InterContinental Le Grand - Paris
To only spend only one night in Paris is an unforgivable sin. I assure you, it could not be avoided on this trip. We arrived in Paris on the train from Cherbourg after disembarking Viking Sea. We had one night in Paris before flying to Valletta, Malta, to embark Silversea Cruises' new Silver Muse. Nevertheless, we wanted to enjoy Paris in grand style, so where better to stay than the InterContinental Le Grand? The hotel is located a stone's throw from Palais Garnier, home to the Paris Opera.
When we arrived at the St. Lazare train station, Google Maps showed that we were within easy walking distance to the InterContinental, only about one mile away. So, with rolling bags in tow, we made our way through the busy streets of Paris. It was an easy walk, and soon we were being greeted at the front door of the Le Grand by one of the bellmen, who tagged our luggage and agreed to deliver our bags to our room after we checked in. Walking into Le Grand is like stepping back in time, when everything was more sophisticated and elegant. Check-in was quick and efficient, as you would expect at a five-star, luxury hotel. Within minutes after arriving, we were stepping into our Opera View room, overlooking Palais Garnier.
The view from our Opera View room
We were immediately drawn to the large window where we opened the drapes to find one of the most spectacular views we have enjoyed from any hotel room. There, right in front of us, was the Paris Opera House with all of its gold ornamentation. We were initially concerned about all of the noise coming from the streets below, but fortunately, things quieted down by bedtime and we enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep.
The room itself was large, by European standards. The traditional French decor is a bit over the top, but it is classy nonetheless. The very comfortable king-size bed was outfitted with plush pillows and top-quality linens.
Across from the bed is a tall dresser holding a large flat-screen television. Next to the dresser is a small desk, large enough for my laptop workspace. The bathroom was quite nice with a separate tub and shower stall. To the left of the entryway was a large closet with electronic safe.
After settling into the room and unpacking, we decided to go outside for a walk. The hotel is perfectly located for exploring Paris on foot. There are shops, cafes, boulangeries and various points of interest in all directions. We spent two hours just walking around, window-shopping, sightseeing, and people-watching. When we returned to our room, Rickee noticed that a light bulb in the bathroom was burned out. After a call to Reception, it only took ten minutes before a new bulb was being installed. That is the kind of excellent service we have come to expect from InterContinental.
After a restful night of sleep, we had time to enjoy the buffet breakfast at Café de la Paix before heading to the airport. The massive buffet was one of the nicest we have ever seen. We both ordered Eggs Benedict a la carté and they were prepared to perfection. This is one of the best breakfasts we have ever enjoyed, anywhere in the world!
Excellent choice of breads and pastries at Café de la Paix breakfast buffet
After breakfast, we had to check out and meet our driver for the trip to the airport. It is unfortunate that we only had one night to spend at InterContinental Le Grand. There are so many other parts of the property we would love to explore, and plan to on a future visit to Paris. This was our fourth time to stay in Paris and there's no question that the InterContinental Le Grand is our new favorite hotel.
For more information, check their website.
