Thursday, May 28, 2009

Paris and Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg - Part 2





After arriving at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris at 755pm, I headed straight to arrival area where my French driver was waiting. Or should I say, I waited for him for another 10 minutes. His excuse was that I was early.

Paris at this time was still bright and sunny. And chilly. The air was crisp and the sky was a clear blue.

From the CDG Airport to the hotel was a 20 minute ride.

For the next 7 days, Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg would be home to me for awhile. The plush duvet beddings and the "Made in Heaven" beds were a comfort to this 15-20 sqm room (which is considerably a large one for Paris standards), and had bathrobes, slippers, in-room safe, a mini-bar, flat screen TV, work desk and restful sofas. The high ceilings and ornate paintings in the room added a touch of Parisian culture to the modern backdrop of the hotel. The small foyer led to a large clothes cabinet which was fronted by a small but well equipped bathroom with Hermes amenities.

Breakfast at the hotel was 32E each day, It was simple buffet breakfast which gave you a choice of 3 or 4 meats, some eggs (cooked anyway you wanted), a garden salad, a variety of REAL FRESHLY SQUEEZED juices, fresh fruits (from strawberries, red cherries, melons, mandarin oranges and pineapples), a variety of breads and cakes (so patisserie of the French), assorted cheeses, assorted cereals and a whole big brew of coffee and/or tea.

The hotel is situated right at the heart of La Place de Concorde (beside the fabulous Hotel Crillon) and right smack corner of the U.S. Embassy. This made the place really safe with all the gendarmes on both the left and right side of the hotel entrance.

The concierge was most graceful, particularly in getting me from point A to point B, in suggesting which transportation to take, and in getting me reservations for Moulin Rouge at such short notice.

And it did feel like home...for awhile...shouldn't all hotels be?

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