We paid for the hotel meet and greet service from Charles de Gaulles airport. It was not cheap, let me tell you, but worth it for the luxury, fun and for the looks of the other passengers at being met airside and fast tracked, like a Hollywood A lister, through customs, security and baggage claim. Lifting a suitcase? Not me!
Nearing the hotel the driver radioed through to the front desk, and a bevy of enthusiastic and polite staff greeted us on the steps of the beautiful building with 'Welcome and happy anniversary' Nice touch.
At check in (after taking in the wonderful floral displays) the efficient and oh so polite staff member took our details with the minimum of fuss and then escorted us to our room. In the lift, she discreetly touched on our anniversary; "in such cases we like to offer a room upgrade" she whispered. This was great news, since the purse strings had not been able to stretch to anything beyond a deluxe room (which no doubt, would have been very lovely). Up to the top floor we travelled, whereupon she opened the door to our room - The French Suite.
It was breathtaking in every sense. View of la Tour, dining area, lounge, bar, walk in dressing room, huge bathroom, even bigger bedroom, it was simply stunning. Our new friend showed us around and discretely retired. Cue excited squealing our part and much running around the suite like children to inspect everything. The hotel manager had left a very nice handwritten note, a cake and champagne.
The next day was our anniversary proper and we had returned from dinner at 11pm, and had taken up residence in the comfortable bar in the hotel - great for people watching (and, the only bar I have ever been in where ones handbag gets a little stool all to itself - heaven forfend that it should have to rest on the floor). But we felt antsy, in need of some kind of special activity to mark the occasion. "I fancy seeing Paris by night, on a motor bike or something" I said, not ever expecting this to actually come to pass. My husband said "I'll go ask the concierge what they think". He returned some 10 minutes later "sorted". And so it was that at midnight two of the hotels dispatch riders arrived on large touring bikes and took us on an unforgettable ride around the city...the left bank, St Michel, Ile St Louis, Bastille, Rivoli, Pigalle, Sacre Coeur, Trocadero, la Tour Eiffel, les Champs.
We returned some 2 hours later totally exhilarated. The concierge came running over..."so...what it great?" she asked excitedly. She was really pleased to have made her customers so happy.
During our three days there, the staff knew our names, greeted us happily, were efficient, thoughtful, respectful, they indeed seemed to love their work. When checking out we were ushered to the cashier at the side of the check in area - a private area where one can pay in peace, and presumably where kept ladies store their jewels and secret agents stash their items of international espionage in the safe boxes.
It shouldn't be the case that it is so rare to find this level of customer service in a hotel...yet sadly it is. Everything...from the people to the food, to the drinks, to the maid service is the best it can be. Among the other young pretenders, the Four Seasons Georges V is the shining jewel in Paris' crown. Long may it reign.
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