Hotel Plaza Athenee - Paris, France: Located on Avenue Montaigne among the many designer shops, Hôtel Plaza Athénée is the perfect example of Parisian style and class. This hotel had been on our list of must visit hotels Paris and we were looking forward to experiencing this symbolic hotel of Paris.

We arrived in Paris early in the morning and to make the start of our trip a little easier, we arranged for an airport to Hôtel Plaza Athénée. Upon our arrival at Charles de Gaulle Airport, a hotel representative met us at the exit of the airplane gate. She escorted us through immigration, and then on to the baggage carousels and finally to the awaiting transfer vehicle.

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We had booked a Mercedes but to our disappointment, there had been a mistake and they arrived with a mini-van. After a multi-hour, overnight flight and the early arrival, we were looking forward to the comfort of the Mercedes however, after walking into Plaza Athénée, the drive from the airport was soon forgotten.

First Impression/Lobby: Pure class, pure style, pure five-star service, purely Parisian. The simple elegance of the lobby with its marbled floor, tall ceiling, huge crystal chandelier and high-set floral displays and the perfectly dressed, white-gloved bellmen and doormen were solid indicators of what was to come.

Reception: It was if they had been waiting all morning just for us. They greeted us with a warm and professional welcome, swiftly made copies of our passports, took a swipe of our credit card, got a few signatures and we were on our way.

The Suite: The Jr. Suite was as plush and as sophisticated as the hotel's lobby would lead you to expect. The suite was decorated in a light beiges, tans and cranberry. The crown molding on the walls and ceilings gave the suite an historic but elegant feeling. The golden colored drapes and small crystal chandelier added to the historic feeling. On the other had, the multiple lighting controls, which were a tad confusing to operate, let you know what century you were in.

The suite has two large closets in the hallway leading to the bathroom, which helps to free up space in your bedroom. The marble bathroom is over sized and has twin basin sinks and separate shower and bathtub.

The best part of the suite was outside the beveled glassed French doors. A small balcony, complete with table and two chairs, was the perfect place to relax both at the end of the day, and at the end of an evening out. From our vantage point, the Eiffel Tower was in plain site and kept our company as we spent countless hours reliving our time in Paris. Not all rooms have balconies and Eiffel Tower views; be sure to confirm that you have reserved a room that does.

During my visit to Hôtel Plaza Athénée, I also had the opportunity to stay in two of the Deluxe Suites. See descriptions and pictures here: Deluxe Suite - Louis XVI decor, Deluxe Suite - Art Deco.

Room Service: The room service menu at Plaza Athénée is as extensive I have ever seen and even though it had so many options they still delivered within 20-25 minutes and each time the order was perfectly prepared and one hundred percent accurate. Their prices were on the very high-end, but for food this good, in the comfort of your own room, is was worth every Euro.

Housekeeping: The consistency of the housekeeping service varied from day to day. Each day service was thoroughly completed but the consistency of how certain things (where the weather forecast was put, how many towels were left) were completed varied. It is a small detail, I know, but for a hotel this grand, consistency is key.

Concierge: Shortly after making our reservations at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, we contacted the concierge via e-mail to make dinner reservations at Guy Savoy, Taillevent and L'Ambroisie, three of the best restaurants in Paris, all of which can book up weeks and in some cases, months in advance.

The concierges did a fantastic job of securing our reservations. Even though L'Ambroisie did not become available until a week before we arrived, their persistent in obtaining reservations for us eventually paid off. Because of the concierges at Hotel Plaza Athenee, we were able to experience three of the best restaurants in Paris.

Whether it was dinner reservations, breakfast and lunch recommendations or suggestions on what to see and do in Paris, the concierges never failed to impress us.

Overall Impression: The Hôtel Plaza Athénée is unlike any hotel I have visited in Paris. Pure luxury, class and service. From top to bottom, the hotel and its employees are there to make sure your every need is met. Yes, for the price you pay, this is how it should be, but what makes the difference is that their willingness comes from their heart, a true desire to make your stay memorable.

After one short stay at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, it has become my favorite hotel in Paris and in my opinion, the best luxury hotel in Paris.

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