Melia Vendome – Paris

An antique, yet modern style flows throughout the hotel. It has a magnificent stained glass ceiling in the lobby, while plush couches, light tile, and bright lighting create an open vibe. Vases filled with orange flowers and a small enclosed courtyard with manicured topiary add a dash of natural color. In the cozy breakfast room, wood floors and faux marble painted walls look refined. Dark gray tablecloths cover wood tables and there are floor-to-ceiling windows letting in plenty of natural light. A wood bar counter, wood crown molding, and recessed lighting make up the modern Le Vendome Bar, which has brown carpet and features black leather and velvet armchairs. There is also a comfortable lounge that includes a lovely wood desk, blue carpet, striped armchairs, and wood paneling. Most of the guests are couples or international tourists on vacation. Families with older kids stay here, but the quiet and refined atmosphere isn't ideal for little ones.

The Melia Vendome - Paris is on a quiet, one-way street in the 1st Arrondissement. Luxury shops, Paris Olympia, Place Vendome, and restaurants are a five-minute walk away. The Opera de Paris is a 12-minute walk from the hotel and the Tuileries Gardens are a five-minute walk away. It's a bit longer -- within 15 minutes on foot -- to the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, and Galeries Lafayette. The Champs-Elysees and Eiffel Tower are around a five-minute drive from the hotel. Plan on around a 30-minute drive to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport. There isn't parking at the hotel, but there is a nearby public parking lot. The neighborhood is easily walkable and there are ample taxis to hail, though the Concorde and Madeleine Metro stations are both five minutes away on foot and the metro is a much more economical alternative to taxis for getting about the city.

A neutral color palette blankets the elegant, modern rooms which are done in brown patterned carpet, tufted tan leather headboards, gray wallpaper, and cream pillows. Warm wood tones and traditional black-and-white artwork are also featured throughout the rooms. There are big windows, but rooms are still a bit dim and some antique-style furniture shows a healthy amount of nicks and scratches. Classic wood bureaus hold 32-inch flat-screen TVs and minibars. Some rooms have bathrobes, slippers, wood beams, iPod docking stations, and coffeemakers, while all rooms are air-conditioned. Suites feature living rooms with sofas and armchairs, fireplaces, and free bottled water. Modern bathrooms have gray marble that contrasts black granite countertops, with glassed-in marble shower/tub combos. Heated towel racks, toiletries (including high-end products in higher level bookings), and makeup mirrors are nice extras. 

Features at the hotel keep pace with the posh and refined neighborhood, but a sauna and fitness center would be a nice touch, as other upscale properties in the area offer them. Le Vendome Bar serves salads, sandwiches, desserts, hamburgers, and a full bar with Champagne throughout the day. Room service is available with limited hours and there's a substantial breakfast buffet complete with made-to-order eggs, meats, cheeses, pan au chocolat, and fresh fruit, though it's not included in the room price. Airport transportation can be arranged for a fee. A computer and printer are in the tucked away in the lobby and there's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. There are meeting spaces for rent and a concierge desk. The front desk is staffed 24 hours a day and laundry, dry cleaning, babysitting, and car services can all be arranged.