Our taxi driver raced through the streets of Paris to the doorstep of the Ritz, located where else but at the "ritzy" Place Vendome. After our bags were whisked away by the porter, the concierge gave us a personal tour of the hotel, pointing out where to find the restaurant, pool, spa, and other amenities. We were led down the "Hallway of Temptation", a long corridor lined with glass display cases holding various luxury goods and Objets d'Art for sale. We witnessed one gentleman who fell victim to the Hallway of Temptation. "That's it! That's the One!", he exclaimed after one of the paintings caught his eye. Wow, that's a whole new meaning to "impulse buying".
The concierge showed us to our room, which had its own separate vestibule for hanging coats, along with the available umbrella, supplied by the Ritz of course. We were awestruck by the beauty and elegance of the room, which was much bigger than I had expected for a standard rate. Our room had a mini balcony with french doors affording a view of the garden below; unfortunately the doors didn't open, probably for safety reasons. The furniture was in good shape, considering most of it dated from the time of Louis XV or Louis XVI. Next to the bed was a button console, which controlled all of the lights, and music selection for the bathroom. Attention slackers: there's even a button to summon a waiter to bring drinks to you bedside!
We perused the room service menu; at 50 Euros for a pizza, we figured it would be more rewarding to grab a snack elsewhere in Paris. (continued below...)
My wife marveled at the bathroom, with all the complimentary toiletries, gold plated fixtures, bidet, heated towel rack, plush robes, and best of all, her very own sink next to mine! The TV seemed the only thing out of place in the Louis-era room, although it offered alot more channels than the one in London. I particularly enjoyed watching South Park in German.
We had planned to have a drink in the famous Hemingway Bar, but were exhausted after a full day of sightseeing. We sunk right into the mattress and I slept like a baby; it was the best night of sleep I ever had in a hotel. Checkout was effortless as we headed out the next day for more sightseeing. Even though we checked out around 10AM, the concierge stored our bags at the desk until late afternoon.
Staying at Hotel Ritz Paris is something you must do, if only once! The outrageous price is matched by incredible service from the moment you arrive, and even after you check out. You're paying for the privilege to join the ranks of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, and countless other VIP's. You might not be a king or queen, but you'll certainly feel like one after staying at the Ritz!
extra note: The front desk referred us to a commission-free currency exchange nearby, even though it was offered through the hotel (at a cost). When a hotel puts their guest's needs above their own, that's excellent service!
