[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen the new Waldorf Astoria opened in Beverly Hills, it seemed odd. Waldorf Astoria, one of the great names in hotels, weren’t they here already? Is this a reopening? It seemed no way could it be that there hadn’t always been a Waldorf in Beverly Hills, let alone, Los Angeles in general. But believe it or not, this is a brand new property. Joining La Quinta as Southern California Astoria destinations. Yeah, La Quinta. That’s what I said?

Anyway, the new Waldorf Astoria is absolutely fabulous. Combining a classic Art Deco feel with modern touches, this hotel just oozes sophistication, class and elegance. Today’s review is just external, an internal stay is scheduled for December, so stay tuned for more. The main lobby is done a classic off-white that adds warmth to the large space. The same soft touch I like about the Encore in Vegas. Subtle touches of elegance abound. The flowers are decidedly understated, which I love. “We are not here to make a statement, you are!”

The high rise ceilings and sculpted details are a throwback to deco times. The doors throughout the location follow that theme in heavy chrome that looks bold and beautiful, but not overwhelming. The hotel does not have to change a thing, and 50 years from now it will still look great.
But this is Beverly Hills after, and the hotel throws a nod to the romanticism of classic Hollywood, when gents dressed “to the nines” and “dames ran the place”. Walking through the Astoria is like walking through a time capsule, flashes of ’30s Hollywood are everywhere. Accents here and there, overall themes, color schemes and fixtures abound as a testament that the Astoria has always been a part of high society fashion, and always will.

But once you’re done enjoying the interior, head upstairs on a beautiful summer’s day, or evening, and enjoy the Rooftop. The best fish tacos and margaritas, if you want a change. If not, then the Lobster Burger and a classic Martini otherwise.

Whoa! Now thats hot!!! I’ve been in the normal Vegas 104 degrees  or so, and actually I find it quite refreshing. But this weekend, hold the press! We started the evening…yes evening… at 104.

The next day the temp hits 114 degrees. Good time to hit the outlet and sweat to the oldies! This is officially now the hottest day temp I’ve ever experienced in Vegas, make that anywhere, beating the previous record of 112 in Lake Havasu back in 2003. But at least it’s a dry heat!

Then Sunday coming home,115, whoa! The hottest I’ve ever been anywhere anytime. Beating yesterday’s temperature by 1 degree, but at least we are in air conditioned comfort driving home. It can’t get any hotter than this.

Oops, we just hit Baker, California, gateway to Death Valley. And guess what? 118!!! It just got hotter!

The interesting thing here, I figured my thermometer must be malfunctioning, so when we get to Baker, the World Famous Baker Thermometer was actually working, and lo and behold, it confirms the same temperature! I step out of the car to take a confirmation photo, and admittedly, the heat was absolutely suffocating. I could just imagine the settlers coming out through this. In heavy cotton denim and buckboard wagons!?! Or moreso, what about people in the middle east? Remember years ago they talked about holding the World Cup in 112 degree heat. I could not imagine playing anything other than an iPod in this.

Verified by the Baker Needle, the huge tourist attraction thermometer that never lies. To be honest I didn’t even think the dam thing even worked. Your tax dollars at work.

Giada opens her first Vegas restaurant, which seems so cliché, but is a much bigger statement than you may realize. In the land of Mario Batali and Gordon Ramsay and the heavy hitters like Joël Robuchon and Nobu, she stands as…well you guessed it: The only woman. #metoo

But her menu is anything but. A fusion of classic Italian and easy Californian, her most photographed dish is the huge, juicy but oh so tasty BONE-IN Rib-Eye. And the BONE-IN is emphasized because…well… it’s emphasized! The bone measures around 18 inches, and the rib-eye, tastes as big as the bone. Tender, tasty, and dripping with a perfectly over-medium egg on top, the dish hits the spot for any carnivore who is tempted by the menu description.

But in the fairness of reviewing, one of my favorite aspects of Giada is getting a table or booth along the Western wall just before sunset. This way you have time to settle in, order a fine bottle of wine, order from the menu, and just as the food arrives, there it is… that Vegas sunset. In the summer, the sky lights up in a beautiful palette of subtle desert colors…and then Laurence arrives at your table with that gorgeous Rib-Eye, the Lemon Spaghetti for your date, your guests are settled with the Rigatoni and the Branzino… and all is right with the world. And then he brings that huge pepper grinder, and you realize you are somewhere special.

You feel the royalty of ancient Rome seeping in as your take a bite of your entree, and look up through the 20ft windows at Caesar’s Palace’s Nobu wing, standing majestic. If only ancient Rome ate this well. And then as you’re relaxed through mother nature’s light show, the sensual sounds of the live music begin seeping in as you realize you’ve never heard a cello play Rhianna. Interesting. Cool. Easy.

But now the fun begins. Desert time! If you’re digging the Italian theme, then how could you have anything other than a Chocolate Hazelnut Macaron with Raspberries. Time for champagne to wrap things up. Yeah, probably should have ordered to begin with, but Vegas, baby, Vegas!

 And to wrap things up and savor the memories, step over to the live action photo booth to get an selfie in the original fashion.

As a life long resident of the City of Angeles, I’ve seen it all. Conversely, there is very little that shocks me, in real life and on TV. One day in June 2016, both of those worlds came crashing together in a way that not even I, world traveler that I am, would have imagined. You see, one of the most sought after pool scenes to capture on film, is the pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Rumor has it that the film Pretty Woman wanted to film there, but received a snubbing that only Hollywood could deliver: Your stars are not big enough for the property. Let’s face it, when approached, it was long before Julia Roberts was a star, so this was just another schticky small budget movie.

Many times I’ve driven past the BHH, and that’s also part of its appeal. The property is right there on Sunset Bl. Thousands, tens of thousands of cars drive past it everyday. The pink tips of the marquee tower poking it’s head above the evergreens hiding the entry from the general public. Most people know to stop, take a picture and keep going. I think I may have done that a dozen times or so over the years. “One day,” I would think to myself, “let’s stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel and live it up.” One day…

That one day came in 2016. My birthday, June was fast approaching, and I wanted to treat myself right. I thought about it, checked prices online, quickly thought about something else. Anything else. But the thought kept creeping in. Maybe…one day…just maybe. And then it happened: friends pinged us for a birthday party at The Bungalows. Wait…those bungalows!?! What??? Oh my…and like that, arm twisted, ransom note paid, casino chips all in, I booked a room at the world famous…and then some, Beverly Hills Hotel.

Pulling up to the hotel that day, believe it or not, I was actually nervous. Flashing back to the time I walked passed Gina Davis coming out as I was going in to meet friends for drinks at Nineteen, the ‘bar’ at the hotel, the years of driving past the place, and yet never stepping in, the glamour of it all. Yes, I was nervous. This was THE hotel written about, filmed about, talked about, and now I’m about to sleep in it’s hallowed halls. I was nervous, because, what if it was a bust? What star would I run into this time, and say the wrong thing, or say nothing at all? Awkward. Or what if, like so many Hollywood legends, it’s all fluff. Oh well, wipe those palms and let’s head. The valet is a kind fellow, generous with the smile and welcoming. We hand over the car key, hand over the bags and head into the registration. The check-in is effortless, and they make comments and say hi to Chloe. OK, sweet of them. Let’s see what’s really going on, let’s see the room.

We turn and looking at the lobby, it’s nice. Understated elegance, quiet and luxurious. We head down the hall to the room. Everything is a soft shade of pink, with palm leaves painted along the walls. Cool, I think, tasteful, not tacky. Elegant leaves provide a calming backdrop. This is a palm design, not a Jimmy Buffet theme. We get to the room, and oh my! It is beautiful! The bed is tucked away behind a side wall, open to the room, but blocked from the door view, so as to not allow viewing of the front door. This makes it feel larger, and not like a studio room where you see everything in one glimpse. Oh wow! They even have a bed for Chloe! And a water bowl with her name on it. No wonder the desk clerk was asking for the correct spelling of her name. And when they say it’s a patio room, it really is a patio room. A full size patio outside, with lounge chairs, and an umbrella table with chairs. Nice! The bathroom is spacious, huge closet for the various mega-packing line of clothes to wear to various activities, and look at the welcome package: Kenwood wine and cheese board. Fantastic! Dreams exceeded!!! We call the bellman to bring up the bags and ask about ice for Chloe’s food and to chill our champagne. He does us one better, and offers to bring a mini-fridge for the room. What? A mini-fridge? Who brings a mini-fridge in? So they bring in the mini-fridge, we pop in the champagne and it’s off to the pool.

Words simply do not describe the pool here. We sit under the roman shades on the second floor mezzanine above the pool. (does that describe it?) Jonathan comes over, and of course, I have to have a glass of champagne to kick the affair off. Gary comes down and joins, his wife follows about 20 minutes later, just in time for the second round. We sit and chat a bit about the party tonight, it’s her birthday, and then order some munchies. And more champagne. A splash in the pool, a bite to eat, and then back to the room to get ready for the party. And by getting ready, it’s time to open up the Veuve and enjoy this cheese plate. Does it get any better than this? No, and if it does, oh my! (Note: Yes it does get better than this. It’s about 100 yards north of us in the bungalow where the party is).

The bathroom is done in a soft pink marble tile on the floor, matching marble around the tub, but without the dark green accents. Again, understated and elegant. Dual sink vanity provides ample prep space for the evening’s outing. The shower head is soft and flowing. Geez, everything just works perfectly here.

We’re ready to head over to the party. But first I take Chloe out for a walk. I follow some dog patch signs, and find myself walk a maze of leafy greenery to get outside the compound, and find myself on Crescent Drive. Wow, nice, the bungalows are outside, detached from the main building, providing open living quarters, as if these were you own little houses in Beverly Hills. Nice, you don’t have to enter from the main lobby, unless you just want someone to park your car for you, but this adds to the allure of openness and independence. And all this greenery provides nice sound insulation as to muffle the cars along sunset Bl. at the front of the property.

The next morning I take Chloe out for her morning walk, and we walk half a mile or so up Crescent Drive. It’s just a beautiful morning, with the birds chirping and the sun shining. Let’s go Chloe, it’s pool time. Last night’s sleep was wonderful. Head down in a fluff of down pillows, I was out like a light. Full on relaxation in this marvelous room. I dreamed of how lucky I was at this moment. Enjoying this room, thinking about the trifecta I just experienced. In the span of 4 weeks: The Hotel Negresco, The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, and now here at the Beverly Hills Hotel. It’s like I was on some sort of Great Hotels of the World tour. As Maxwell smart would say, “And…loving it!” Chloe echoes my dream state. By the time I put my trunks on, she is passed out on the bed. And amazingly enough, her little paws are crossed, as if in prayer. “May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest, little puppy.” So now, down to the pool to say goodbye. It’s a perfect day. The sun shining down on the mimosa. I seriously do not want to go home, but alas, duty calls. So we say goodbye, one final toast, a generous tip to Jonathan who is back again, Saturday and Sunday day shifts, and it’s time to pack.

We head out, but first need to check out of the room at the front desk. Something about since we have the dog, auto checkout through the TV does not work. OK, the desk clerk is wonderful and we have a couple of laughs with Chloe. She hands me the bill, I fold it up and put it in my bag. I still haven’t looked at it to this day. We step outside, and take a picture on the red carpet setup they have. Nancy, Chloe and I have our Hollywood moment. We were going to do a selfie, but something weird with the camera kept blurring the photo. Someone walking by offers to take our picture, perfect! And then hands the phone back with a “You’re welcome sir”. Oh oh… he thinks I’m somebody. I have that face. And like that, paradise is found, my dream has come true.

Prologue: A Night to Start – I couldn’t believe it. We were actually touching down at Orly Airport, Paris France. This was a day I always dreamed of, finally being in the City of Lights. Don’t know why they call it that, but I was going to find out. We just left four days in Monaco for the Formula One Grand Prix, and now we’re going to spend four more days in Paris. And that only that, we are spinning four days at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme, one of the premier hotels in Paris. Like I always say, if you’re going to live the dream, dream big.

When we arrived at the Park Hyatt, I was actually a little surprised. OK let’s be honest, I was a little disappointed. This old broken up street of an alleyway is supposed to be the Rodeo Drive of Paris? I drive Rodeo Drive all the time, and this is no Rodeo Drive. But stepping inside the hotel, it is as elegant as I hoped it would be for €900 a night. Of course that’s what everybody else pays, we pimped out our credit cards, see PYCC, and are staying four nights for free! Does it get any better than this? Maybe, but now we’re hungry. So we step out to find snacks for our first night in Paris. We go down the street to Rue du Daunou, turn right, walk down past the Hugo boss store and come across a little Café du Cadran.

Stepping into the café we are met by someone who is either a manager, or a chef, I don’t know, but he’s a gregarious fellow nonetheless. We sit down and for €13 each, we have one of the best chicken dinners not only of the trip, but of recent memory. It was so simple yet so tasty. If this is the way the rest of Paris is going to be, I’m going to love this.

Day 1: Our first full day in Paris is a wet one. Oh brother. Since it’s not really the proper conditions for walking about, we decide to hop on a Viator City Tour Bus. This ought to be fun and get us pointed in the right direction with the best and biggest overview of everything going on. And then the plastic on the roof comes loose and drops water on us. Oh brother. But the good thing is that we get to see the sites that hopefully tomorrow, we can actually visit on foot. We drive by the Seine River, and are told its’ flooding in several areas and that the river attractions are closed to tourism for safety reasons. We see the main attractions: The Louvre, Notre Dame, the Paris Opera house, Moulin Rouge and the Arc d’ Triomphe. Perfect, these were the keen spots to hit, so good thing we get the see them laid out for us. We get off on the Champs-Elysees. Time for lunch. And since we’re American, we have to try the MacDonald’s to compare the flavor. But this Mickie D’s has some Parisian flair, so we pass on the Royal with Cheese, and instead opt for the Croissant sandwich, a couple of macarons…ok a lot of macarons, and a fruit stuffed-pastry. OK, I know, the Champs is full of little eateries where we should have stopped, but come on, you can’t appreciate the highs unless you’ve hit the lows. And honestly, it was quite tasty.

But interestingly, and fascinatingly enough, while in MacD’s, Nancy gets a text that her cousin Lani is in Paris, and not too far from us. Wow! What a small world. They text back and forth, and Lani proposes we have dinner at a true Paris steakhouse landmark; Le Relais de Entrecôte. Ok, you had me at steakhouse! Turns out  Entrecôte is the cut of beef that is similar to a ribeye steak. They slice it thin, serve with a green sauce of some sort of aioli base, and fries. The original french fries no less. And that’s it. You sit down. They bring you a small salad, then they bring out the steak plate, with fries, and then you are asked if you want dessert, which is chocolate covered vanilla ice cream with almond slivers. Perfect. No ordering, just yes if you want it, and if you don’t, leave. OK, I stay, and I throw in some wine to make sure I enjoy it all. A bottle of Saint-Emilion pairs well with the meat. Good thing, because I think it’s the only wine they have!

Day 2: Well, the rain has stopped, but the sun has not broken a smile yet. At least we are able to do a walk-about and start seeing the city on our own. We exit the hotel to the right this time, and walk through the Vendome. This innocuous little spot is actually quite historical. It marks Napoleon’s triumphant return after victory in the Battle of Austerlitz back in 1810. We take a peek at the Dior store, too much security to feel comfortable, so we continue on to today’s adventure: The Louvre. What an amazing museum. The Louis the XIV room was incredible. Talk about some serious bling. A beautiful visit made even more memorable by the fact that I have seen it now: The Mona Lisa! Yes, the crowds are some 10-12 people deep, everyone snapping selfies with it. And for a tiny little 11×14 painting. cool thing is that I take a pic with Nancy and ‘The Lisa’ in the background. Later she shows me a picture of her with  the same pose from almost the same position from 10 years prior! We head out of The Louvre through the somewhat secret entrance, the Le Carrousel de Louvre. This underground mall holds additional tourist shops and an entrance to the Louvre that is air conditioned and protected from the elements. Honestly, I could have spent the next 2 days just waking the halls and sitting with the artwork, but we must move on to the next destination: Le Tour d’ Eiffel

What catches me about the Eiffel Tower, is it enormity. The get a picture of it, movies and tourist photos have to stand so far away from it, it reduces it’s constructive impact. The base of the tower is huge. The riveting is incredible. It’s as intricate and any French designer’s fashioned lace camisole. The see it up close is just amazing and again, I could stay here all day just admiring the architecture of the tower. So the only I can truly pay homage to the tower, is a glass of cheap champagne at the top. Come one, I’m a tourist through and through!

After walking for what seems like 4 or 5 miles, we finally descend back to terra firma and say adieu to the Tower. Now it’s back to touring the Parisian neighborhood in search of the most elusive prey: Coq au Vin.  Surprisingly, very few restaurants actual have this dish, a French staple, and perhaps, it’s most famous dish. As we walk through the neighborhood of The Tower, we come across Le Champs de Mars, a small nondescript little place on the corner of Avenue de la Bourdonnais. Did someone say Anthony Bourdias? One look a the menu, and this place had classic Parisian food all over it. So Coq au Vin it is. And delightful it was. Feeling rejuvenated, we begin to ponder getting a cab to head back to the room. A cab, no way, and miss all this lovely landscape. This neighborhood reminds me of a combination of New York brownstones and Westwood dorms. Its a neighborhood I instantly fall in love with, and yes, you guessed it, this is where I want to live when we move to Paris. Not if…when! About 30 minutes into the walk, and few wrong turns, we are kind of lost, but I don’t care. We walk past so many wonderful little cafes and shops. OK, now I care, the light disappears and gives way to rain drops, light and tiny at first, little champagne bubbles tapping our heads. Then harder and larger, and yes, it’s cab time. A rather rugged woman picks us up and delivers us to the hotel. Interesting, she really didn’t speak much English, just kind of grunted a few words in response to my directions and questions. I tried some French, and that just seemed to make things worse. Nevermind, just sit back and remember the day. Voila, nous somme ici! Merci Park Hyatt.

Day 3: Breakfast in bed is the way to start the day. In my attempt to have Eggs Benedict on every continent before I die, I order up and add a mimosa. Today is going to be a holy one. Slated for visits today are the Holiest of Holies: Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur. Two famed European churches, each distinct in design, location and purpose. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, as it’s called, is the grand church of Paris, and a favorite for visiting Catholics. Google Map on the phone says its a 35 minute walk, and doing so takes us through past The Louvre and across the the Seine before arriving at our destination. With the unmistakable twin buttress towers, it sits just feet off the Seine River, which interestingly enough, was flooding at the time. This closed the lower level restrooms and forced visitors elsewhere for relief. Blessed art thou. The interior of the church is rather plain given it’s reputation, and quite subdued in it’s presentation of artifacts. A large Jesus on The Cross sits just inside the entryway, a couple of Virgin Mary statues and a Joan du Arc are rather simple, plain, and yet powerful in presentation. One of the more interesting displays is one of what appears to be Mary on knees, praying for someone, I would imagine, Jesus being helped out of a coffin, aided by a semi naked angel like person, and another in full shroud. All of this makes me feel like I have the whole scene wrong, as it is backgrounded by a wall of dark paper with golden H’s that looks more like the inside of an Hermès case than a display of holy martyrdom. I have no idea what I was looking at,. but couldn’t take my eyes off it. Should have looked down for a sign explaining, but that’s the beauty and mystery of God. OK, now off to Sacre Coeur, but now, the rain has become storming, so we duck into Aux Tours de Notre Dame, a little coffee shop right across the street from Notre Dame. The waiter is a bit grumpy, as everyone has piled in, but not to order and big luscious breakfast or lunch, but just to wait out the rain. Of course this is a double edged sword, because with so many people, he takes forever to bring 2 cups of coffee, so now, we wait so long, might as well order a croissant and an apple pastry. But that’s all, we’re leaving as soon as it stops. And it doesn’t. So of course, he starts giving us the eye, so I order another pastry and he begrudgingly serves us. A good 30 minutes goes by, amazing how some people put on quite a show by walking san umbrella through this storm, and finally it lets up enough, and the waiter applies enough pressure for us to leave. Perfect timing actually, I was not ordering another pastry, and we head to the metro towards Sacre Coeur.

I will commend Paris on an excellent, and quite easy to use metro system. Even for English speakers, it’s quite easy to understand and navigate. Sacre Coeur is built on the peak or butte of the Montmartre, the Martyrs Mount, and as it’s the highest point of Paris, it offers a truly breathtaking view of the Paris below. At least it does when not raining. But even in this light misting, you get a sense of the expanse of what the view would offer if the cloud cover is replaced by blue skies. The basilica is fully operational, and so much that church employees are constantly telling people to hush. And as well they should. We pay our respects and cross out hearts and head down the mount to the city. Walking down through the little tourist strip is fun, as I finally start to feel the desire for trinkets. We pick up an Eiffel Tower, a Paris – St. Germaine t-shirt, fridge magnets. And as we are starting to have fun, the rain lifts and the sun begins to break. OK, it is on Paris! When the going gets good, the good get going…to Moulin Rouge!

All I know of Moulin Rouge and it’s bohemian neighbors are what Baz Lurman showed us in his 2001 film. Maybe back then it was big time stuff, but now, it’s just a red building on a busy street of people carting around bags from Ikea. But at least the food meets expectations. MR is closed at the time, so we duck into Rouge Bistro directly across the street. We grab a couple of glasses of wine and these wonderful little croquettes. So tasty with a Raspberry mousse, a perfectly decadent little stop on our travels. The waiter was quite friendly and joked with us during our time in the bistro. Tres bon Paris!

From here we decide to catch the metro back to midtown and check out Champs Elysees to see the Arc d’ Triomphe. We make it there, snap some photos, and notice the large number of people standing in the line. Nevermind, and now the drizzle has come back, so we duck into a few stores to check out more shopping. Wow, Levi’s are like €80, that’s much more expensive than back home. I see why people come to shop in America, it’s so cheap, you can literally save enough money to pay for the flight. But now Nancy gets wind that the Louis Vuitton store is up the street. We head and she stands in line waiting her turn. I decide to walk around a little to see more sites.

I turned the corner and I see the Holiest of sites: Ferraris! These guys are letting you drive a supercar through the streets of Paris for €100. Driving in the streets of Paris in a Ferrari California was the dream of a lifetime. We drive from Champs to the Eiffel Tower and back, flooring it, racing down roadways. That alone was worth the trip, if nothing else. Wow, I mean I’ve driven the Ferrari on the track, but driving it as if it were my car through the streets of Paris no less, now this is awesome!

After an exhausting 20 minute drive around town through Paris traffic, we walk back along the Champs, reflecting on the day, and the trip as a whole. This has been an awesome time, an incredible journey, and I just can’t believe the sights and sounds of this city. And the best part about it, it rained pretty much every day. As we reach the hotel, we are told once again that our reservations for the restaurant Pur are not available. Thank goodness. Chef Jean-François Rouquette charges quite a euro for dining at the Michelin-starred restaurant. So on a whim, I say let’s go back to where it all began, Cafe du Cadran. We walk over in the drizzle, and out favorite manager/host/waiter is there! Henri! Beinvenue mon ami! We sit down, and have another wonderful dinner here. Actually, its the same dinner, we just reversed the plates. Ha! But hey, why mess with a good thing. We could have tried somewhere, but this was like coming home, and it was nice chatting with Henri, like an old friend. ah, what a trip. And thanks for the rain! What’s so great about that? Now I have a reason to come back! 2019 French Open baby! Au revoir!

The second most exciting part of our trip to the Monaco Grand Prix 2016, was the fact that we would leave Monaco and then fly to Paris and spend four nights in the city of lights. What was so much exciting  was the fact that we were flying to Paris to stay at the Park Hyatt in the Vendôme region of Paris, described as the Beverly Hills of Paris. Doesn’t get any better than this? Answer: well…let’s just get inside and check the hotel out.

Stepping into the hotel now, all the elegance and glamour, the answer is yes. This is what I was expecting. The hotel with his cream fresh walls and attentive support staff did feel quite nice. Check-in was smooth and easy, four nights courtesy of my Chase Hyatt credit card. For signing up with the card and spending $3000 in the first three months, you get two free nights anywhere in the world. So my wife and I signed up for cards, and receive two free nights each for total, at this ultra luxurious hotel, in this ultra luxurious neighborhood of ultra luxurious Paris. Get the picture? Now that’s Pimpin Your Credit Cards!

As part of check in, we are escorted up to the room by the hotel desk clerk. Now that’s the white glove treatment that makes you feel special. None of that “our elevators are to the right” stuff. We get up to the room and first notice the high ceilings. They have to be somewhere in the 15 foot range which gives the room a big volume feel. The room is nice, and the bathroom is amazing. I like the gold finishes on the bathroom faucets and shower. And what it interesting shower set up, completely open with not even a glass enclosure to separate it from the bath and the hand wash bowl. The entire bath area is a soft neutral granite with a subtle veining. A glass door separates the water area from the rest of the room. Separate area for our clothing storage and vanity. Very nice room overall. Looking back now  I wish I had asked for a street view room, but we have the interior courtyard view. Oh well no problem as I go to open the window and take a look outside, the handles to the windows are these interesting little sculpture figurines. And then I noticed the same figurines on the headboard holding up the light so to speak. Interesting I think. There’s plenty of space on either side of the bed and a very comfortable feel to the room.  Très Chic Paris!

We head down stairs to the hotel lobby and check out the bar which is a beautiful high-end bar. Since a free cocktail accompanies the room, we sit down to have a drink and get ourselves acclimated to our new Paris life. Dining options in the hotel include a four star Michelin star restaurant, but unfortunately we’ve waited too late and they are no reservations available until Thursday. Of next week! Wow, this must be a very nice restaurant, given the price and all. But this is Park Hyatt Paris, so everything fits accordingly.

Well let’s see what’s outside this luxurious Rodeo Drive of Paris. We head out the hotel on a drizzling, little Paris day. Immediately, the street is filled with pedestrians and high-end purses and watches. On either side of the hotel entrance are clothiers of the most exclusive brands. Across the street are some nice watches  and purses, IWC, Glashutte and Vacheron Constantin, watches nice enough for me to not even look at. But now we are actually hungry for lunch, so we walk down the block but alas, no dining. At the corner of Rue Daunou, we hang a right and head down and come across Cafe du Cadrau. This looks like a nice little spot so we stop in for our first Paris eats. A wonderful meal with the tenderest chicken for a whopping €13! Oh my god that’s a $30 dinner at most restaurants for for 13 euros, which equates to about $15 US. I’m liking this Paris trip.

We start checking out Google map locations and we see that the hotel is easy walking distance to the Louvre and close enough to all the dying to do touristy options. The next four nights in Paris are absolutely wonderful with visits to Notre Dame, Sacré-Cœur, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Élysées with all it’s shopping and eating. One cool thing I pick up on, Parisiennes definitely have their own cool style of dress. The classic beret and scarf outfit stands out against the generic American jeans and t-shirts of most of the tourist. Again, Très Chic Paris.

The hotel is just down the street from the Opera House, a beautiful palatial building in classic Euro style, and in the opposite direction, the Place Vendôme. In the opposite direction, on the way to the Louvre, you walk through the actual Vendôme itself. The luxurious neighborhood is landmarked by a large column in the middle of the Vendôme. The Vendôme was completed in 1810 as a tribute to the victorious French in the Battle of Austerlitz, deemed one of Napoleon’s greatest victories. Today, it’s home to the Ministry of Justice and high-end courtiers such as Dior, Patek-Philippe and Chanel. Past the Place Vendôme is the Tuileries Garden, Jardin des Tuileries, a nice garden park to relax in, if you don’t mind the all the lion statues around. And then you can see a wonderful gold statue of Joan of Arc on the way to the Louvre. Travelers tip: If visiting the Louvre, understand that on any given day, you could have anywhere from a 45 minute to a 2-hour wait at the main entryway. Walk further down the Rue de Rivoli until you see a red awning for the Louvre, at the Passage Richelieu. This is the back entry way, about half the wait time in air conditioned comfort. In the driving rain or hot summer days, this underground mall entry will keep you dry and comfortable. Plus while your wife waits in line, you can do some shopping at the underground stores or buy some snacks.

The four days in Paris are just magical. And again, another city that I’d love to live in, and made all the more so luxurious by this wonderful Park Hyatt hotel. This hotel was our most luxurious of our European trips so far, and definitely set the standard for future stays. We even treated ourselves to breakfast in bed on our last morning, as a farewell to the city. The Eggs Benedict were intriguing, and oh so creamy. From now on, nothing but the best for me. Especially when it’s free!

The Hotel Negresco serves as part hotel, part museum. Primarily a hotel, it also houses an amazing collection of classic art work. Everything from historical portraits to contemporary sculptures, this takes the idea of a hotel to the next level. Also interesting is its rich history. Built in 1912, this grand palace is unlike other historical monuments where you get a sense of how small everything was a hundred years ago, this palace is…well, palatial! The lobby is a comfortable size, but step into the Royal Lounge, and you are greeted by a 16,000 piece Baccarat crystal chandelier. Yes, 16,309 to be exact. These fine little French Baccaratian crystals, the story goes, were supposed to be delivered to Russian Czar Nicholas II. But the delivery was blocked as a result of the October Revolution in 1917. So it stayed in France, and in this hotel to be viewed by the public at any time.

And so are the other 6,000+ pieces of art located throughout the property and in the rooms. Jeanne Augier has been the patron saint of the Negresco since 1957 and her impeccable taste in art is evident from the moment you walk in the building.

For refreshments and dining, you’re in luck! The bar, named Bar, is a classic looking all walnut wood design dating back to the 1913 opening of the hotel. Just amazing to imagine this is what the early century patrons were also experiencing for a cool one on a summer day. And the beuty of it, this is not a recreation, this is the actual bar. The way the hotel has been kept up is just amazing. It does not feel like it’s been painted over with a dozen coats of paint from the decade of improper care. And since they give you the best in art and drinks, then food must be at the same level, and it is. For dinner tonight, we’ll be serving a 2-Michelin star dining experience at Le Chantecler Restaurant. Yes please! The Yuzu soufflé is a must!

Our room was listed as a Superior Room, but everything about it was beyond Superior. The room was listed as 269 sq ft (25 sq/m), but we must have been bumped up to a Superior Plus, because the room felt twice that size. Maybe they do not include the salon area, a cozy little seating area with a full size couch and antique Japanese panels. We had a beautiful hand carved head board, complete with a little Cherub watch over us. The bathroom was gorgeous French modern countryside with bold strips in my favorite French Blue. But my favorite was the wall paper. The salon side of the room was rich, golden yellow, the bed side was a steel Blue hue with flowery embossing that gave the room an elegance you don’t often find in hotels these days. And that’s the appeal of Le Negresco. It’s not just some old hotel. It’s a hotel that meticulously maintains it’s traditions. Everything sparkles as if brand new.

One nuance of the hotel, each floor has a different theme. The 3rd floor is Chinese. The 4th floor is American Jazz. A huge art piece playfully portrays American Jazz great Louis Armstrong in a colorful play on his famous cheeks. But none of the floors compares to the Atrium. Center stage for the Baccarat Chandelier, the atrium is filled with sculptures and paintings of French royalty and various other art pieces. The hotel is a living museum, and by living, it’s right there in front of you. No lines to wait in, no guards telling you to step back. Seeing this was quite a thrill for a light weight museum geek like myself.

In an ultimate twist of irony, during WWI, the hotel was used as a hospital in mid-1916. Sadly, 100 years later, the hotel saw medical duty again. In 2016, when a terrorist attacked bystanders on the Promenade des Anglais, the Hotel Negresco was used as a triage center to treat wounded to coordinate hospital delivery.