Staff Review

Paris - the perfect short break destination

I am one of those people who firmly believes that we all must go away at least a few times a year (although preferably once a month if I can). Paris is one of those quick fixes that you can always fit in on a free weekend. It is so easy to go by Eurostar now. Passport controls and security checks are quick and painless and you only need to arrive at the station 45 minutes before your departure. We travelled by Standard Premier class on the outbound which was a first for me. We slipped into our comfortable seats across a table for two and shortly after departing our breakfast and coffee was brought to us. In less than 2 hours 30 minutes we were in Paris and met at the end of the platform by our smartly dressed driver. I have been to Paris a number of times and I have always found myself waiting in a long queue for a taxi and then trying to explain to the driver where our hotel is located (even though they are from Paris) or getting lost on the underground system. This was the perfect way to start our trip to Paris and I will not be able to travel any other way now.'We were travelling to Paris to see the Kirker hotels and maintain relationships. This is an important part of the Kirker difference. We are able to secure the best rooms possible for our clients. As they say, it is not what you know but who you know! The first night we were staying at the Hotel Castille. This was a new hotel that we started working with last year and I was very impressed with the service offered. It is a very stylish property and offers a more contemporary option for our clients. When you have the Maison Chanel located next door, it is important to keep up appearances. We started by visiting our hotels around the Opera and Rue St Honoré. I think this a great area to stay for first timers to Paris. It is easy to get to all the sights. You can use your Paris museum pass to jump the queue at the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay. There are also a number of excellent restaurants in the area as well. After a busy day visiting hotels, we spent the evening enjoying a delicious dinner in a local restaurant recommended by the Kirker Concierge. Food is such an important part of a holiday and when you potentially only have five meals, you cannot afford to get any of them wrong. I have tried many of the restaurants in the Kirker Guide Notes all over Europe and I have never been disappointed yet. My wife and I spend many an evening before going away perusing them to make sure we eat at a couple of elegant restaurants but we also like to rub shoulders with the locals.'The next day we visited the 5* hotels. I was amazed by each one; the Four Seasons George V was the place to be seen, the garden of Le Bristol was a haven to escape the hustle and bustle of Paris, however, I have to say the property that surprised me was the Hotel Lancaster. It is located just of the Champs Elysées and has all the elegance of the hotels previously mentioned but is much more intimate as there are only 60 rooms. As the day came to end, I was very excited because we were spending the final night in a new property to our product, the Hotel La Réserve. It is like staying in a very elegant Hausmannian-apartment with some of the finest service I have encountered. If you are looking for a small, intimate hotel of the highest quality then this is the perfect choice.'The final day was spent visiting our hotels on the Left Bank. I would highly recommend to stay in this area of Paris. The streets are lined with boutique shops, wine bars and bistros and you definitely know you are in Paris meandering around this neighbourhood. We offer a wide range of styles of hotels ranging from the boutique 3* Le Sénat to the more elegant Esprit St Germain and Relais Christine. We spent our final night in the Pavillon de la Reine. I have heard so much about this hotel and it did not disappoint. It is located in the Marais district and just off the atmospheric Place des Vosges. This is an excellent place to stay if you are looking for a small hotel with bags of style and personal service.'We have lots of different options in Paris all over the centre of the city. Each arrondissement is very unique so it is always best to give us a call and speak to a friendly expert who can recommend the perfect hotel for you.

Speak to an expert - 020 7593 2288

Our expert reservations team regularly travel to a wide range of destinations to explore new cities, visit hotels and to research museums, galleries and restaurants so that we can offer the most up-to-date advice and recommendations.

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