Arriving in Paris feeling refreshed after our flight from Singapore, we were whisked away in our private car to Prince de Galles, A Luxury Collection Hotel. The property is conveniently located along Av. George V which is just off Av. des Champs-Elysees, once of the most iconic streets in the world.
A famed property in the City of Lights, Prince de Galles definitely lives up to its name. Upon our arrival at the property, we were immediately won over by the lobby’s opulence. The marble flooring and a good mix of direct and soft lighting created a sense of grandeur. The lobby was also furnished much like a living room, just that it felt much more expansive, accentuated by the high ceilings.
We were pleased to know that we were assigned a suite on the top floor. Once we were issued our keys, the butler escorted us to our suite, while informing us that our bags were also on the way.
The suite had a nice linear layout. The main door opened into the living room, that was tastefully furnished with lots of soft natural lighting. The living room was pretty standard, with the large glass doors being the main highlight, as they appeared to invite us to spend more time outside exploring the city than to stay indoors.
The staff prepared a bottle of red wine for us as our welcome amenity, although we were looking forward to some champagne. Of course, the minibar was well stocked, and we did indeed find some champagne there. There were also bottles of Evian water for us to stay hydrated.
Heading into the bedroom, we were also drawn to the large mirror behind the bed, which optically expanded the room quite significantly. Just like the living room, it offered a lovely view of the surroundings, afforded by us being on the top floor as well.
The wardrobes were kept neat and spotless, and as with most hotels, we were provided with a safe to store our valuables.
And now for the bathroom. Due to the linear layout, the bathroom also had a lovely view. The double vanity, together with a luxurious bathtub, simply checked off all the boxes. But most importantly, the mosaic tiling in the shower stole the show. While it didn’t look French at all, it definitely stood out as a design feature.
Blessed with good weather, we headed out to the balcony to enjoy some sunshine. Partition screens were erected to segment the balcony according to the rooms and suites on the top floor, but the privacy was more than adequate.
In terms of facilities, the property had a well equipped fitness centre that also featured a good mix of cardio and cable machines, as well as free weights to give guests a variety of means to keep fit while on vacation.
We also popped by Restaurant & Bar 19.20 by Norbert Tarayre located on the ground floor looking into the courtyard, which serves up a range of beverages and light bites.
For breakfast, not only was the spread impressive, we could tell that they put in extra effort to ensure that only the best quality ingredients are used. France is well known to be the gastronomic capital of the world, and even something as common as a hotel breakfast is no exception when it comes to ensuring guests go away feeling more than just being satisfied.
Overall, Prince de Galles is a top notch property worth visiting when you next travel to Paris. No only is the location splendid, the experience was close to flawless. From the common spaces to the rooms, and from the quality of F&B offerings to service standards, there was almost nothing to fault. Of course, if you do get a room or suite on the top floor, be sure to enjoy some French sweets and pastries as you watch the world go by!
