4 Best Hotels in Side Trips from Paris, France

Set within the Domaine de Chantilly, the largest princely estate in France, Auberge du Jeu de Paume combines its stunning setting with old-world elegance and modern comforts to create a deluxe country retreat. All of the beautifully appointed guest rooms have elegant furnishings, spacious marble baths, and floor-to-ceiling windows—the last being particularly appreciated because many accommodations overlook the château grounds, the historic Grand Stables, and Le Nôtre–designed gardens. For dining, look no further than the hotel's gastronomic Table du Connétable or the Jardin d'Hiver bistro, both featuring the ambitious cuisine of chef Clément Le Norcy, in whose expert hands dishes like succulent lamb with parsnip and black truffle, or crayfish with egg ravioli, chervil, and sweet onion are raised to an art form. There's also a cozy bar for a snack, teatime, or just an apéro. Other on-site perks include a spa, pool, and steam room.

This splendid resort, rising castle-like from the lush Chantilly forest, is located inside an early-20th-century building that has been decked out in 18th-century style, luxuriously incorporating the themes of its surroundings (horses, forest, and royalty). The spacious salons and guest rooms were designed for utmost calm and elegance, with sweeping forest views (many rooms have sizeable private balconies). Soft herringbone wood floors, subdued color palettes, sensitive lighting, and plush furniture convey warmth and coziness perfect for lounging. An accommodating concierge can organize day trips and excursions in the forest and to Chantilly (5 miles away), but everything for a lavish romantic and restorative weekend in the countryside is at your fingertips: an indoor pool and full-service spa (from the sought-after Paris skincare brand Biologique Recherche), a gastronomic restaurant (L’Opéra) set in a historic music room, and Le Stradivarius, a sleek bar and bistro with a spacious terrace for outdoor dining.

Ranging from superluxe to just barely affordable, Disneyland Paris has 5,000 rooms throughout several hotels, but your best bet on all counts may be the Sequoia Lodge—a grand re-creation of an American mountain lodge, just a few minutes' walk from the theme park. Past towering evergreens, you enter a charming lobby, replete with an open fire crackling on a giant stone hearth in the Redwood Bar. Guest rooms have natural wood furniture that's meant to evoke log cabins; book yours in the main Montana building (overlooking Lake Disney) rather than one of the smaller annex "lodges." For youngsters there's a children's corner, outdoor play area, and video-game room. For food, the choice is between the family-oriented, buffet-service Hunter's Grill and the more upscale Beaver Creek Tavern. As at all Disneyland Paris hotels, free transportation to the park is available. Note that room prices can fluctuate widely depending on season and school vacation periods—keep hunting to find lower-priced days.

Like a modern-day Versailles, this deluxe turn-of-the-20th-century hotel is a creamy white creation of imposing size, filled with soaring rooms (including the historic Salle Clemenceau, site of the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference). Part of the Waldorf-Astoria brand since 2014, it's a destination unto itself, with a health club (the pool is poised beneath a glass pyramid), a Guerlain spa, and a lobby glammed up with Murano chandeliers and high-back leather armchairs. The hotel headlines menus designed by superstar chef Gordon Ramsey and carries a Michelin star, though the chef himself is not in the kitchen. Soaring La Veranda bistro is a lively local favorite for its reliably good food, lovely vistas of the gardens, and wide terrace that's open in summer. As for the guest rooms, try to avoid the newer annex (the Pavillon Trianon), and insist on the full treatment in the main building, where rooms are spacious, many with balconies and lovely views of Versailles' gardens, though the decor is a bit somber and could do with refurbishment. A great advantage of the hotel is its setting two steps from Versailles's garden entrance and a pleasant 15-minute walk to the Grand and Petit Trianon, where you can buy your entrance tickets, thus avoiding the crowds at the main entrance.