3 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Paris, France

Set in the 17th-century quarters of Louis XIV's finance minister, this exquisite hotel—which actually abuts the château grounds—faithfully re-creates the "palace" experience, from bathing (your personal butler will draw your bath for you) to dining (with Alain Ducasse--designed menus) to the staff (dressed like footmen and -women). The gorgeous common areas and guest rooms—all with period antiques and bespoke fabrics and wallpapers—hew to the epoch, with the exception of the state-of-the-art amenities. Rooms are blessedly TV-free, but anything seems to be available for guests if you just ask (yes, that includes a television). The lovely Valmont spa includes a 50-foot indoor pool, sauna, hammam, and a small fitness area. France is full of château hotels, but this is the only one that offers views of Versailles's orangerie gardens from your bathtub and exclusive before- or after-hours visits to the palace minus the crowds.

No stranger to five-star prices, Disneyland has actually never had a five-star hotel until it opened this 487-room confection, a cross between a Victorian mansion and a fairy-tale castle. Set at the entrance to the park, it’s the most convenient Disney lodging, and many rooms overlook Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle (which the hotel resembles more than a little). Room themes draw from 11 Disney princesses and princes, from Cinderella to the Snow Queen and Rapunzel in colors like powder blue, silvery grey, and, yes, pink, but with a glittery sophistication other park hotels lack. Some deluxe suites sport fireplaces and outdoor terraces in the courtyard garden. Facilities like the indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and full-service spa—which pampers kids as young as six—round out the high-end experience. Other highlights include a trove of fun activities for kids, including a wandering troupe of Disney princesses and princes that appear regularly at La Table de Lumière gourmet restaurant, the Fleur de Lys lounge, and the Royal Banquet (you can also book a meet-and-greet by appointment). 

Set at the far end of Disneyland Paris’s lake, the nautical-theme Newport Bay Club is the biggest four-star hotel in France—with the largest capacity in Europe—so don’t expect intimacy, but hallways are bright and spacious and rooms are quiet and light-filled (especially those with lake views) and some offer balconies. The hotel has an indoor-outdoor pool and plenty of dining options, including the Cape Cod buffet, the higher-end Yacht Club, and the pleasant Captain’s Quarters bar. Compass Club rooms get VIP passes to skip the lines at most rides, as well as breakfast, complimentary drinks all day, and teatime in the private club dining room included in the price. The park is accessible by shuttle (every 10–15 minutes) or via a 15-minute walk by the lake.