We travel to Paris next Christmas, and I wonder which "affordable" luxury hotel is the best, in Paris.
http://www.parisluxury.com/directory...-inside-paris/
I saw Georges V, Bristol, Lutetia or Meurice, but it is really too expensive.
I am looking for good deal for about $400 / night.
Anybody has a good experience there ?

Marcus

$400 ( = 285 EUR) will not get you a luxury hotel in Paris.

Le Meurice is my favorite Paris hotel, and is much better priced than the George V and Le Bristol. Lutetia has *tiny* rooms. However, you're looking at significantly more than $400 per night.

You can get a 10% discount at Le Meurice, plus free breakfast for two daily, by making your booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant (google that phrase to find one). Make sure you find one that won't charge a booking fee!

you could try Le Grand which is a Hotel Intercontinental...not sure how you define luxury and not exactly sure on cost there but it is nice and not as expensive as le Bristol, etc...

Do you collect Starwood points (for the hotel chain that has Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels etc) or do you collect American Express points, which can be converted into Starwood points? If so, it might be possible to use the "$+points" option for one of the top of the line properties in the Starwood chain, where you'd pay a combination of $ and points to stay in a hotel.

Agree that $400 is not luxury in paris. You can get a central hotel that is pleasant - but true luxury will cost about twice that.

Le Grand is a pleasant hotel in a good location and a basic room (I think small) is about $500 per night - the larger rooms seem to start at about $575 or so - increasing with better views etc. (I stayed there once but it was some years ago and had a suite because we were running a meeting - so I can't be sure of the basic rooms.)

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ank-thread.cfm. The Right Bank thread is linked to it. There are some small hotels mentioned on that thread.

$400. is not luxury in Paris. The Four Seasons, for example, starts at around $1100. for a standard room, depending on the time of year. In Bangkok, I use to stay regularly at the Four Seasons for $138.-$175., buffet breakfast included, back in the mid 2000s. Now, it's around $275, I believe. And in San Francisco, in summer of 2008, I paid around $350. for a standard room at the Four Seasons, but was upgraded. And at the Ritz Carlton, in Kuala Lumpur in 2002, I paid $150. for a standard room, but was upgraded to a private floor with a 24-hour butler and for the same price. But, so-called luxury costs a lot in Paris. Smiles. Happy Travels!

Please define your expectations for "luxury." Maybe you can get what you seek without the "luxury" label, and thus, a lower price.

Hotel Meurice was about $400, in 1985. Huge rooms. This place is knowm as headquarters for the German general staff during the occupation.

The hot new hotel in Paris is the Shangri La but their rates start at 650 Euro.

Just what is Luxury to you?

True luxury hotels pushed past the $400 price bracket some time ago, alas. You have to either raise your budget or lower your sights.

If you are willing to bump it down a bit (and still have a good hotel), perhaps you could look at a property like the Luxembourg Parc. They are running specials in December - for your budget you could get one of their largest doubles with a private terrace.
http://www.luxembourg-paris-hotel.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...de_France.html
...or do you mean Christmas 2012? The world is supposed to end next year, so it's possible you could get a deal at one of your preferred properties if they're still standing ... ;-)

Thank you for your answers. Sorry for confusion about the word "luxury", I cannot pay more than $400/$450 / night so I will look for a mid-price hotel, and not "luxury" hotel ! Yes I have American Express points, so I am going to look what can be doner with Starwood points.

As others note, that budget isn't high enough for the top places. Indeed, I would think it might be $50-$150 too low for the better located upscale chains, like the Marriott or Hyatt Regency.

I would see if you could make strategic use of hotel points. The Hyatt Card might be a good option, as you get 2 free nights with your first purchase. Depending upon the length of your stay, you could likely combine your free nights with paid nights and stay under your budget at the Hyatt Regency or perhaps even the Park Hyatt. I normally recommend the SPG card, but I'm not crazy about the Westin Paris, and don't know what the W will be like when it opens, nor what the Prince des Galles will be like post-renovation - if you really mean Christmas 2011, neither will be open anyway.

>Affordable luxury <

That does not compute.

Yu might look at Relais Christine on Rue Christine or Pavillion de la Reine on Place de Vosges. I think they would fit in your budget

Go to priceline.com/paris 'name your own price'. Click on bid now. Check numbers 7 and 8 for a good location and then five star luxury and start bidding. Start at $100 and then keep raising you bid until you reach your limit. But remember, if you bid is accepted, you will not know the name of the hotel until your credit card is charged. We have secure five star hotels using this method. Have fun. Richard

There are a number of four star, privatly owned hotels that you might like. Take a look at Hotel Cambon, on rue Cambon, a quiet street near Place Concorde. Among the Luxe hotels, the Meurice probably does the most promotions.

There are a number of four star, privatly owned hotels that you might like. Take a look at Hotel Cambon, on rue Cambon, a quiet street near Place Concorde. Among the Luxe hotels, the Meurice probably does the most promotions.

Thank you very much for all those ideas ! I start hunting for the best prices in that list ... and will come back here in january to report experience.

Marcus

Check out Hotel Balzac. It is within your price range. Especially at Christmas time. Gorgeous hotel. I am planning to stay there for my honeymoon in October.

Please note that this is MS's first and only post.