Paris, oh Paris, the "City of Light" or as the French pronounce ever-so eloquently, "La Ville-Lumière," what a spectacular city. There honestly...is nothing like it, some say New York or London compare, but still it's uniquely different amongst the very best.

L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe

To understand Paris, it can only be experienced first-hand. Choosing the right hospitality venue while visiting is so essential. I began my grand tour of the city with a fantastic two-night stay at the (Preferred Hotels & Resorts group) five-star awarded, L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe. Located in the chic 8th Arrondissement (neighbourhood / borough) on 51-57 Rue de Courcelles; a historic neighbourhood, where art and architecture have always been closely linked.

L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe overlooking the Andalusian Patio and the Iconic Eiffel Tower

The Location

Paris is broken up into 20 Arrondissements, the 8th arrondissement is loaded with world renown attractions from the The Champs-Élysées - the world's most famous boulevard to the grand Arc de Triomphe - a 50 meter monument commissioned by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate his many war victories. Both icons are only a scenic 10-minute walk from the hotel. An even closer site of interest is Parc Monceau, bustling with life and moments of quiet respite, it is a quick three-minute walk from the hotel. Parc Monaceau is one of many beautiful green spaces found throughout the city where you can observe and enjoy everyday Parisian life, outside of a touristic setting. I was quite amazed at the close proximity to all three sites, it made my stay at L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe memorable and special.

The Iconic Arc de Triomphe, just steps from L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe

The Design

Upon walking into the lobby of L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe, I was immediately entranced by the 1930's Art Deco interior design (found throughout the property). The interior design harkens back to a time I am all to nostalgic and fond of; a time when travel seemed so much more grander, exotic, and one of a kind. It was the age of the transatlantic cruise liner, and the era of rediscovering 'Lost Civilizations.' You may ask, all this emotion from one glimpse of the hotel lobby? Why yes, that is just how my mind works; passionate design, has always moved me to wonderment and thought.

The design team of L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe is made up of the internationally acclaimed architect Stanislas Fiszer for the original plans, volumes and façades, designers Jacques Garcia and Alexandre Danan for the decoration, and Olivier Riols for the landscape design.

L'Hotel du Collectionneur translates into 'The Collector's Hotel,' and rightfully so; every detail in the hotel tells a story, through its use of rare and precious materials, motifs inspired by vintage Parisian drawings, collected works of art, and furniture bought at private auctions. The hotel is a living museum with wonderfully curated pieces. This idea and theme of collection translates so well with the ideology, heart, and brand of Traveller's Bazaar; we too are collectors and curators of the very best life has to offer.

The Executive Lounge

After a quick and pleasant check-in, I was escorted by a kind staff member to the Executive Lounge for breakfast and refreshments; the executive lounge is on the upper-most floor of the hotel, and is available only to guests staying in the hotel's 88 Executive Rooms and 59 suites. Access to the Executive Lounge allows guests to enjoy a large-screen television, a decked terrace, complimentary breakfast (7:30am - 10:30am), snacks, and refreshments throughout the day. It was a wonderful added option during my stay; coming back to the hotel throughout the day to relax and take a quick cappuccino break was delightful and revitalizing. In totality, the hotel is made up of 473 rooms and suites.

My Room

Following my refreshing breakfast, I was then escorted to my Executive Double Double Room. The style of the room carried out the Art Deco aesthetic, albeit not as dramatic as the lobby, but still a lovely room to relax in after long days of site-seeing and shopping. My room had wonderful views of the Andalusian Patio, an oasis of green in a city that is quite concrete. The Andalusian Patio is one of the largest open-air hotel gardens in all of Paris. My room was 30 m² (323 ft²) and was light, clean, functional, modern, and enjoyable. What stood out in the room was the rich Brazilian rosewood and Macassar ebony woods used for the wardrobe and dressers. The bathroom was rich in detail too, full of marble, featured a large soaking tub that doubled as a shower, and had all the necessary toiletries needed. The in-room free wifi was an added bonus; in such large cities, hotels tend to charge for this service. Overall L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe has 14 different room-types available, essentially there is something for everyone.

Dining Options

L'Hotel du Collectionneur offers two exquisite dining venues, Restaurant Le Safran & Le Purple Bar. Restaurant Le Safran is directed by renowned French chef Philippe Daigneau, where he serves up iconic French cuisine with hints of world cuisine such as fried scallops with stuffed baby cabbage leaves, lobster salad with seasonal vegetables, vegetable wok, praline emotion with lemon-orange cream, and much much more.

Le Purple Bar pulsates a cool low-key vibe due to its chic Parisian Art-Deco-style; it's decorated with gilded flutings and grand chandeliers, attracting an eclectic and intriguing clientele. I went for lunch and loved the coziness of it all, it had that cotton club, Chicago-New York, speak easy kind of vibe. I ordered a cool mint mojito and a tasty club sandwich, while seated in an oversized plush booth filled with retro charm. Le Purple Bar features large windows to gaze out and watch the world go by on the ultra-Parisian Rue de Courcelles; sitting and watching the trendiest of Parisians pass by was all to enchanting. I highly recommend this venue!

Facilities

L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe features the wonderful Mosaic Spa by Decleor & Carita. The spa has an oriental steam room and sauna. Choose from revitalizing beauty treatments or vivifying hydrotherapy baths, afterwards pause from the world's clamor in the peaceful relaxation area. You will leave the spa re-energized, renewed, and at peace.

A healthy feature of the spa is the fully equipped, high-tech fitness centre. Open daily 9am to 8pm, and accessible with your room key outside these hours.

Another asset to the facilities is the 5-star meeting venue ideal for hosting conferences, seminars, and corporate events literally in the heart of Paris. On the property is a 1700 m² (18,298 ft²) high-tech corporate meeting facility comprising of 8 modular meeting rooms which can accommodate up to 650 guests altogether. It is a wonderful venue that can handle wedding receptions to corporate functions, you name it.

Oriental Sauna at the Mosaic Spa by Decleor & Carita

L'Hotel du Collectionneur Arc de Triomphe Corporate Meetings Facilities

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay, it was a wonderful introduction to Parisian life; being so close to the historical sites of interest previously mentioned, set the venue apart from my various hospitality experiences around the globe. The facilities were on par with international standards, and I enjoyed the Art Deco interior designs. I had always envisioned myself walking around the walls of the Arc de Triomphe, taking in the history and soul of its materiality. Staying at a hotel that is literally at the steps of this iconic monument was never in my wildest of dreams. Each day as I eagerly left the lobby and turned the corner, there it was standing in all its might, proud and French, The Arc de Triomphe! Emperor Napolean Bonaparte himself seemed to stand at the top of the monument, looking proudly and shrewdly over the city he helped to create.

In essence a stay at L'Hotel du Collection Arc de Triomphe is an experience filled with Parisian nostalgia; the sites, sounds, and styles all converge to make for a truly French experience. I highly recommend and will most certainly revisit!

Quinn R. Russell,
Curator of Traveller's Bazaar