Hotel De Crillon

95% of your very large checkout tab goes to the view of the hotel from the front.  Otherwise, this is a very old hotel and the rooms, elevators and all else are quite tired.  There is one or two creaky, tiny elevator to serve the whole friggin hotel.  The rooms and bathrooms are tiny and look like they haven't been touched in a few decades save for some new paint slapped up.  Except maybe during the height of Paris fashion week......there ain't no fashionistas here.  Just a bunch of redneck Tammy Faye Baker types from the U.S. with lots of money to burn and and annoying voices that carry.

The location is excellent.....the first day.  Thereafter you quickly realize the Place de la Concorde is like stepping out of Grand Central Station and it gets old fast.  Its always easy to get a cab and then be most areas quickly via car, but otherwise the surrounding area is nothing but random shops, giant stone government buildings and tourist trap eateries and shops. 

If you're on business, maybe the location works for you even if the hotel doesn't.  But if you want to be submersed in the quaint, winding Parisian streets with charming restaurants and shops....avoid this place and hit the left bank.  The Four Seasons, the Ritz and Plaza Athenee are super-luxe and dependable if that's what you're after....but again, are in commerical neighborhoods and not in walking distance of the pleasant Parisian street life. 

When my wife and I go back, and we certainly will, we're staying in the trendy areas of St. Germain or the western half of the Latin Quarter........at L'Hotel (historic) or Hotel Bel Ami (modern) if we want to treat ourselves, otherwise one of the quaint little two star places on the left bank where the coffee and croisants are as good as everywhere else.  Fodors is a highly dependable info source for things off the beaten track in this town.  Bear in mind we won't be bolting out of our hotel at 7am for a business meeting...or for anything, for that matter.

If you want to treat yourself to the modern Paris scene, grab a drink at Maison du Caviar and dinner at Hotel Coste.  For a very legit old school bistro that is also not overrun by tourists nor will they take all your money, hit Allard on the left bank and have the duck with olives......sounds strange but is heavenly.  If you are okay paying up for a more Guy Buffet portrait scene, have your hotel concierge book a month in advance and go to L'ami Louis.