What’s the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand?

The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is without doubt one of the metropolis’s most recognizable motels due to its lengthy historical past and endurance as a favourite amongst worldwide guests. Attributable to its participation in IHG One Rewards, you are more likely to see a whole lot of People in addition to friends from different elements of the world. You might discover fellow friends 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.

ebook the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand

One of the best ways to ebook the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is immediately by 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.

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.

Previous lodge, new rooms

The lodge is likely to be greater than 160 years previous, however due to the latest redecoration by Rochon, the lodge’s 470 rooms now look fancy, contemporary and by no means fusty.

Rochon leaned into the lodge’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 monumental home windows looking over the encircling streets and Paris’ various rooftops (like one thing out of “La Boheme”). Rooms additionally function framed scores from well-known operas on the partitions.

Burnished, neoclassically styled picket beds and desks imbue a way of event. Nonetheless, friends will even discover all of the anticipated modern facilities like flat-screen televisions, quick Wi-Fi and compact however personal loos stocked with Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique product line.

Keep for breakfast, however have lunch and dinner out

Spanning the nook of the lodge 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.

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, should you’ve come to Paris to indulge your gourmand appetites, it is higher to discover among the metropolis’s up-and-coming corners and cafes.

The in depth 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).

You will 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 isn’t low-cost, however it’s a hearty technique to begin the day.

The lodge’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 provide.

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 collection of objects from Cafe de la Paix’s menu.

Housekeeping will come…finally

Like many different locations all over the world, Paris appears to be experiencing a scarcity of lodge 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 contemporary towels within the lavatory.

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 would returned from night actions and dinner, although, I would obtained turndown service and a full cleansing. This included a freshly made mattress, a vacuumed carpet, clear surfaces, drawn curtains and a freshened lavatory with new towels.

The health middle is small however serviceable

It may be laborious to seek out the health middle — which is on the lodge’s first (American second) flooring — since it’s important to make your method down a number of hallways.

It feels virtually like a makeshift facility in two transformed visitor rooms. Regardless of how massive the lodge is, the health club comprises only a small smattering of Technogym cardio and weight machines, together with a stationary bike. Solely two friends have been utilizing it throughout my go to.

A designer salon and spa

Across the nook and down a grand staircase from the health club is the lodge’s spa and salon. The latter is a Balmain Hair Couture outpost of considered one of Paris’ most well-known style homes. It presents the whole lot from washes and stylings to full cuts and occasion make-up for 50 to 450 euros ($55 to $495).

The adjoining ANJ Wellness Spa is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. day by day. It presents remedies from Swiss beauty model Cellcosmet, comparable to a revitalizing anti-aging pores and skin therapy (from 282 euros or $309), together with commonplace choices like a deep-tissue therapeutic massage (from 256 euros or $276). Lodge friends can entry the sauna and hammam free of charge.

Why InterContinental Paris – Le Grand lodge won’t be for you

Although its location is great and its rooms are in nice form, some guests may desire a completely different expertise than what the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand presents.

• As a result of lodge’s big measurement (it has almost 500 rooms and suites), the expertise can really feel impersonal and considerably sterile.
• For a lodge of this caliber, the value level feels acceptable, however 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 disadvantage contemplating the variety of vacationers you may need to deal with on the encircling streets.
• Whereas some Paris motels have leaned into their culinary choices, this one is sadly not considered one of them. It veers towards tried and true quite than modern and intriguing.
• The service is pleasant, however employees can generally get overwhelmed by the variety of friends. Within the morning and at peak check-in or checkout instances, many friends crowd the driveway ready for tour automobiles to reach.

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 presents wheelchair-accessible rooms with queen beds, roll-in showers, bathroom seize bars, and surfaces and house that make it simpler to navigate a wheelchair.

There are additionally large-print and Braille indicators directing friends at numerous factors. Elevators and hallways are large sufficient to maneuver a wheelchair.

Alternate options to the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand

There isn’t any scarcity of factors motels in Paris. Nonetheless, should you’re sticking to IHG One Rewards properties, you may discover the Kimpton St. Honore simply throughout the road. This property has a extra playful, modern 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.

Trying out of the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand