At first glance, you might think Paris has a huge number of hotels. In fact, it doesn’t: the whole city has about 100,000 hotel rooms to serve some 35 million tourists a year. That’s why the City of Paris has been working hard to add more hotels, with a plan to add about 7,000 more hotel rooms by 2020.
Some of the new hotels open in areas a little farther from the center, or in business districts that used to have almost no hotels. These areas are cheaper than the center, so the hotels can offer a high level of service at relatively low prices, and they will probably become a hit with companies that send employees to meet clients with offices nearby. One example is the Curio hotel, a “low-cost” hotel by Hilton that opened recently in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
Recently Renovated Hotels in Paris
At the same time, many Paris hotels are going through a wave of renovation that doesn’t just add rooms but also upgrades the whole experience of staying there. Here are a few examples of what’s happening on the Paris hotel scene this year:
Hotel Lutetia
Paris certainly has a fine selection of luxury hotels, but the Lutetia, in the bohemian neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, stands out as a rare palace hotel on the Left Bank of the Seine. It also has a unique history, which you can read about in Pierre Assouline’s book “Lutetia”.
After a renovation of more than four years, the hotel was scheduled to reopen in June 2018, almost 108 years after it was founded. It comes back with a contemporary design, without losing the Art Nouveau and Art Deco architecture it was always known for.
Behind the makeover of this five-star hotel with 184 rooms and suites is the Akirov family of hoteliers. Georgi Akirov, son of Alfred Akirov, is the chairman of The Set hotel group, which includes the Conservatorium in Amsterdam, Hotel Café Royal in London and now the Lutetia in Paris. The company bought the hotel from Starwood in 2010, and as Akirov told The New York Times, “The hotel operated for almost a hundred years and never had an interior renovation. We wanted to preserve the past while adapting it to the modern traveler.”
The hotel has a courtyard where windows were opened up to let in natural light, a spacious spa and a pool. Its popular brasserie was set to reopen in September under Gérald Passédat, a chef with three Michelin stars.
To book a room at the Hotel Lutetia, click here.
Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s Paris
This famous hotel was set to reopen later in the year after a top-to-bottom renovation designed by the interior designer Jacques Garcia. The five-star hotel now has 81 rooms, after 19 rooms were added in its Champs-Élysées wing. The brasserie gets a new chef from Pierre Gagnaire’s Michelin-starred restaurant. There’s also a bar and restaurant with a terrace, and a 750-square-meter spa for beauty treatments and relaxation. On top of all that, the hotel has a rooftop terrace with a view over Paris.
To book a room at Le Fouquet’s, click here.
Hotel de Crillon
The Hôtel de Crillon is one of the few hotels in Paris with the “Palace” rating, which is basically five stars plus. A major renovation made it even more luxurious than it was before. The hotel has 124 rooms and suites, ranging from 32 to 335 square meters, and facilities for very exclusive events, including a view of Place de la Concorde, a terrace for 80 people and a wine cellar. Guests also have a chef’s restaurant, a heated pool, a hair salon, a gym with a personal trainer and a spa.
To book a room at the Hôtel de Crillon, click here.
Niepce Paris Curio Collection by Hilton
This boutique hotel is a short walk from the Montparnasse train station. It pays tribute to the photographer it’s named after (Nicéphore Niépce, 1765-1833), and its walls reflect his work. Each of the 52 rooms and suites has a touch screen, a Nespresso machine and a large desk.
To book a room at the Niepce, click here.
Hotel le Louis
Looking for a luxury hotel outside Paris? In Versailles, the renovation of the Le Louis hotel was recently completed after it became part of MGallery, the top brand of Sofitel, which is itself the luxury brand of the Accor group.
The hotel is less than a 5-minute walk from the Palace of Versailles and a 20-minute drive from the Parc des Princes stadium. It offers air-conditioned suites and guest rooms, connecting rooms, 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi.
To book a room at Le Louis, click here.
A Few Words About the Author
Since January 2018, Irit Rosenblum has been the editor of the website of International Air Services (IAS), a company founded in 1977 that provides the travel information tourism professionals need in their daily work. The IAS website combines travel information, travel industry news and other tools for professionals. The company’s design studio, Magat, has also been working in graphic design and production for more than 20 years.
Were These Hotels a Bit Too Pricey? Want to Find More Hotels in Paris?
- Check out my Paris hotels page for a whole range of recommendations for excellent hotels at very reasonable prices.
- Decided you’d rather rent a vacation apartment for a short stay? No problem! Head over to my Paris vacation rentals page for recommendations on excellent apartments in every arrondissement of the city.
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