Prince de Galles, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris

A sidewalk-bound doorman immediately greets guests upon arriving at this hotel, a chic and sophisticated gem in the Starwood group's collection. The hotel's brass and glass revolving front door open to a luxe lobby that sets the tone for a stay here. Black marble floors, sleek modern wood furniture, and big vases of fresh blooms make for an elegant welcome. The eggshell-colored, polished marble walls stretch high, while the upscale Art Deco geometric details give the space a sense of timelessness and style. With its location among some of the highest-end boutiques and restaurants in Paris, the Prince de Galles Hotel is surrounded by a lot of social pressure to be exclusive, fashionable, and desirable. Expensive black cars with chauffeurs are common sights on the streets outside. With pricey rates, expert interior designs, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and views across Paris, this hotel definitely holds its place with its neighbors. The atmosphere here is smart-casual, with affluence that's neither hidden nor flaunted. While this hotel (and neighborhood in general) may not be ideal for those with budgets, if you've got the funds, it's a beautiful and convenient place to stay, eat, or grab a drink. 

The Prince de Galles Hotel is a reflection of its location in the expensive 8th Arrondissement. The hotel itself is located on Avenue George V, which makes up one side of the famous "Golden Triangle" of high-end shops and boutiques. Here you'll find haute-couture from Louis Vuitton to Chanel, expensive eateries and bars, and a few chain stores and restaurants. Several of the city's famous landmarks are nearby -- the Champs-Elysees is just a five-minute walk away, the Arc de Triomphe can be reached on foot in around 10 minutes, and the Eiffel Tower is a 20-minute walk from the hotel. The nearest metro station is a five-minute walk away, while an RER station is 10 minutes away. Expect a 15-minute metro ride to the Louvre, and 25 minutes to either Notre Dame or the trendy Le Marais neighborhood. Both of Paris' airports, Orly and Charles de Gaulle, are between 30 to 40 minutes away by car, though they can be reached in just over an hour by train as well. 

Rooms and suites feature elegant decor that includes custom-made furniture, subtly patterned carpets and polished hardwood floors, and delicate color schemes in light grays, pastels, and various shades of brown. We love the artful details we saw in rooms, like the pottery, black-and-white photography, and dramatic oil paintings that all evoke the 1920s in the Art Deco Deluxe Room that we visited. Other rooms have trendy accents like air plants in glass bowls to complement the overall look. Large windows help keep everything bright, though some only look onto the hotel's courtyard.All rooms come with 40-inch flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines, air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and media centers. Entry-level Art Deco Rooms sleep two, have views of the city or courtyard, and some have outdoor space. Even these rooms are spacious by Parisian standards, offering at least 22-square-meter floor plans (234 square feet). Art Deco Deluxe Rooms offers a bit more space, and some also add walk-in showers in the marble bathrooms with mosaic tile showers and separate bathtubs. Details like Christian Lacroix toiletry kits and bold art hanging over the tubs truly set this hotel apart.Suites are much larger -- with separate living rooms and bedroom areas -- and display a bit more detail in the overall style and decor. They also come with extras like additional flat-screen TVs and Playstation game consoles. The Makassar Suites and Suite d'Or have large furnished terraces (the latter also has a decorative fireplace), while the Suite Saphir has two terraces. Both the Suite Saphir and Suite'Or are ideal for families as they can be booked with an interconnecting Art Deco Deluxe Room for a maximum occupancy of six adults and children. There's also a top-floor apartment suite with a full kitchen, massive terrace with Eiffel Tower views, and two bedrooms. Note that rooms facing the action on Avenue George V can get some noise, so guests might want to request courtyard-facing rooms.

A standout feature of the Prince de Galles Hotel is its Michelin-starred restaurant, La Scene. This casual-smart spot is headed up by Executive Chef Stefanie Le Quellec and features a French menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner -- with a signature dessert known as "vanilla in five layers." The classic decor -- from the marble floor and bar to the wavy polished wood walls and the modernist plastic seating -- was all selected to compliment the cuisine and atmosphere. There's also a more romantic and casual spot where guests can grab a bite in the hotel's indoor garden. Serving up international fare with views of the hotel's famous mosaic, Le Patio is a favorite for brunch. Here, marble floors are swapped for astroturf and mosaic tiles, wooden walls for sky-high ceilings, and there is plenty of natural light. The hotel bar, Les Heures, was designed by Bruno Borrione to reflect a blend of Art Deco and contemporary style and features an international menu, including a luxe teatime selection.This luxury hotel also has a large and chic wellness spa and fitness center for guests. The Wellness Suite spa is a mostly white treatment room with a soft-cushioned massage table, accent ceiling lighting, and an elegantly mosaicked hammam shower space. Personalized treatments range from body scrubs and massages to beauty rituals for the hands and face. In-room treatments are also available on request. The 24-hour fitness room is a spacious and chic, low-lit space designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, with modern machines, free weights, bottled water, towels, fresh fruit, snacks, and a fully mirrored wall with barre. Service-wise the hotel has a dedicated concierge team which aims to give guests not only insights, bookings, and tips to well-trodden restaurants, museums, shows, and sights, but to also help uncover some of the more unknown areas and places in Paris. Business travelers are catered to with a mid-sized meeting and event space that can hold up to 70 people and be arranged in several layouts. Wi-Fi is available for free throughout the hotel.