The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is grand certainly. Actually, it is one of many metropolis’s unique grandes dames, first opened in 1862 and inaugurated by Empress Eugenie. That storied legacy persists at present within the imposing edifice’s ornate Haussmannian structure, grand public areas and splendid rooms — which have been lately redecorated by one of many resort world’s most sought-after designers.
All these aspects mix to make the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand probably the greatest lodges in Paris, in addition to one among our favourite InterContinentals world wide. If you have not been to the Metropolis of Gentle lately otherwise you’re planning a foray there quickly, it ought to be excessive in your checklist of resort choices. To not point out, award nights utilizing IHG One Rewards factors are available.
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This is what else it’s essential to know in regards to the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand and what it is like staying there.
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What’s the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand?
The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is likely one of the metropolis’s most recognizable lodges due to its lengthy historical past and endurance as a favourite amongst worldwide guests. On account of its participation in IHG One Rewards, you are prone to see loads of People in addition to visitors from different components of the world. Chances are you’ll discover fellow visitors marveling on the glass ceiling at La Verriere, having fun with excessive tea or lining up for a desk on the landmark Cafe de la Paix, with its rococo accents and basic French menu.
The visitor rooms lately loved a refresh by internationally famend inside decorator Pierre-Yves Rochon (whose main tasks embody the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and The St. Regis Rome, amongst different landmarks). The updates have taken the rooms from high-end, cookie-cutter cubicles to high-design Parisian pieds-a-terre. They function elegant facilities like Byredo tub merchandise and bespoke minibar treats like Provencal calissons.
Visitors can even reap the benefits of a Balmain salon and rejuvenating remedies on the on-site ANJ Wellness Spa.
The way to ebook the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand
One of the best ways to ebook the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is straight by means of IHG One Rewards to earn factors and leverage elite-status advantages.
Charges on the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand begin at about $500 or 80,000 IHG One Rewards factors per night time.
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For a two-night keep throughout the summer time excessive season, TPG redeemed 240,000 IHG One Rewards factors, price $1,200 by TPG valuations, for a Cosy room with a single king mattress. It might have price 728 euros ($805) per night time in any other case.
The placement is as handy because it will get
The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is within the metropolis’s ninth Arrondissement, simply throughout the road from the Nineteenth-century Opera Garnier and the Opera Metro cease. It is near all the town’s main sights, and plenty of are even inside strolling distance.
It is also extraordinarily handy to get to the resort from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). The RoissyBus runs each 15 to half-hour (relying on the time of day) straight from Opera to the airport’s varied terminals; it prices 16.20 euros ($18) every method and has free Wi-Fi on board.
Previous resort, new rooms
The resort could be greater than 160 years previous, however due to the latest redecoration by Rochon, the resort’s 470 rooms now look fancy, recent and by no means fusty.
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Rochon leaned into the resort’s heritage, with “GH” for “Grand Lodge” inscribed wherever you look. Elegant textiles, like uncooked silk wallpaper and velvet throw cushions, abound. The colour palette of ruby, sapphire, emerald and gold pays homage to the close by opera’s luxurious stage settings.
Equally allusive to the melodramas enjoying close by are lavish curtains, which fame huge home windows looking over the encompassing streets and Paris’ assorted rooftops (like one thing out of “La Boheme”). Rooms additionally function framed scores from well-known operas on the partitions.
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Burnished, neoclassically styled wood beds and desks imbue a way of event. Nonetheless, visitors can even discover all of the anticipated up to date facilities like flat-screen televisions, quick Wi-Fi and compact however non-public loos stocked with Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique product line.
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Keep for breakfast, however have lunch and dinner out
Spanning the nook of the resort bordering the Place de l’Opera and Boulevard des Capucines, Cafe de la Paix is a historic landmark. It deserves a go to, even when solely to marvel at its gilt columns and frescoed ceilings.
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The menu is a veritable almanac of well-known French dishes, from Nicoise salad (25 euros or $28) and French onion soup (25 euros or $28) to pan-seared beef with bearnaise sauce (45 euros or $50) and sole meuniere (76 euros or $84). That mentioned, for those who’ve come to Paris to indulge your gourmand appetites, it is higher to discover a number of the metropolis’s up-and-coming corners and cafes.
The intensive breakfast buffet — which incorporates chilly dishes like fruits, cheeses, cereals and yogurt together with made-to-order omelets and sides like bacon and sausages — prices 45 euros ($50).
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You may get away with spending far much less, although. An omelet with the works plus a aspect of toast and a cappuccino got here to 21 euros ($23). It is not low cost, nevertheless it’s a hearty technique to begin the day.
The resort’s light-filled and ficus-dotted winter backyard, La Verriere, stays a spot to see and be seen — particularly round tea time when mouthwatering pastries are on supply.
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The clubby bar, tucked into the again nook of the bottom flooring, has a menu of high-end basic cocktails. A planter’s punch, an Previous-Long-established and a margarita all price 24 euros ($26.50). There’s additionally a number of gadgets from Cafe de la Paix’s menu.
Housekeeping will come…finally
Like many different locations world wide, Paris appears to be experiencing a scarcity of resort staff. This manifested itself most clearly within the housekeeping on the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand. The room was spotless upon my arrival at 11 a.m. on a Saturday. After a dinner outing, I discovered it ready for the night time by turndown service, with slippers positioned by the mattress, curtains drawn and recent towels within the toilet.
The next day, regardless of being out of the room from round 10 a.m. to five p.m., the room had not been serviced. By the point I might returned from night actions and dinner, although, I might obtained turndown service and a full cleansing. This included a freshly made mattress, a vacuumed carpet, clear surfaces, drawn curtains and a freshened toilet with new towels.
The health middle is small however serviceable
It may be onerous to seek out the health middle — which is on the resort’s first (American second) flooring — since it’s a must to make your method down a number of hallways.
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It feels virtually like a makeshift facility in two transformed visitor rooms. Regardless of how giant the resort is, the gymnasium comprises only a small smattering of Technogym cardio and weight machines, together with a stationary bike. Solely two visitors have been utilizing it throughout my go to.
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A designer salon and spa
Across the nook and down a grand staircase from the gymnasium is the resort’s spa and salon. The latter is a Balmain Hair Couture outpost of one among Paris’ most well-known trend homes. It affords every part from washes and stylings to full cuts and occasion make-up for 50 to 450 euros ($55 to $495).
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The adjoining ANJ Wellness Spa is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. It affords remedies from Swiss beauty model Cellcosmet, reminiscent of a revitalizing anti-aging pores and skin remedy (from 282 euros or $309), together with commonplace choices like a deep-tissue therapeutic massage (from 256 euros or $276). Lodge visitors can entry the sauna and hammam totally free.
Why InterContinental Paris – Le Grand resort won’t be for you
Although its location is superb and its rooms are in nice form, some guests may desire a completely different expertise than what the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand affords.
- Because of the resort’s large measurement (it has practically 500 rooms and suites), the expertise can really feel impersonal and considerably sterile.
- For a resort of this caliber, the value level feels applicable, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly excessive, whether or not you are paying in money or factors.
- Its central location is a boon but in addition a downside contemplating the variety of vacationers you may must cope with on the encompassing streets.
- Whereas some Paris lodges have leaned into their culinary choices, this one is sadly not one among them. It veers towards tried and true fairly than revolutionary and intriguing.
- The service is pleasant, however workers can typically get overwhelmed by the variety of visitors. Within the morning and at peak check-in or checkout occasions, many visitors crowd the driveway ready for tour automobiles to reach.
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Accessibility
Though it is a historic constructing, the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand has made some updates to stay compliant with European Union accessibility requirements. It affords wheelchair-accessible rooms with queen beds, roll-in showers, bathroom seize bars, and surfaces and house that make it simpler to navigate a wheelchair.
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There are additionally large-print and Braille indicators directing visitors at varied factors. Elevators and hallways are broad sufficient to maneuver a wheelchair.
Alternate options to the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand
There is not any scarcity of factors lodges in Paris. Nonetheless, for those who’re sticking to IHG One Rewards properties, you may discover the Kimpton St. Honore simply throughout the road. This property has a extra playful, up to date vibe (and one of many metropolis’s finest rooftop bars). Charges begin at $455 or 70,000 IHG One Rewards factors per night time.
There’s additionally one other, lesser-known InterContinental proper close to the Champs-Elysees. Charges on the InterContinental Paris – Champs-Elysees Etoile begin round $400 or 65,000 IHG One Rewards factors per night time.
If you wish to enterprise past IHG properties, one among TPG’s favourite factors lodges in Paris can be close by. The decadent Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome affords money charges beginning at about $1,390 or 35,000 to 45,000 World of Hyatt factors per night time.
Trying out of the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand
Though bigger than a few of Paris’ different luxurious lodges, the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand nonetheless manages to ship a high-end expertise with little of the pretension you may discover at a number of the metropolis’s “palace” lodges.
Paid and award charges are excessive however can nonetheless be a cut price contemplating the astronomical costs of many different Paris lodges. Whereas the lately refreshed rooms present a pleasing expertise, you may wish to enterprise into the town to expertise its meals and humanities scene. By doing so, you may additionally keep away from the throngs of worldwide visitors that typically crowd the resort’s reception and different public areas.
For a singular Paris keep infused with loads of historical past the place your factors will turn out to be useful, you’ll be able to’t beat the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand.
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