hopscotch

What a place, the Meurice. Gaudacious. I was there because I was invited by a German friend. She was staying there because that was that was the headquarters of the German general staff in WW II. I don't hold that against her because she is a dear friend, but IMO the hotel is a mausoleum in appearance and service.

nytraveler

I prefer the Crillion - have stayed there several times on business - holding a couple of small very elite meetings (world class medical researchers) and have found the location great and the service charming.

It's very pleasant being greeted by name by all of the staff - and its great having a really superior concierge (since a couple of my meeting attendees were incredibly high maintenance - demanded private flights etc).
However, since it was my meeting I recevied upgraded rooms or suite each time - not sure how the basic rooms are - but can;t imagine you would be unhapapy.

Of the others have stayed only at the George V and I'm not in love with the location. Also a New Yorker and agree that Times Square is a pit - but the Crillion is nowhere near the equivalent of that - which would be closer to Pigalle.

Why not contact the concierge at each with a minor special request and see what kind of response you get - that might help you decided if they're too stuffy - or stiff.

LynFrance

I’ve stayed in most of the hotels mentioned above, and there is one thing that you really must keep in mind, regardless of which hotel you chose. The quality of the rooms at all of these hotels varies enormously, and much of your reaction to your hotel will be based upon the particular room you wind up with.

The Meurice has been recently redone, so all of the rooms will be fresh and attractive, but believe me, a room with a view of the courtyard will not give you the same feeling as a room with french doors opening out on the Tuilleries.

Staying at the Meurice is definitely not like staying in Times Square…it is more like staying at the Pierre…..across the street from the park but with plenty of tourists in the area, and short walk to great shopping.

The Ritz is neither cold nor “snooty” in my opinion. If you look like you belong there, you will be welcome……just as you would be in a fine hotel in the NY. The staff could not be more obliging, and all of the rooms are kept in superb condition. It does not feel like a large hotel….in fact the Meurice feels much larger. It can be difficult to get a cab at the Ritz, but a hotel limo is usually parked outside, and can take you where you want to go! It is, in my opinion, the most romantic because it is the most luxurious. The pool and spa are great, and my husband always goes there for a haircut no matter where we are staying.

The Bristol is okay (great pool though) but seems to cater more to business travelers.It’s really impossible to get a cab there at night, which was why we never returned after our first visit. It also felt very quiet.

The Plaza Athenee has a different style. The staff is warm and helpful, and afternoon tea is great there. The rooms run the full range from really awful to great. It’s like staying on Madison Ave. It’s not “out of the way” and it’s a great neighborhood to walk around in.
There are a lot of the “beautiful people” there at all times.

NYTravlers description says it all. One of the reasons she probably likes the Crillon so much is because she was always upgraded to a suit. What she has not seen are the rooms that are really unacceptable that she might wind up in if she were not the leader of her group!

The best advise I can give you is,always ask to be shown your room before you are checked in and before any baggage is sent up. If you don’t like the room, don’t accept it. Most Americans don’t do this because they are used to the rooms in a particular class of hotel being pretty much the same. It doesn’t work that way in Europe.

odonnela

LynFrance, thanks for your insightful comments -- perhaps the best yet. I was initially enamored by the Ritz, but my girlfriend (who has never been to Paris) is somewhat opposed to the idea, feeling it may be too impersonal & cookie cutter. Obviously, the Ritz in Paris is neither of the above, but I think it may lack an identity to some degeree -- catering to a business clientele, tourists, romantics, etc. My hope is that the Meurice may be a bit more of a boutique (though it has more rooms than the Ritz, right?) -- and not hosting too many business travellers (I'm one, myself -- travel 100+ days/year, but this trip is a vacation -- not business).

That beings said, am I completely misinterpreting the Meurice or the Ritz? Sounds like you know your stuff on this subject. And yes, I certainly will ask to see my room beforehand -- unfortunately, I'm arriving at CDG at 10AM -- that should get me to the hotel around 11:30 -- many rooms may not be available, right? I may have to stall.... What are your thoughts?

fishskis

I agree with Madison; this one doesn't pass the smell test.

In any event, here are my thoughts:

I have been fortunate enough to have stayed in all of these hotels. There really is no "best"; it really depends on personal preference, personal style, location, and very importantly, the specific room in which one gets placed.

The Meurice was beautifully redone a few years ago, but I am not a fan. I stayed in a beautiful room there, but I do not like the location, right on the Rue de Rivoli, and for some reason, the hotel just didn't grab me; I am not crazy about the staff either. The Plaza Athenee was also beautifully redone, but it is more tasteful, less opulent, fantastic service, and a great location for fashion. Le Bristol is wonderful; understated elegance and great service. The Ritz is fantastic; for some reason, I did not mind the stuffiness or the security, but to face the Place Vendome, you must have a large suite. The George V has large, very nice rooms; but it is a Four Seasons, so for me lacks some Parisien authenticity and uniqueness. The Crillon is not my taste, but is a very "French" hotel in a spectacular, unique building and location. The Raphael's location is too removed from things for me.

Good luck.

Tulips

If you don't want to stay in a SUPER touristy area, then why not the Plaza Athenee? It probably compares to a place like the Carlyle in NY in terms of location; smart residential, beautiful shops.

The Ritz is absolutely not a 'cookie cutter' hotel!

The Lancaster is beautiful, low-key, very chic. Not in a very nice street though, just off the Champs Elysees.

If you think that Costes is not Parisian; go and have lunch in the courtyard. Full of Parisians. If you want to go to the places where the locals go, you will find that they like the sort of places that you have in NYC; when I'm in Paris, I like to go to Market, but it's not what I would advise a New Yorker, since you have enough Vongerichten restaurants there.

What hotel would you advise for someone asking the same question about NY? IE a real NY experience, 5 star, great location?

BTilke

I stayed in the Meurice once and if I were to stay in any of those hotels again, I would pick the Plaza Athenee. I do not find that area "sterile" at all--actually, I found the rue de Rivoli area more sterile than the PA neighborhood. In addition to all the shopping, it is also a residential area with a fun cafe (Aux Theatres) across the street. I liked the PA's tea salon. The service I received at the PA (only in the tea salon) was more welcoming than that of the Meurice. I also didn't like the Meurice hair dryers--as I remember, they were the kind that you had to keep your finger on the on button the entire time you were using it. Very nice marble bathrooms and the tv had Web tv service when we were there (I imagine that's been upgraded). We did not have a view of the Tuileries, FYI.
As for ownership, the Meurice was owned by the Sultan of Brunei when we were there--is it back in French hands?
You will no doubt enjoy your stay at any of those all very fine hotels. We now stay at the Sofitel Le Parc, which is a four star hotel a couple of notches down in quality from your choices, but we like the service, we LOVE the neighborhood, and its garden terrace is a delight.

oakglen

I misspoke re the Costes, this is the one hotel mentioned where you will find many locals. The rooms are hit & miss due to the old structure; they are small but nicely appointed. We liked it a lot. The clientele is young, thin & hip; mostly dressed in black on black. JP

Joelle

Being a Parisian, this is true that I won't stay in any of these hotels... but I'm currently organizing a "surprise stay" for our 10th wedding anniversary(husband does not know...) at one of the mentioned hotels and will report back later on...

In terms of location, they are all in excellent neighbourhoods, and not off the beaten path.

carlota

HI!!I wanted to go to paris from the 15th to the 17th July to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary. We'll be going from spain so that explains such short trip. I love all the hotels that you mention and have seen all the websites, but I think they are too expensive for me...I have been told that the intercontinental is almost new and is not so expensive, do you know it?

Suzanne2

Carlota, In the same area as the Maurice is the Hotel Jolly Lotti. It is very nice so is the Intercontinental and the Hotel Du Louvre. The Regina is very beautiful but a bit snooty for me. The hotel Burgundy is supposed to be a good one too. Some people have recomended the St. James Albany. There is the possiblility of street noise with any of these hotels as the area is very busy night and day.