking.
Just booked a client in Paris for March under 4th night free and upgrade at booking in the suite level, earlier today. FHR has it's pros but Hyatt Prive is usually better for Hyatt bookings.

So in your case, you can book via Hyatt Prive TA with 4th night free and upgrade at booking from Park Deluxe Suite to Park Executive Suite. With the usual amenities of breakfast for two, $100 hotel credit, early check in and late check out, etc...

Do you message the hotel to confirm the upgrade right at booking? I've been booked Prive before and it was the same "Upgrade upon availability" thing.

I've stayed at PHV a number of times and in my mind, the alternative wouldn't be MO. I like the Crillon, PdG, Lutecia on the Left Bank, PA, maybe FS, Raffles, etc.

Unless I'm getting status benefits or there's some other specific reason, I don't like the idea of staying in an "Asian" chain in Europe. [I know Raffles would seem to violate this principle, but until they were merged into Accor, I had their top unpublished status.]

Prive should confirm the upgrade within a couple days (IIRC 48 hours) of booking, but if it's not available then, you could still be upgraded at check in AFAICT.

you should switch TAs then. Prive is upgrade within 24 hours of request I believe, which the agent needs to do. My agent has always been able to confirm the booking. It’s helpful if you do they check if the next level is available.

fdw

As a Hyatt Prive Advisor, I usually work directly with my friends/contacts/GMs at the respective hotels to confirm the upgrade.
For example, this morning, I saw the suite above my client's requested booking suite available. Booked the suite then notified my contacts at Hyatt and was confirmed to a higher suite.

I'd imagine other Hyatt Prive Advisors work this way as well...But can't speak to that for sure. To each, their own :)

MO beats PH in Paris. It's a newer hotel with nicer rooms and better amenities.
As another poster said, if you have points and are Globalist then PH should be on the radar.

The Peninsula is an Asian chain hotels too. I see no difference betweenstying on one of these as opposed to a Middle Eastern owned hotel (hello Ritz.) What's important is the management of the hotel.

Of the two the OP asked about I'd much rather be in the MO than the PH. Yes, I love the Crillon but the OP seems prefer a modern environment rather than a traditional one.

Note that I didn't mention the Pen or the Ritz in my post.

OP here - thanks for the definitive thoughts!! I’m totally open to a more traditional environment, I’ve just been going back and forth through so many options, I had narrowed to those two based on the location (near the Louvre) and my perceived value. It sounds like I would be overpaying for the PH though. Happy to pay a little more for a slam dunk, just didn’t want to end up regretting the choice. I had looked briefly at the Raffles, but I’m not going off of much and it’s kind of last minute (end of November trip). I love the strong opinions! Thank you all!

Does your toddler swim? Could a hotel pool help fill an hour, hour 1/2 in the day?

I think Royal Monceau Raffles is often neglected.