Evaluate: InterContinental Paris Le Grand Lodge

What’s the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand?

The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is without doubt one of the metropolis’s most recognizable resorts because of its lengthy historical past and endurance as a favourite amongst worldwide guests. Resulting from its participation in IHG One Rewards, you are more likely to see plenty of Individuals in addition to visitors from different elements of the world. You could 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.

Learn how to e-book the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand

One of the simplest ways to e-book the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is instantly by way 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 evening.

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 town’s main sights, and lots of are even inside strolling distance.

Outdated resort, new rooms

The resort may be greater than 160 years previous, however because of the latest redecoration by Rochon, the resort’s 470 rooms now look fancy, contemporary and by no means fusty.

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 taking part in close by are lavish curtains, which fame monumental home windows searching over the encircling streets and Paris’ assorted rooftops (like one thing out of “La Boheme”). Rooms additionally characteristic framed scores from well-known operas on the partitions.

Burnished, neoclassically styled wood beds and desks imbue a way of event. Nevertheless, visitors may even discover all of the anticipated modern facilities like flat-screen televisions, quick Wi-Fi and compact however non-public loos stocked with Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique product line.

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.

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, when you’ve come to Paris to indulge your gourmand appetites, it is higher to discover a few of 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, nevertheless it’s a hearty strategy 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.

The clubby bar, tucked into the again nook of the bottom ground, has a menu of high-end basic cocktails. A planter’s punch, an Outdated-Original and a margarita all price 24 euros ($26.50). There’s additionally a number of objects from Cafe de la Paix’s menu.

Housekeeping will come…ultimately

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 evening 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 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 lavatory 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) ground — since you need to make your manner down a number of hallways.

It feels nearly like a makeshift facility in two transformed visitor rooms. Regardless of how giant the resort is, the gymnasium incorporates 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.

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 in every of Paris’ most well-known style homes. It provides every part 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. each day. It provides therapies from Swiss beauty model Cellcosmet, akin to a revitalizing anti-aging pores and skin remedy (from 282 euros or $309), together with customary 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 may not be for you

Although its location is superb and its rooms are in nice form, some guests would possibly desire a totally different expertise than what the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand provides.

• Because of the resort’s enormous measurement (it has almost 500 rooms and suites), the expertise can really feel impersonal and considerably sterile.
• For a resort of this caliber, the value level feels acceptable, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly excessive, whether or not you are paying in money or factors.
• Its central location is a boon but additionally a disadvantage contemplating the variety of vacationers you may must take care of on the encircling streets.
• Whereas some Paris resorts have leaned into their culinary choices, this one is sadly not one in every of them. It veers towards tried and true slightly than modern 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.

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 provides wheelchair-accessible rooms with queen beds, roll-in showers, rest room seize bars, and surfaces and area that make it simpler to navigate a wheelchair.

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

Options to the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand

There is not any scarcity of factors resorts in Paris. Nonetheless, when 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 evening.

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 evening.

Trying out of the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand