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 Any rating or evaluation system, even based on highly objective
criteria, cannot be absolutely true and fair in all cases. Take, for instance, the
hotel rating system which uses stars to classify hotels, one being the lowest
rating, and five - the highest, as higher star rating indicates more luxury. The
famous Crillon hotel in Paris does not have its own golf club or a helicopter
landing pad (there is simply no place for these luxury indicators) but it doesn't
make the hotel in any way inferior to its counterparts.
The Hotel de Crillon is one of the oldest luxury
hotels in the world. It is located at the foot of the Champs-Elysees at
No. 10
on the north end of Place de la Concorde. The five-star hotel, with 103
guest
rooms and 44 suites, occupies one of two identical stone buildings,
divided by
the rue Royale, that were constructed in 1758 under the auspices of
architect
Louis Francois Trouard as a result of a commission from King Louis XV.
Initially, both structures were built to serve as government offices and
the
eastern one continues to this day as Headquarters of the Royale, the
French
Navy. However, the western building was made into a luxury hotel and was
soon
frequented by Queen Marie Antoinette and her elite friends.
In 1788, Francois-Felix-Dorothee Berton des Balbes,
the Count of Crillon, acquired the hotel, only to have it confiscated
shortly
thereafter by the government of the French Revolution. It was eventually
returned to the Count of Crillon's family who ran it until 1907 at which
time
it underwent a two-year-long refurbishing by the Societe du Louvre under
the
supervision of architect Gabriel-Hippolyte Destailleur. Today, through
the
Concorde Hotels Group, the Crillon is still part of the Societe du
Louvre and
is controlled by the Taittinger family holding company. The hotel is run
by
Anne-Claire Taittinger, Chairperson of the Management Board.
The hotel has hosted Kings, Queens and presidents
alike. Crillon guests include Emperor Hirohito of Japan, King George V
of
England, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophie of Spain, Sir Winston
Churchill,
Presidents Herbert Hoover, Theodore Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Bill
Clinton and
George Bush and the Dalai Lama.
If you want to enjoy a magnificent view of Paris
downtown,
and see Rue de Rivoli, Place de la Concorde fountain and the Concorde
bridge
across the Seine, the Tuileries Gardens, Palais Bourbon, Les Invalides,
the
Louvre pyramid, Luxor Obelisk and much more, all you have to do is to
book a
room in the Hotel Crillon. Situated in the middle of downtown Paris,
next to
the elegant Rue du Faubourg St Honore, this deluxe Paris hotel is close
to the
luxury shopping area and within easy reach of the city's best
restaurants and
museums.
History, style and tradition permeate this luxury
hotel. The last of the palace hotels in Paris to be French-owned, it
combines a
magnificent setting, traditional luxury, and a private ambience with
modern
technology and fitness suites. Guests of the Crillon enjoy an experience
that
is not only very luxurious, but also very Parisian. Behind the elegant
facade
of a private palace, the Hotel de Crillon artfully combines exquisite
Louis XV
decor with the most convenient modern amenities. Italian marble and
Baccharat
crystal chandeliers are recurring features.
The Hotel de Crillon's public salons are filled
with
17th and 18th century tapestries, chandeliers, gilt-and-brocade
furniture, fine
pieces of sculpture, and Louis XVI chests and chairs. Each of the
hotel's rooms
is generously sized and elegantly decorated. It offers 103 rooms, 44
suites and
five luxury apartments. Each room, suite and apartment has its own decor
and
color scheme. Hotel's suites include the Duc de Crillon, which was
formerly the
private chapel of the Crillon family. Its Leonard Bernstein Suite, which
was
frequently visited by the famous composer it is named for, is situated
on the
fifth floor of the hotel. The suite has the finest decor and is luxury
without
ostentation. It has an exceptional view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower
from two
large terraces. The famous composer
frequently stayed in this apartment, and was delighted to have it named
after
him. The dream is enhanced by impeccable
quality of service. This suite features two giant plasma satellite
televisions,
a cigar cabinet and a liqueur bar.
Louis XV Suite offers no less wonderful view from
its
150m2 terrace. It's a top floor suite with painted wood panelling
and silk furnishings which bring to mind the interior of aristocratic
salons of
the XVIII century. Three presidential suites, ranging from 90 to 115 m2,
combine the sumptuous opulence of the French kings with modern
functionality. These
suites are favored by politicians, businessmen and artists, who cannot
completely
relax and surrender to the Parisian charm, but want to feel the mood of
the
beautiful and romantic ancient capital. Those who wish to discover
Paris, its
history and unique spirit will enjoy their stay in the historical suites
of the
Hotel Crillon.
The hotel is home to one of Paris's finest
restaurants, Les Ambassadeurs, which is located in the former ballroom
of the
Dukes de Crillon. A favourite restaurant amongst celebrities,
politicians and
other VIPs, Les Ambassadeurs at the Crillon offers classical French
dining at
its most polished under the direction of a highly skilled team: a place
to
indulge and be seen. The hotel's Winter Garden is one of the most
romantic
spots at the Crillon. The Hotel de Crillon's 24-hour gymnasium provides
modern
equipment and the services of personal trainers, with sauna, treatments
and
beauty products for the bath and home at the Crillon Boutique.
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