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Grand Hotel Intercontinental Paris - undecided

Grand Hotel Intercontinental Paris - undecided

Old Aug 10th, 2001, 10:44 AM
  #1  
kimbuys
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Grand Hotel Intercontinental Paris - undecided

Help! I am leaving for a 4 day trip to Paris on September 1st. This will be my 4th trip to Paris - yet alone this time. My top choices were sold out. I was thrilled to get a great rate at Le Grand Hotel Intercontinental. Bu now, after reading in the Rants and Raves column here at Fodor's, I am worried that the guestrooms may be really shabbby and worn. Has anyone stayed there recently? Anyone have suggestions for a nice hotel for a woman travelling alone? I prefer the right bank. Thanks!
 
Old Aug 10th, 2001, 11:13 AM
  #2  
Frank
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Kimbuys: Stayed at the Grand 2 years ago and agree with the Rants and Raves. The pluses include, stunning lobby and public spaces, excellant location, Cafe de la Paix, wonderful full American breakfast in the lobby restaurant under the glass ceiling. The negative is the room quality, reject any room which you find unaccepatable. Make sure to request an exterior view, the interior views are dreadful. If you get a reasonably nice room, you can't beat the hotel. Curious as to the rate you have gotten.
 
Old Aug 10th, 2001, 11:29 AM
  #3  
ger
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Kimbuys:

Stayed at LE GRAND last October (on my own, on business), as all my first choices were sold out (always suspicious when they are the only hotel in town with a room available!). I also got a "great rate" - rack rate was $1,000 Canadian (OUCH!) and I got it for about $250 CAD.

It is a huge hotel in a great, central area near to shopping and sights. The lobby is impressive and the staff extremely efficient and friendly. It caters for a lot of "tours" because of its size (therefore lobby always noisey and busy).

The rooms: very clean, great bathrooms (lots of marble & mirrors), but the room I had could best be described as SAD and FADED without any charm whatsoever. I admit, I felt cheated, as I have stayed in small, 3-star hotels for less money that had considerably more charm and were far better decorated. (In general, I find 3-STAR hotels in Paris to be very good value for money).

September can be a difficult month to get an hotel room in Paris, as there are a lot of coventions and fashion shows. Check out the following web-site for some suggestions. As always, I will recommend the 14th ARR., as I think it provides good value for money. In particular, I would recommend L'Aiglon and Raispail, as I have stayed in both and had good-sized rooms with lovely decor.

http://www.france-hotel-guide.com/75paccue.htm

Another two four star hotels that I have stayed in that I liked: The Victoria Palace (14th). I had an enormous room ( a suite really) and the decor is "English Country Chintz""
http://www.ila-chateau.com/victoria/

The second is the Hotel Lotti (Jolly Hotel chain) which is very faded, high qaulity. A word of warning, however, it is going through extensive renovations at the moment and you may be inconvenienced and, on the plus side, may get a good rate. Also, although I usually get a very Large room, once I got a single, which was pretty dismal - make sure you ask for a double! The hotel is on the Rue Castiglione, two blocks up from the FAMOUS Intercontinental and just down the road from the Ritz.

Hope this helps and enjoy your trip!

Regards ... Ger

 
Old Aug 10th, 2001, 04:44 PM
  #4  
kimbuys
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Thanks for the suggestions. I have called and requested an exterior view. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I also may switch and stay at the Waldorf Madeleine, because I like that neighborhood. Thank you again!
 
Old Aug 10th, 2001, 10:23 PM
  #5  
BTilke
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Kim,
Have you tried either the St. James (wonderful) or Raphael hotels? Both in the great neighborhoods of the Right Bank and ideal for a woman traveling alone who'd like a luxurious hotel stay. You say your top choices were sold out--which hotels were they?
BTilke
 
Old Aug 11th, 2001, 03:33 PM
  #6  
Angela
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I've never stayed at the Intercontinental but I have heard about the Hotel Westminster which is on the Right Bank and fine for a single traveler. I just returned from Paris and stayed at the Hotel Madison on the left bank. In the past I have stayed on the right bank, but I'm glad I made the switch. Good luck
 
Old Aug 11th, 2001, 06:52 PM
  #7  
kimbuys
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My first choice was the Hyatt Madeleine. Had stayed there back in 1977 right after they opened. Cheapest room there now is $400 - too much for just moi. I wanted to stay at the Hotel Galileo (8th), but they are sold out, as is the Beau Manoir (8th). I have been researching my hotel choice more than my last 3 trips to Paris. This will be my first trip alone - so my budget is basically 1/2. I found the Regents Garden and it looks very pretty. But I may stay at the Le Grand Hotel, for location - and the price is the lowest I've seen there - ever. They are closing this Dec. for a comlete renovation - must be why the rooms are cheap?? Thanks to everyone for the advice - didnt mean to write a novel in this post.
 
Old Aug 11th, 2001, 06:54 PM
  #8  
kimbuys
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OOPPS - Hyatt Madeleine opened in 1997. Lovely hotel by the way. They have a nice assortment of Champagne by the glass in their lounge.
 
Old Aug 11th, 2001, 08:08 PM
  #9  
ANdy
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Hi Kim- I too stayed at the Intercontinental last year- as posted lobby and breakfast room was beautiful-
Room-which was an exterior room ,corner,facing Place Vendome and hotel across the street- WAS MINUTE in size- had king bed and when they put our luggage on the 2 racks opposite the bed-you had to shuffle your way past the bathroom----we tried to change ,only to be told we had a voucher rate and there were NO other rooms avail===all for $350 pn----not at all worth it except for the LOCATION which was outstanding--If you want a treat,go across the street to the Hotel Vendome and have cocktails in their bar and dinner in their cafe on the street==tre elegant---try Hotel De Louvre across from the Louvre as an ALTERNATE--only 2 blocks away---Good luck
 
Old Aug 12th, 2001, 07:48 AM
  #10  
kimbuys
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I have now narrowed down my list between two very different hotels. I need advice in helping a single woman, travelling alone. I can stay at the Le Grand Hotel Intercontinental for $150/night and I am a Six Continents member - so hopefully will get an upgrade. I have also requested an exterior view room. Second choice: I can stay at BW Regent's Garden (3 stars) in the 17th arr. for the same price, with a king bed and breakfast included in teh price. This will put me a little further out there (approx. 2 miles), but I d o not mind walking and will take taxis at night, if necessary. I keep going back and forth on this, so I need your help. Thanks!
 
Old Aug 12th, 2001, 10:38 AM
  #11  
anne
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Don't count on the Six Continents upgrade if that's an important factor in your decision. I was at the other Interncontinental a couple of times and the management's view was you get what you paid for, thanks very much. Can't comment on the other choice of hotel. Enjoy your trip!!
 
Old Aug 12th, 2001, 10:52 AM
  #12  
vixie
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I have had two different rooms at the Le Grand. In May of last year, I paid $250.00 per night on one of their "deals". I got a room the size of a small apartment. It had a king size bed, you could have probably put three of them in there, a sofa, a desk, and 2 chairs. I was impressed to say the least. Then on a return trip in March of this year, I saw the same rate. Ha! Ha! Ha! Could I be so lucky as to get the same quality twice? NO! NO! NO!. The room was the size of a postage stamp. The bathroom was awful. I immediatly complained to the front desk. I was told "Our hotel is an excellent value for the price you paid". When asked why I had recieved such a great room the last time, I even whipped out my last bill showing the room #, and price paid, I was told you are getting the ambiance here! No, more like the shaft! I checked out immediatly, stopped payment on my visa, and checked into the Hotel du Louvre. I got a room for 240.00 per
night, and was treated like a queen. I will never stay at the Le Grand, even though I did get a letter from them expalining the rooms are not guaranteed until check in. I would strongly advise getting a description of the room (sq ft). You could possibly stay at Hotel du Louvre, or similar for the same rate.
 
Old Aug 12th, 2001, 03:42 PM
  #13  
kimbuys
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Thanks! Just booked a queen standard room at Hotel du Louvre - what a great website they have! I am even more excited about my trip now! Lovely hotel! Will be cancelling my reservation at Grand Intercontinental - but I am going to tell them why I am cancelling - even though I am paying more to stay at Hotel du Louvre. I will still have to have my required Salade Nicoise at Cafe de la Paix - it is sort of a ritual I do every visit to Paris. Thanks again for the suggestions!!!!
 
Old Aug 12th, 2001, 06:50 PM
  #14  
coco
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kimbuys,
I think you'll be very happy with your selection! I was there for 3 nights earlier this week and like this hotel more with every visit. It is very much a luxury hotel at reasonable price. When you check in you might request an outside room; the views in every direction are gorgeous but especially up the avenue to toward the Opera and they have always been able to accommodate me on this.
 

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