Stories this week are all about the exceptional hotels I stayed in recently.
I’ve always loved the Pavillon de la Reine Hotel ever since I discovered it when I moved to Paris in 2005. As the only hotel on the Place des Vosges would already make it seem special, it has so much more going for it. Surprisingly, the central Marais doesn’t have many luxury hotels of this caliber, making it superior to the other two four star hotels in the area. I’ve recommended the hotel to many clients over the years, I know the concierge and the general manager, have tried the spa, shown it to clients as part of my Marais tour and have had drinks and breakfast but I’ve never stayed there.
Since I’m so familiar with the Pavillon de la Reine , I asked the sales and marketing manager if I can experience the hotel first hand by staying for a night.
It was a Saturday night in early December when I checked in the hotel in the late afternoon. The discreet glass door on the north side of the Place des Vosges leads you to the inner courtyard garden which was festively decorated for the holidays with twinkle lights, wreaths and side by side archways made of branches. The courtyard, filled with sleek outdoor furniture, contemporary metal sculptures and ivy and geraniums festooning the façade of the building, is one of my favorite parts of the hotel and in summer it’s heaven to sit back and relax on one of the comfy chaises and have a cold, crisp glass of rosé.
The lobby has two main salons, one more like a library and the other with a fireplace and an honesty bar. The décor is rich with velvet earth tone colored chairs, couches and ottomans but not stuffy and you feel as though you are in someone’s posh living room rather than a hotel.
My room on the main floor faced an inner garden, which made the setting very quiet. It was tastefully decorated in shades of beige and white with a leather tufted headboard and a half-bottle of Champagne chilling in an ice bucket was a nice touch. My bathroom at home is very compact, so the spacious bathroom with two basins and thick towels was a welcome relief.
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to fully enjoy the breakfast buffet, as I had an early flight to Italy the next morning but I enjoyed the strong double espresso and flaky croissants.
The name of the hotel, meaning the Queen’s pavilion, derives from the building in front which once housed Queen of Austria in the 1600s when the Place des Vosges was constructed under the reign of King Henri IV.
Pavillon de la Reine also features a Carita spa on the lower level with two treatment rooms, a Jacuzzi, steam bath and gym.
I learned the hotel will add a full service restaurant this spring open to the public.
28 Place des Vosges, 75003
http://www.pavillon-de-la-reine.com/en/
Eye Prefer Paris Photos
I am happy to announce a new series of Eye Prefer Paris photos for sale just in time for the holidays. Give the gift of Paris to for your Francophile friends, relatives, colleagues and co-workers.
- I’ve listed 20 new photos on my Etsy page for easy shopping.
- Photo prints come in two sizes, 8”X10”, $35 each plus shipping and 11”X14”, $50 each, plus shipping.
- They are printed on Fuji crystal Archive metallic paper with rich satin gloss finish and are unsigned and unframed.
- Shipping is $6 per photo in continental U.S. and shipping time is 3-5 days via USPS.
- I can also ship them UPS or Fedex for an extra charge.
- If you are ordering photos as a gift, I can write a personal note card if you send me your text.
Click here to see full selection of images.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/EyePreferParis?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Below are some sample images.
Eye Prefer Paris Postcards
I am thrilled to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Postcards, a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription service where the subscriber receives three physical postcards of my iconic Paris photos every month. Each month will have a specific theme, from architectural street scenes to romantic outdoor cafes to beautiful gardens to unique shots of iconic monuments. Each mailing will include two postcards in color and one in black & white or sepia, beautifully packaged in a special French Blue postcard holder with a custom designed seal.
Each 6” X 4.25” traditional size postcard is printed on thick matte coated card stock, similar to traditional vintage postcard stock that enhances the vibrancy of every image.
Only $30 for a 3-month subscription plus shipping or
Only $60 for a 6 month subscription (plus shipping)or
$110 for a 12-month subscription (plus shipping)
Click here to order a 12-month subscription from my Etsy store
Click here to order a 6-month subscription from my Etsy store
Click here to order a 3-month subscription from my Etsy store
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
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