Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – beautiful Paris hotel snap shots

Fact has it I’m not really objective in this respect, given I’m enamoured with Paris hotels. How else could it be in the city of love? As it happens, in the course of my workday, I’m frequently browsing the lastminute.com hotels home page and the Paris hotels section. This is a pleasant way of keeping yourself busy, I hear you say. Well, yes, I agree. It so happens that the properties on display catch my eye and fancy. There are too many really stunning hotels out there to start drawing up a list. I say this for having seen them for real. However, I admire the hotels and their photographers who manage to capture the sheer splendour and quintessence of the hotel’s personality and atmosphere in a snap shot. Let me say it, this is art. I’m a mere amateur photographer, but I never the less am able to acknowledge and recognise it takes a great lot to be able to do this.

So there I sit, going across the Paris hotels pages and I’m struck by the beauty of some of the images and I’m sure the guests seeking to book a hotel value the images section as a determining criteria for making a reservation. Naturally, a truthful representation is the least one can expect .

So here’s a list of properties sorted by areas where the pictures speak for themselves and more than my senseless words. Each of these properties offers great facilities and services. Browse the images to get a better idea:

Marais – Bastille area:

Les Jardins du Marais 4*

Color Design Hotel 3*

BLC Design Hotel 3*

Eiffel Tower and outer Left Bank :

Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel 4*

Sublim Eiffel 3*

Oceania Paris Porte de Versailles 4*

Opera district:

Opera Diamond 4*

Chat Noir Design Hotel 3*

Left Bank – Latin Quarter:

The Five Hotel 3*

Seven Hotel 4*

Arc de Triomphe/Champs Elysees:

Hotel Baltimore Paris 4*

L’Adresse 3*

Regent’s Garden 4*

Hotel des Champs Elysees 4*

Pedalling to Paris for the final stage of Le Tour de France

The world’s most famous cycle race reaches its adrenaline-fuelled finale today. For the past 35 years the most beautiful avenue in the world has provided the Tour de France with a gem of a location for its final stage. This year’s 97^th edition of the Tour de France will see hundreds of cyclists race along the Champs-Elysées as part of the last stage of the gruelling 23-day, 21-stage road race. Those who have made it through so far have been on the road since July 3^rd and have covered a total distance of 3,642 kilometres, including four muscle-crunching mountain finishes!

The outcome of the race is predetermined at this point. Today it’s all about the sprint to the finish line, which is a sight not to be missed. What better a sight is there than this Homeric battle of a finish that snakes for several kilometres through the streets of the French capital’s centre and the exceptional avenue of the Champs-Elysées? This sporting carnival event brings together more than 400.000 Parisians and tourists.

If you’re considering booking a hotel with a view on the passing-by cycling heroes there is no better place than a hotel on either the Champs Elysees itself or on the rue de Rivoli. My recommendation goes to these 4 properties, as they provide exceptional service and infrastructure to with the view: for one there’s the splendid 5* Marriott Paris Champs Elysees and the 4* Claridge Champs Elysees Fraser Suites. Both properties enjoy prime locations, half-way down the Champs Elysees. It doesn’t come better than that. Or if you prefer the rue de Rivoli views, overlooking the Tuileries gardens across the Seine to the Orsay museum, go for the exceptional 4* The Westin Paris or the neat 4* Saint James & Albany Hotel-Spa.

Summer sales are drawing to a close, race for your deals

Ladies and gentlemen (?), only 10 more days to go… the shutters are about to go down on “les soldes”. Paris summer sales which started back in late June and those amazing discounts remain up for grabs until August 3^rd only. Despair not, still some time to book yourself a neat city break trip to the French fashion capital on lastminute.com. Can’t quite believe I’m actually the author of this opening paragraph… with regards to shopping, I’ve always been of the kind who shies away from this gruelling exercise. I usually need to sum up all the courage I’ve got at the simple prospect of having to take my wife to the stores. I know, I can see you coming, shows in my wardrobe, I hear you jeering. Well, sorry, my passion lies in hotels ;o) Paris hotels give me all the kick I need! They’re cool, they’re hype, they’re trendy, year-round and not merely during Fashion Week.

Shopaholics, fashion aficionados, your action radius will pretty much lie within the fashion high street Faubourg Saint Honoré, the Madeleine, the Opera and boulevard Haussmann, known as the magical department store district. Designer label boutiques, main stream brand stores and prestigious department stores, such as the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, are to be found within the same.

Likewise, this area abounds with a range of neat value deal properties, some great boutique style hotels and naturally a range of high end luxury properties.

Let’s take it in this order, it’s all about discounts and you’re after a great value bargain, then check into the Hotel Cervantes Paris. This 3* properties offers the benefit of a quiet location behind the Saint Lazare railway station, sweet design, and the generous breakfast buffet is included in the hotel rate. The property was entirely refurbished in the past year and rooms are tastefully decorated as well as offering over average surface space. This’ll allow you to find a place to stack your shopping bags.

Closer still, to the Opera and department stores is the Hotel Opera Caumartin, named after the street it’s situated in. This is another 3* value deal. The hotel re-opened in 2009 after full renovation.

If you’re looking to treat yourself to something special, you will not find more suitable in town, than to step off at the Opera Diamond. They may not be forever, but let me tell you, you’ll instantly fall under the charm of this property and you’ll fondly think back upon your stay there, ever after. This hotel opened earlier this year and is a true gem. Far from being a hidden jewel.  It has design and boutique written all over it. On top of this, there’s a beautiful interior courtyard which serves as an extension to the hype bar, where you can get away from the buzz of the surrounding area, as you’re spot on in the department store district.

Now, if you mean business and want to go the full haul, this is the place for you: nestled in a private street right off the Faubourg St Honore and around the corner from both the US and British embassies is the luxurious Sofitel Paris Faubourg St Honore. I recommend the fine dining restaurant and the Tea room cum bar. These guys mean service excellence, your whims and desires will be attended to with no further ado.

Now Paris and final closing week summer sale deals are yours to go for!

Embracing the Thalys – hi-speed Paris shuttle

Hurrah, it’s Friday again. Feel like a bit of a change to your routine? How about a city break in Paris, a little romance, candle light dinner and wake up to a café au lait and croissant in the city of love? Fellow Belgians and Dutch, do not limit yourself to merely day dreaming, make it come true. Far from being inaccessible, the Thalys hi-speed rail connection has literally moved Paris into the outskirts of Brussels and Amsterdam. Neat neighbourhood. It’s amazing how quickly you’re whisked from either of these two capital cities to the Gare du Nord station in central Paris. As a matter of fact I’ve got colleagues who live in the suburbs of Paris and their commute back home is longer than the 1h25mins it takes you to reach Paris from Brussels. This is not mentioning the conditions they travel in, standing from door to door in the clammy and sweaty atmosphere of a fully packed commuter train. Recently was privileged to the enjoyable experience of travelling on the Thalys. Good stuff, starting from the warm and welcoming service provided by the staff, the comfortable seats with sufficient leg room in the pleasantly air conditioned compartment and the snack bar which serves a good coffee and nicely chilled drinks. Guess I now better understand why my boss always insists on us meeting in Paris, it’s the Thalys, right Patrick? Samia, Laurette, always thought you were the reason for his frequent visits. Hope you’re not too disappointed to learn it’s the thrill of the train ride.

As you draw in on the platform at Gare du Nord, Paris lays to your feet. So many things to do, landmark sites to visit, café terraces to lounge on and watch life à la Parisienne unfold right in front of you, bistro dinners to look forward to and all them other things you love to do when visiting a foreign city.

Make your life easier and book yourself into one of the many Paris hotels  within the immediate vicinity of the railway station. Don’t bother running up a cab fare or venturing out across town, hauling and lugging your suitcases up and down the many staircases of the Metro, to reach your hotel. Go for one of the great value options you’ll find in the Gare du Nord and Republique area. There’s a neat selection of properties within walking distance from the Thalys terminal. You’ll enjoy the location, you’ll find yourself close to the pulse of the Paris “populaire” as in opposition to the “bourgeois” Paris. This area is slightly outside the main touristic trail, though you’ve come to see Paris, right? Street markets, ethnic stores, small cafés packed with locals and all that goes along with life in general can be observed and experienced right here. If you’re up for ranging out on foot and no longer than 15 minutes, you’ll find yourself to be in the Bastille, Marais and central Les Halles area.

On boulevard Magenta you’ll find yourself a real deal at Hotel Magenta Paris. Besides neat discounts, a generous breakfast buffet is included in the rates. This 3* property was tastefully renovated and refurbished last year.

Just down a side street off Boulevard Lafayette is the Hotel Paris Est Lafayette. This is another value deal 3* property which makes for a pleasant stay. Sweeter still is the summer discount on 2-night stays and the complimentary Seine river cruise ticket per adult and stay. It’s worthwhile noting this property offers families a range of triple and quad rooms.

Flying Dutchmen, roll on and think Thalys!